Chingford League Round-Up – Exceptional Performances!
November was a busy month for WGEL with two fixtures in the Chingford League. The first was at Hogg Hill (Tues 1st Nov). The second at Trent Park (Sat 26th Nov). The race at Trent Park featured 30 clubs in the Fraternity & Sorority Cup hosted by Barnet AC. The Chingford and North West London CC Leagues combine for this annual race dating back to 1933!
Race Reports
Results: http://chingfordleague.co.uk/this-years-results/
Individual & Team Leagues: https://chingfordleague.Individual-and-team-scores
Race 3 – Hogg Hill (Redbridge Cycle Track)
Biblical rain did not dampen the spirit of WGEL athletes under the floodlights around the tarmac paths of a hilly cycling track. The U15s ran 5km. The U11-13s ran 2km.
U15 Girls
WGEL’s Matilda Frith (1st) took victory over the 5km course in 21mins 8s with another fine run. Matilda finished ahead of team-mate Tess Noblet who ran a terrific 21mins 33s (PB). Lizzie Knapman (Loughton AC) was third. Ella Traynor (5th) was next home in 22mins 9s. Ella has knocked 2 mins off her 5km PB in recent months. Amber Higgs-Smith (6th), Juliet Taylor (7th) and Darcey Mackenzie (10th) completed the WGEL scoring. They packed out the top ten superbly and the team moved to the top of the league!
U15 Boys
Muffett (Orion) won the race in 18mins 45s. Islam (Illford) was second and Buckley (Loughton Ac) third. Oliver Brown led WGEL home in 20mins 9s and was just outside the top three. Jhonathan Ghebretinsae (7th) was next for WGEL with a good run over a distance that is not his preferred choice! Aidan O’Driscoll (8th) closed WGEL team who kept 3rd place in the league and are just 2 points off the leaders Orion.
U13 Girls
An incredibly strong WGEL team dominated the race. Jasmine Hall ran 6mins 24s to take victory with team-mates Isla Fulling (2nd) and Faye Owers (3rd) completing the podium - what a trio!
The great performances did not end there for the team. Zoe Wright (4th), Sophia Parker (5th), Marissa Higgs-Smith (6th), Freya Barbieri (10th), Isla Barron (11th), Isabella Moulton (12th), Emily Stockill (13th), Tyleah Edwards (14th), Eliya Fabian (17th) and Amani Clegg (19th) packed out the top 20 and extended the team's lead at the top of the table!
U13 Boys
The boys also performed heroics. Daniel Arnold ran 6mins 27s to win the race, with Callum Clydesdale (2nd) and Stephen Ng (3rd) ensuring another clean sweeping of the podium for WGEL! Toby Taylor (6th), Lucas Freedman (7th), Charlie Howes (8th), Tayo Adetona (9th) packed out the top ten with Okkie Lee (15th), Reece Napenas (16th) and Eddie Pamment (17th) closing the team.
The boys retained their lead at the top of the league!
U11 Boys
Oskar Prince led WGEL home, winning in 6mins 48s ahead of team mates Eric Frith (2nd) and Henry Richards (4th) who packed out the front places. Jax Connor(6th) then led a terrific pack of WGEL juniors back with Jack Arnold (8th), Patrick Langan (9th), Jessie Geller (10th), Felix Brown (12th), Ayden Taylor (13th), Harry McNally (18th), Josh Housden (19th), Luca Cook (23rd), Harry Judge (24th), Aarav Patel (25th), Aj Moulton (26th), Daniel Hayden (27th), Luke John (28th), Shayan Patel (29th) and Noah Parker (30th) completing the squad.
The boys' outstanding runs kept them top of the League!
U11 Girls
WGEL’s Eva Prince stormed home in 7mins 07s to take victory, a minute ahead of second place Summers (Orion). Next for WGEL was Rosie Barron (3rd), taking her first podium position in a terrific 8mins 11s.
WGEL flooded the finish behind Rosie with Grace Cherry (6th), Rosie Anderson (7th), Bonnie Harte (8th) and Isla Hall all in the top ten. Just behind were fast improving Olivia Jonker (13th), Maia Lalani (14th), Alessia Wright (16th), Simi Adetona (18th), Aoife Pearce (19th), Romi Jonker (24th) and Alice Mackenzie (26th).
These girls completed the scoring and retain their position at the top of the league!
Race 4 – Trent Park
A chilly, but dry day provided ideal weather for cross country racing. The course was run on the south side of the Avenue. It was wet underfoot, grassy and hilly. U15 ran 4km. U11-13 ran 2km. Numbers were swelled for this fixture due to the popularity of the Fraternity and Sorority Cup. Chingford league clubs close to Trent Park such as Barnet AC, Trent Park AC and London Heathside had big numbers out and it made for a great day's racing!
