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Schools Cross Country League 2009

Last week saw the completion of the schools cross country league organised by the club for local schools in the Epping Forest and Redbridge districts. The event is held over four weeks with points counting for both team and individual events. Prizes are awarded for winners in both team and individual categories. The first race was held at Ashton Playing Fields over a flat grassland course, but the remainder of the races were held on the tough undulating course at Claybury Park, on part of the course used for our home cross country fixtures. The event, which is now in its 16th year, was well attended with twenty five schools, some for the first time, sending teams or individuals over the six age groups for which the races are run.

In the Primary Girls (School Years 5/6) the individual winner was Isabella Hoy, who won all four of her races and was a clear winner from second placed Olivia O’Brien from Bancroft’s who finished well up in all four races. The team event was won by Woodford Green Prep School who won all four of the team races. The second placed team was St. John’s, Buckhurst Hill. In the Primary Boys (Schools Years 5/6) the individual winner was Freddie Freestone from Woodford Green Prep who showed great consistency by winning all four of the league races. The team event was won by Woodford Green Prep School who won three of the four team races and consistently packed their scoring four in the first twenty finishers every week. Staples Road beat them in the team event at the first race but, unable to field a consistent team throughout all the races, they were a worthy second place in the team event. This was the third year running that Woodford Green Prep have picked up the team event in both the boys and the girls primary races.

In the Secondary Girls (School Year 7/8) the individual winner was Amy Kibblewhite (from Roding Valley) having won two of her four races in her age group. The team event was won by Roding Valley with West Hatch in second place. This was the reverse of the results in the previous year with the two schools vying for the team prize over the past few years. The competition should continue as the teams go into the higher age group.

In the Senior Girls (School Year 9/10) Georgina Ferrari (from Trinity High School) won the individual event for the second year in succession having won all four of her races. Georgina, a member of the club, has also previously won the younger age group. A very worthy second place in the individual event went to Eleanor Foster from Woodbridge School.  In the team event Roding Valley were clear winners of the team event over the four league races, with Woodbridge in second place.

Jack Maher from Canon Palmer won the individual title for Secondary Boys (School Year 7/8) having won two of his four races and never lower than third in his age group. Matthew Boyce from Roding Valley was second and very close on points with only five points separating them. The team event was won by West Hatch who had a great turnout of runners every week during the league races. Roding Valley, also well represented in all the races, was very close in second place. It had been a close team competition between the two schools throughout the league races.

The Senior Boys race (School Year 9/10) was won by Jack Barker, of Roding Valley School. He was very consistent in all four races and was a clear winner in the individual competition. With Roding Valley School clear leaders after three races they again packed the scoring four into the first ten and won the team event with ease. Their enthusiasm for this event was well rewarded as they always brought the largest team to this event in the senior age group.

The Club wish to thank all the schools for their support and participation. It was a good competition and the quality of the runners was high in all the races. We look forward to an even bigger event next year.

Results 24th September

Results 1st October

Results 8th October

Results 15th October