2015 National CC: Young Athletes
17 young athletes started in this year's National where the venue, Parliament Hill Fields, was a mudbath, to say the least, following a lot of rain during the preceding week. Despite the atrocious conditions all our runners managed to complete the course all completely covered in mud at the end.
Our best placing was a fine run from Jess Burgess who, as a first year Junior with two more years in this age group, placed 28th over the 6k course. Jess seemed to cope with the mud in fine style.
In the Junior Men’s race James Stockings, back from university, had a really good run over the 10k course to place 53rd from 200 starters.
In the Under 17 Men’s race our sole runner, Harry Cavell, placed 181st from 300 starters and this performance won Harry the Frank Webb trophy for his excellent turnout during the winter, not missing a single race throughout.
In the Under 17 Women’s race, again Alicia McArdell was our only starter over 5k, to place a creditable 139th from 250 starters.
The Under 15 girls had a team which placed 31st, with Isabella Hoy running strongly to place 50th. Louise Gilbert had another solid outing for 186th whilst Olivia Corbett, who had been unwell, and Millie Finch, who had been injured, both sportingly ran and finished in 275th (Olivia) and 305th (Millie).
In the Under 15 boys race over 4.5k James Wakefield had another excellent race to place 129th from 400 starters. Zain Idris placed 333rd with Chris Hogg 349th.
The Under 13 girls race had two Woodford runners from 450 starters, with Siena Taylor passing runners all the way after a slow start to come in 172nd, and Hannah Page putting in a great finish placing 304th.
The final young athletes race, the Under 13 boys, with the mud worse than ever by this stage, saw a fine run from Joe Geller, in good form, placing 145th from 450 starters. Hayden Maleary, recently diagnosed with Osgoods Slatter, found the going tough but placed 186th, with the Betts brothers, Elliot placing 274th and Oliver placing 339th. The team placed 33rd.
The conditions got the better of many runners, knee-deep in mud on parts of the course, but all the Woodford youngsters completed their races which is a great credit to all runners who started.
Must thank all parents who transported the youngsters to this great event.
Thanks John