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Chingford League 2024: Fixture 5, Epping Forest

On Saturday 20th January Orion Harriers hosted the fifth Chingford league fixture of the season at their Club HQ in Epping. Over 50 athletes made the short journey to the Forest. With only one fixture remaining (Victoria Park, Feb 3rd) a number of athletes were looking to secure spots amongst the runners and riders. There were also many junior debutants, with the league providing a stepping stone into cross country and the local fixture also attracted a small senior WGEL team.

The Course

The course did not disappoint the crowd, who were looking for mud and hills. U11 & U13s ran 2km out and back on muddy forest trails. U15s ran 5km. Senior’s ran 8km. The older group’s course featured two big climbs on each lap. Conditions were mild, but frost caused deliberations over suitable footwear.

Results

Senior Standings

Junior Standings

Junior Standings

Senior Race Report

344 senior athletes competedfrom 12 clubs. Senior Men race won by Joe Dale (VP&TH) in 30mins 41s. Local lad Nick Harris-Fry (Orion) was second and Dougal Burrowes (TP) Third. The Senior Women's race was won by Eve Wilde (VP&TH) in 36min 37s ahead of Catherine O’Shea (VP&TH) and Kat Alpe (TP).

WGEL Senior Women

Clare Allen (16th) ran well, finishing in 42mins 37s. Clare has been a great addition to the team and finished just ahead of Zoe Watson (17th), back on home turf, and women’s team manager Kate Stockings (19th) who was pleasantly surprised by her run over the challenging course. WGEL Women are third in Division 2 and in contention for promotion to Division 1.

WGEL Veteran Men

Scott Kyson (M40) bemoaned the hills but was pleased his recent long runs had helped his fitness, finishing in 41mins 55s (115th). Paul Stockings (M60) continued his good run in the league finishing in 44mins 45s (143rd). WGEL veteran men are 6th in Division 2.

U17 Men

Max Koschek (3rd, 22min 30s) was pleased with his run and third place just behind winner Rory O’Corbaidh (Orion) and Gabriel Buckley (Loughton AC). However, he was dismayed that the course came up just short of 5km. He’d been tasked with running a 5km for a school project!

Woodford U17 Boys are top of league by one point from Orion. In the individual competition, William Muffett (77 points) is second. Aidan O’Driscoll (60 points) is fifth and could still take a medal.

U17 Women

Anaand Tratt (1st) swept the opposition away with a fine run, finishing in 21mins 50s. Anaand is dealing with a niggle (achilles) and sensibly balancing her racing and training with cross training.  Sofia Read (2nd) made a great WGEL debut in her first competitive race this winter. Sofia ran sensibly, maintaining her pace throughout, and finished 2mins ahead of third placed Abigail Hoult (Orion).

WGEL U17 Girls are top of the league. Anaand (98 points) is the individual leader. Matilda Frith (65 points), last season’s winner, is 4th and still in with a chance of a medal.

U15 Boys

Aidan Buckley (Loughton AC) won the race in 19mins 07s. WGEL's Yuvan Kumar (2nd) was second, improving on third place last season and is making good progress this winter. Team mate Sid Smith (4th) ran well. Sid’s racing opportunities have been limited this winter with fixture clashes, but he has been training well and it showed on the day with a good run. Callum Clydesdale (6th) ran well, especially given his heart lies with the track. He’s a great competitor and is using winter races as strength training. Charlie Howes (8th) came back to racing and enjoyed his run with an excellent result to finish in the top ten.

WGEL U15 Boys (98 points) lead the table ahead of Loughton AC (91 points). Yuvan is individual leader (70 points), with Stephen Ng (59 points) and Callum Clydesdale (56 points) still in with a chance of medals. The third placed athlete is on 60 points.

U15 Girls

Ella Traynor took the tape, running 23mins 21s and winning the race ahead of Sinead O’Corbaidh (Orion). Ella looked strong and finished ahead of Sinead to close the gap to one point at the top of the individual event. Darcey Mackenzie (3rd) had a great run with her first ever podium finish. This was a great result for Darcy who has been a big part of the WGEL squad at races for 3 years now. 

WGEL U15 Girls (97 points) are top of the league. Ella (74 points) is second going into final race and on a best of 4 is the current leader. Darcey Mackenzie (70 points) is third and Juliet Taylor (54 points) is fourth. They could all medal, depending on results at Victoria Park. 

U13 Boys

Oskar Prince (2nd) had a great run, finishing two seconds behind race winner Barney Perkins (IAC).  Tayo Adetona (3rd) also had a great run for third place for his highest finish of the season ahead of team mate Eric Frith (4th) and Emmanuel Olabanji (6th). Emmanuel is among the leaders of the individual event but has been struggling to get to training in recent weeks and ran a brave race leaving nothing out there!

