Chingford League Race 1 (Hogg Hill) - Successful Open to CC Season for WGEL Young Athletes
On Saturday 18th September a huge number of junior athletes from WGEL U11-U15 squads gathered on the start line of their first winter cross country race at the Chingford league. The Chingford League consists of 15 clubs from across North and East London. Clubs compete for team and individual trophies as part of a 6-race series (Sept-March). Scoring rewards consistency and performance with a total score for individuals made up from their best five results. All races are 2km for U11 & U13 and 5km for U15+ athletes.The first race was held on the tarmac at Redbridge Cycle Centre (Hogg Hill).
In the races WGEL had competitors there were good sized fields with 108 athletes in the U15 and Senior Women race and 67 athletes in the U11 & 13 race. WGEL had two competitors in the U15s race, but made up 50% of the field in the U11s and U13s race. These athletes were a mix of newcomers and more experienced racers and with such great numbers there was a real buzz of excitement around the course.
Race Report - U15 Athletes
WGEL Athletes Matilda Frith and Patrick Hayden took on a very hilly and demanding 5km course. Running with the senior Women they performed brilliantly. Matilda was the winner of U15 Girls race in 22:43 holding off Charlotte Palmer (Loughton) and Abigail Hoult (Orion). Patrick was second in the U15 Boys race finishing behind Oscar Emry (Orion). These were tremendous results and just reward for their efforts in training where they are both making good progress in their running. Well Done.
Race Report – U13 Athletes
The junior race incorporated all U11s & U13s (boys and girls). The course was 2km very hilly and consisted of two loops of the smaller cycle track. The hilly course meant the young athletes had to think hard about their pacing and not push too hard up the hills to end up flat-footed without energy to benefit from the extra speed they would get when running downhill!
In U13 Boys race, the first home and overall race winner was Luke Bennett of Orion. Luke started out in front and maintained his position for the entirety of the race. This was an excellent victory and he was chased hard by WGEL trio of Harry Stockhill (2nd), Daniel Arnold (3rd) and Oliver Brown (4th). This was great packing from the WGEL boys and for Harry in his first cross country race it was an already very accomplished looking effort. Special mention should go to Jhonatan Ghebretinsae (6th) who ran superbly despite only having one shoe, after it fell off in the first few moments of the race!
In U13 Girls race, WGEL athlete Faye Owers was the winner and first home. This was a great start to Faye’s winter season. She judged her race perfectly, saving enough energy for the final climb to hold off Orion athlete Pia Trautmansdorf (2nd). Faye, finished just ahead of WGEL team mates Eliza Bridges (3rd) and Amber Higgs-Smith (4th). Again the girls team packed beautifully, fully supported by newcomers Ella Traynor (6th) and Eliza Malik (11th)
WGEL Results (U13 Boys)
1. Harry Stockhill (2nd) 2. Daniel Arnold (3rd) 3. Oliver Brown (4th)
Squad: Oskar Kyson (5th), Jhonatan Ghebretinsae (6th), Stephen NG (8th), Felix Lammin (9th), Yuvan Kumar (12th), Zac Everitt (20th) and Oz Nochi (21st)
WGEL Results (U13 Girls) 1. Faye Owers (1st) 2. Eliza Bridges (3rd) 3. Amber Higgs-Smith (4th)
Squad: Ella Traynor (6th) and Eliza Malik (11th)
Race Report – U11 Athletes
The first U11 athlete home was Rory Willis (London Heathside). He ran a tremendous race finishing 10 seconds ahead of Thomas Nicholls (Loughton) and Kaden Nelso-Gursoy (Orion). First home for WGEL was Eric Frith (4th), closely followed by Oskar Prince (5th) and Toby Taylor (6th). Eric and Oskar are budding cross country athletes, but have spent a summer on the track developing speed. This was a good opening test for them and they along with Toby (who is more at home on the track) have developed good leg speed which always kept them in contention on the solid tarmac surface and enabled them to pack together to get three home in the top 6 of the race.
WGEL athlete Eva Prince, once more showed tremendous promise over the longer distances as she claimed victory in the U11 Girls race. Eva, has been managing a heel injury over the summer and has been training very sensibly. It was just reward for her patience to claim first spot in the opening race of the winter. Right behind Eva, was fast improving Zoe Wright (2nd). Zoe has been consistent in her training this year and developing into a tremendous athlete. Zoe was closely followed by another athlete improving all the time in Mayowa Alke (3rd). This was a great 1, 2, 3 for WGEL and shows the talent bubbling away within this age group. Special mention should also go to Gracie Fayinka who lit up the course with her smile in her first ever cross country race!
Top 3 Boys (U11): 4. Eric Frith (4th) 5. Oskar Prince (5th) 6. Toby Taylor (6th)
Squad: Charlie Kyson (8th), CJ Bediako (9th), Jack Arnold (10th), Vincent Kinman (11th), Harry Mcnally (13th), Daniel Hayden (15th), Caleb Tulloch (17th), Romeo Malik (18th) and Alex Clegg (19th)
Top 3 Girls (U11) 1. Eva Prince (1st) 2. Zoe Wright (2nd) 3. Mayowa Alake (3rd)
Squad: Sophia Parker (4th), Marissa Higgs-Smith (5th), Gracie Fayinka (6th), Bianca Matos (9th), Sara Farooqui (12th) and Eva Hayford (13th)