U15 Girls
Rosen (Barnet AC) won the race in 15 mins 32s. Tivnann (Trent Park) was second. Cannell (Heathside) was third. These girls were clear of a chasing pack that included WGEL’s Matilda Frith (5th). Matilda led WGEL girls home in 17mins 38s and found the going tough but her determination came through, finishing ahead of Charlotte Palmer (6th) and Lizzie Knapman (7th) of Loughton AC.
This was important because behind Matilda the WGEL team of Juliet Taylor (10th), Darcey Mackenzie (12th) and Ella Traynor (14th) had packed really well and they combined to pip Loughton on the day and take the lead at the top of the table! Special mention to Ella who finished despite stopping with a cold affecting her breathing. Every point counts!
U15 Boys
Bass (Trent Park) won the race in 14mins 51s, ahead of Omell (Barnet AC) and overall league leader Muffett (Orion). WGEL’s Aidan O’Driscoll (4th) was just outside this pack with his best run of the season! Aidan finished ahead of athletes who have beaten him previously. Notably, Islam (Illford) and Buckley (Loughton).
Unfortunately, no more U15 boys raced for WGEL. The team was incomplete, but Aidan’s strong position meant the team maintain 3rd place in league and Aidan moves up in the individual competition.
U13 Girls
Current Met league leader and previous winner March (Barnet) won the race in 11mins 12s. Falkowska (Trent Park) was second and Porter (Trent Park) third. Sophia Parker (5th) led WGEL home in 12min 41s. It was another great run from Sophia, behind more experienced girls. Faye Owers (7th) was next for WGEL. Faye is starting her longer runs in training (after injury) and will be eyeing the podium in future!
Marissa Higgs-Smith (9th) had another fantastic run. Marissa is consistent and at the heart of the girls' squad with team-mates Isla Barron (11th), Sofia Sneath (19th), Emily Stockill (23rd), Tyleah Edwards (24th), Hannah Richards (26th) and Eliya Fabian (27th) all running well to extend their lead at the top of the league!
U13 Boys
Greenwood (Trent Park) won this race in 10mins 59s. He was third at in the Met League at Wormwood Scrubs recently. This gives context to Daniel Arnold's run on the day (2nd) in opening the scoring for WGEL in 11mins 05s right behind Greenwood. Callum Clydesdale (3rd) took his first podium position as he continues his conversion of sprint speed into long distance CC!
Stephen Ng (4th) then led a pack of WGEL team mates through the finish. Lucas Freedman (8th) edged ahead of Toby Taylor (9th), and Charlie Howes (11th). Zac Freedman (15th) made a great debut alongside his brother with Okkie Lee (15th) and Blake Edwards (21st) closing the team. The boys retained their lead at the top of the league!
Special mention to Blake. He is U11 but due to traffic missed the U11 race but did not give in! Instead he gave the U13s distance a go and ran very well!
U11 Boys
Oskar Prince won his third Chingford League race this season, leading WGEL home in 7mins 27s. Eric Frith (2nd) continued his fine form running 7mins 31s. This was an excellent run from the boys. They both finished ahead of Met League competitor Marriott (Trent Park). Henry Richards (6th) continued to show his promise (lower age group) and was superbly backed by team mates Jax Connor (10th), Daniel Hayden (11th), Woody Qureshi (12th), Jessie Geller (13th), Kyelan Brian (15th), Jack Tonge (16th), Aarav Patel (18th) and Shayan Patel (26th).
These boys are superb and cemented their position at the top of the table!
U11 Girls
Eva Prince shone again winning her third Chingford league race in 7mins 44s. Eva, worked hard and it was WGEL's Gracie Fayinka who was closest behind. Gracie ran 7mins 54s to take second place. The podium was completed by Cooper (Barnet AC).
Next for WGEL was Rosie Barron (3rd) who continues to fly after graduating from Wasps. Oliva Jonker had her best run of the season. She finished just behind Summer (Orion), one of the leading athletes in the competition to date. Lydia Sneath (10th) had her best run, moving up the ranks with team mates Bonnie Harte (11th), Rosie Anderson (14th), Romi Jonker (16th), Alessia Wright (30th) and Alice Mackenzie (33rd).
These girls ended 2022 Chingford League at the top of the table!
Summary
Once again WGEL juniors excelled in this league, not only in terms of results but as a team. The league is providing a great platform for them to race and develop skills, both for beginners and front runners. If they can keep this up the trophy cabinet will be flooded once more and it will be well deserved!
Next Chingford league race – 21st January Epping Forest 11am Start.