Cristian Scozzari (13th) was next home with team mate Okkie Lee (14th) just behind. Okkie is our resident pole vaulter and enjoyed a rare outing over the country. Woody Qureshi (14th) and Austin Smith (15th) closed the team. Both got stranded at the start but did well to make their way through the field on a course that was difficult to overtake at times.  

WGEL U13 Boys (98 points) are top of the league. Emmanuel (89) leads the individual event. He needs a top 3 finish to claim the title in the last race from Barney Perkins (74 points) of Ilford AC. Oskar (65 points), Eric Frith (64 points) and Tayo Adetona (59 points) are all still in with chances of a medal. 

U13 Girls

Eva Prince was first home for WGEL, winning the race in 8mins 20s. It was a great run from Eva who was in full flow as she entered the final 100m. Eva has a busy sports fixture list and this was a last minute decision to race after a schools fixture was cancelled. Emilia Kozinska (2nd) had a great run and continued her progress this winter with her first podium finish and was very pleased with her result!

Chloe Summers (5th) was disappointed with her run, but continued her comeback from a nasty injury earlier in year with a solid run. Chloe loves her running and is steadily building back toward levels she knows can achieve. Next winter could be a big winter for Chloe as an upper U13 when fully fit.

Isla Barron (6th) was just behind Chloe. Isla has been suffering with a cold and did well given how she has been feeling. Aoife Pearce (7th) had her best run of the season. Finishing strongly, her efforts in training are starting to show now in her races. Alice Mackenzie (10th) is running well and finished in the top ten and was pleased not to lose her shoe this year!

WGEL U13 Girls (100 points) are top of the table. Sophia Parker (76 points) leads the individual event ahead of Eva Prince (73 points), Chloe Summers (71 points) and Isla Barron (58 points). It could be a clean sweep for the girls come the final fixture. 

U11s and U13s on the start line

U11 Boys

Jack Tonge (1st) won the race in 8mins 29s and secured his first win this season with a fine run. Team mate Jax O’Connor (2nd) returned to form with an excellent second place with Henry Richards (4th) just outside the podium positions. Henry is making a recovery from an ankle injury and ran sensibly after a few weeks out.

Idris Bernard (6th), Lukas Sendar (7th) and Alfie Perkins (8th) flooded through the finish line neck and neck. Idris and Lukas have been superb in the team this season and were joined by Alfie on his fine debut run. Leo Ciarlet (9th) swapped track spikes for cross country and performed well, finishing with Patrick Langan (10th) who is enjoying his first full winter season and another debutant Fintan McDonnell (11th).

Jessie Geller (15th) then led a huge pack of WGEL athletes through the funnel including: Noah Parker (16th), Harry McNally (17th) Nathanael Phillips (18th). Dylan Williams (19th), Stanley Perkins (20th), Finley Witchell (23rd), Gurmilan Bains (25th) and Ethan Sidloff (26th). This was Gurmilan and Stanley’s debuts for the club and they seemed to have caught the cross country bug given their smiles after the race!

WGEL U11s (100 points) lead the table. Jack (92 points) leads the individual event from Lukas Vernal (87 points) of Orion. WGEL team mate Jax Connor (83 points) is third. Henry Richards (76 points) is currently fourth and has a very good possibility of medalling with his best 4 from 5 race score.

U11s and U13s set off

U11 Girls

WGEL U11 girls dominated the race and on this form could be a serious force as they move up age groups together. Grace Cherry won the race in 08mins 47s, claiming her third victory this season. Right behind Grace was Rosie Barron (2nd) anotheryoung athlete who loves her running and improving all the time. Lottie Oats (3rd) is enjoying her first winter and took third place to complete the podium places.

Phoebe Quorn (4th) ran wonderfully and is racing mostly off her netball training right now which makes this result all the more impressive. Pushed on by team mates Rosie Anderson (5th), Sophia Stephenson (6th), Kehanique Lowe (7th), Adriana McNally (8th) and Chloe Ward (9th) these girls packed superbly with less than 30 seconds between them.  

Daisy Whelan (12th) led the next group of WGEL through the funnel with Evelyn Marrable (13th), Esme Cherry (14th), Sophia Khan (15th), Adriana McNally (16th), Dami Adetona (17th) and Jessica Dawkes (18th). These were great runs from the girls and it was fantastic to see Daisy, Esme and Dami all make their debuts and follow their older siblings at the club into racing.

WGEL U11 Girls (100 points) lead the table. Grace Cherry (95 points) is first in the individual event just ahead of team mates Rosie Barron (94 points), Rosie Anderson (79 points), Kehanique Lowe (73 points), and Phoebe Quorn (63 points) who are all in with a chance of medals.

The U11 Girls celebrate a fine victory

Summary

It’s been a terrific Chingford League season to date and many of the individual competitions are going to the wire at the final fixture on the tarmac at Victoria Park. It's testimony to the squad for their consistency that they are in this position. Well done team.

Next Chingford League: Saturday 3rd February 2024 in Victoria Park (Hosts VP&TH)