Junior CC Round Up (Essex Champs, Chingford and Ware Cup)
WGEL young athletes ended the 2021 race schedule in fine style this weekend. The final weeks of 2021 have been busy. In addition to target events such as the Met League and the South of England Cross Country Championships, the squad have competed in the Chingford League (U11-U15), Essex County Championships (U13-15) and this weekend in the Ware Cup (U11-U15). Below is a roundup of the action!
Chingford League Race 4 - Sat 27th November 2021
Race 4 took place at a very wet Trent Park, hosted by Barnet AC. There were high quality fields with over 200 athletes in U11-U15 races. These races combined the Chingford and North West London (NWL) Young Athletes Leagues. The NWL featured Met League clubs such as SHB, London Heathside and Highgate Harriers.
U11 Girls – WGEL A team 1st & B team 5th
Eva Prince was first home for WGEL finishing 2nd overall. Eva completed the hilly 2km course in 9mins 32s only 6 seconds behind winner Weidner (Dacorum). WGEL’s Sophia Parker (4th) was next home in 10mins 04s with team-mates Sofia Sneath (6th) and Zoe Wright (7th) just behind. These girls continued their great form closing the A team in first place ahead of Trent Park and Dacorum. WGEL B team was also in sparkling form. Mayowa Alake (13th), Lydia Sneath (14th), Hannah Richards (33rd) and Maia Laiani (38th) completed the team and finished 5th overall.
U11 Boys – WGEL A team 2nd & B team 7th
WGEL U11 Boys also excelled. Eric Frith (10th) and Oskar Prince (11th) led the A-Team home. Eric ran the 2km course in 9min 21s with Oskar just 3 seconds behind. Following them were Toby Taylor (16th) and Albie Manuel (19th) who completed the A team to take second place ahead of London Heathside and just behind winners SHB. WGEL B team was led home by Okkie Lee (24th) with Tayo Adetona (34th), Henry Richards (38th) and Harry McNally (45th) who finished a very credible 7th overall.
U13 Girls – WGEL A team 1st
Jasmine Hall continued her fine form over the country to win the race. Jasmine ran the 3km course in 13mins 21s in a dominant performance finishing one minute ahead of second placed Pia Trautmansdorf (Orion). Faye Owers (3rd) ran very well and took a place on the podium with Ella Traynor (10th) and Darcy Mackenzie (19th) completing the A team who won the race ahead of London Heathside and Decorum AC.
U13 Boys – WGEL A team 2nd
Daniel Arnold (4th) was at his best leading the A-Team home. Daniel ran the 3km course in 12mins 37s. Behind Daniel were Oliver Brown (6th) and Harry Stockill (7th) with Luke Stoneham (40th) completing the team and helping them to second place overall ahead of Ealing Southall and Middlesex and just behind winners SHB.
U15 Girls
Matilda Frith (18th) was the sole WGEL athlete but had a tremendous run finishing as the first Chingford League athlete running the grueling 4km course in 20mins 28s.
U15 Boys
Joseph Arnold (23rd) and Aidan O’Driscoll (32nd) both ran well in worsening conditions later in the day! Both these boys are enjoying their first season of cross country racing and finished in the top five of Chingford League club athletes.
Essex CC Champs (U13/U15) - Sat 4th December 2021
Due to a fixture clash with Met League (Uxbridge) a small squad made their way to Writtle University College. Unfortunately, due to last minute injury WGEL U13 Boys were unable to field a scoring team (4 boys). The three boys who were fit diverted their attentions instead to race at Met League.
U13 Girls
WGEL win silver team medal Natasha Wynn (4th), Jasmine Hall (8th) Autumn Le-Chevalier Jones (15th) and Faye Owers (16th) ran brave races to take a well-earned silver team medal in tough circumstances. Natasha had been struggling with a tight hip flexor beforehand but got the team off to a great start with 4th place finish just 2 seconds behind 3rd placed Daisy Stollery (Chelmsford) and 10 seconds behind Isla Widdowson (Colchester Harriers) and winner Lottie Wilkin (Chelmsford). To add to the team's challenge, right behind Natasha team-mate Autumn had suffered a horrendous spiking in opening moments of race. A falling athlete at start tripped and spiked Autumn with her flailing legs. Urged on by team mates (and adrenaline!) Autumn still managed to finish the 3km race to complete WGEL scoring four and secure a team silver medal! Immediately after the race Autumn was taken to Hospital to patch up a nasty ankle wound. Team manager Marc Owers commented on the incredible show of determination saying “There is a real bond amongst the squad. Everyone looks out for one another. This silver is a step along the way to many more medals as a team!”
U15 Girls
Matilda Frith (14th) made a fabulous debut in a county championship finishing just 10 seconds outside the top 10. The fixture clash with School National CC and Met league meant WGEL were unable to field a scoring team. It was very possible if her teammates were available that Matilda would have been part of a medal winning WGEL team. Next time!
Loughton AC Ware Cup - Saturday 11th Dec
WGEL juniors were invited this year to compete in a friendly Ware Cup match hosted by Loughton AC. This provided a great opportunity for the athletes to race in a relaxed, fun environment with their team mates and support a great local club event.
U13 Boys
The junior races started together and were run over a flat 1500m course on grassy fields at Roding valley. WGEL experienced racers headed the field of 40 juniors with Oliver Brown the first athlete home overall in a very good 6 mins 30s to take the win on the day. Oliver, was closely followed by Daniel Arnold (2nd) in 6 mins 33s and Thomas Kirkland (3rd) who finished in 6mins 46. Thomas was out to enjoy “a good (shorter) cross country run” with his team mates and work on his endurance ahead of the track and field season. The team was completed (as per age group) by Zac Everitt (6th), Luke Stoneham (7th), Aiden Fowell (10th) and Leo Everitt (12th)
U13 Girls
Tess Noblet continued her fine form to win this race, covering the 1500m in 7mins 14s ahead of Pia Trautmansdorf (Orion) and fast improving WGEL team-mate Darcey Mackenzie in third.
U11 Boys
Oskar Prince ran a tremendous race, finishing first to take victory in his age group. Oskar's time of 7mins 06s in fact placed him just outside the top three overall. Team mates Okkie Lee (2nd) and Tayo Adetona (3rd) completed a 1st 2nd and 3rd for WGEL in this age group. Young WASPS Jack Arnold (5th), Ayden Taylor (6th) and Jack Tonge (7th) ran brilliantly flying through the puddles and will be looking at those ahead!
U11 Girls
Emily Matias made a very welcome return to racing to take victory in her age group. Emily has suffered from an ankle injury and been unable to train. Running the 1500m course in 7mins 27 showed what could be achievable once back fully. Mayowa Alake and Gracie Fayinka completed a 1st 2nd and 3rd for WGEL in this age group. Emily Stockill (making her racing debut!), Isla Baron, Bridey Kelly, Zoe Wright and Amani Clegg completed the team and gained more valuable experience.
U15s
Joseph Arnold and Matilda Frith took the honours in the boys and girls U15 race with fine runs over the challenging 5.4km course. The U17s and U15s ran together but undaunted by the older competitors these two ran brilliant races with Joseph completing the course in in 22mins 16s ahead of Loughton AC athletes Bruno Stubbs and James Isherwood. Matilda ran the course in 24mins finishing just ahead of Lottie Palmer and Lizzie Knapman (Loughton Ac). Lizzie Knapman is daughter of Mary, a terrific coach at Loughton AC coach and organiser of the Ware Cup. It is with special thanks to Mary and her team at Loughton AC for inviting WGEL to their annual race that we sign off 2021 and look forward to an exciting 2022!