Marni Ison-Stierer was the sole U11 Girl racing, finishing well in 22nd. The U11 Boys were fifth on the day and move up to seventh overall. Jack Dalton was 12th, Jonathan Kaliballa 13th and Oliver Harrison 27th to score, and there was good back-up from Oliver Vandenbrekel (29th), Freddy Higgins (31st), and Charlie Yeoh (43rd).
 
U13 Juliette MacDougall completed her fourth league victory, thereby securing the individual league title. She was supported by Loren Gerber (fifth), Emilia Ingham (tenth) and Annie-Rose Quantrill (16th). Also running well were Holly Knott (17th), Lottie Monnington (20th), Mala Bahia (36th) and Phoebe Gorman (52nd). The team were second by one point to St Albans but have a 25 point lead going into the final match.
 
A good turnout from the U13 Boys saw the team finish fourth and they lie second overall. Harrison Lawrence continued his good form to be sixth; Josh Woodward (12th), Zac Taylor (13th) and newcomer John Rooney (17th) completing the scoring. Good back-up came from Hector Gamblen (18th), Harry Reeder (24th), Oliver Atkinson (26th), Thomas Cooper (36th) and Jack Dixon (50th).
 
Just three U15 Girls faced the starter and Evelyn Wildman (third), Megan Lockwood (tenth) and Maya Davis, bravely battling a painful ankle in 14th, scored enough for third team and they are second with one match left, just 25 points covering the top four teams in this exciting division.
 
Tom Ford led home the winning U15 Boys team and his third victory clinched the individual league title. Tom was given great support by Thomas Reynolds (sixth), Charlie Quantrill (eighth), and Ben Reeder (16th). The large team also featured good efforts from James Henderson (26th), Colin Miles (28th), Raphael Tsolaki (38th), Kit Dixon (39th), Isaac McCall (41st) and Jacob McCall (45th). The boys take a narrow lead into the last match.
 
The Junior (U17/U20) women kept their podium hopes strong with a good third place courtesy of Emily Ford (eighth), Alice Peckham (11th) and Issy Robinson (13th). Another large team saw good runs from Jo Snelling (27th), Lara Milburn (45th), Lydia Cross (48th), Rebecca Lawson (51st) and Ellie Gowers (53rd). The team lie a comfortable third prior to match 5.
 
Chiltern’s U17 Men again worked hard to keep in the team medal mix. Edward Johnson (fourth), Callum Powell (seventh), James Holdsworth (ninth) and Daniel Munn (22nd ) were the scoring four that finished third. Solid back-up came from Rory Hilton (27th), Zach Cleary (29th), Jack Turner (31st), Charlie De Sousa (40th) and Mattie Gemmell (42nd). The team lie a strong second overall.
 
Newcomer Beverley Whitfield led home the Chiltern women who had their best turnout of the season. The team were fifth, moving up to sixth overall. Also scoring were Roxie Jones (28th), Katie Royals (29th), Jess Orr (50th), Ellie Bates (52nd) and Cath Holloway (58th). Also contributing in a large team were Jenny Bizley (59th), Lauren Mayot (69th), Abi Askey (70th), Helen Chalawo (76th), Sylvia Moss (80th), Lyndsey Bill (90th), Sue Slade (100th), and Fiona Calder (170th). The Vets quartet of Beverley, Ellie, Cath and Jenny were second and move up to ninth overall.
 
For various reasons several usual scorers weren’t running but an influx of strong newcomers helped the Senior Men to a solid performance. The seniors were seventh, and the vets won and hold a decent lead going into Match 5. Leading the scoring on debut was Matt Whitfield in 17th and he was backed up by Aran Davidson (22nd), Charlie Ogilvie (24th), Tim Lawrence (31st), Daire Stack (32nd), Adam Shute (40th), Neil Turner (88th), Russell Vandenbrekel (117th), Ben Hannen (104th) and Tom Wright (106th).  Also running were Toby Radbourne (165th), Richard Moss (169th), Frank Gaymond (170th), Ian Lawson (175th), Amit Dixit (176th), David De Sousa (198th), Ed Wright (201st), Glen Martin (205th), Allan Cairns (208th), and Tony Dawson (217th). In the Vet 40 race Matt was third, Tim fourth and Adam sixth. Neil was fifth Vet 50. The vets foursome of Matt, Tim, Adam and Neil scored another win and another good effort at Match 5 could clinch the team title.
 
The final match is at Oxford Horspath on February 8th where all positions will be decided. Another good turnout will help to maximise the medal count.

Many club members will be familiar with seeing Richard Slade leading the way in Chiltern League races. But last weekend, Richard took his success to another level and represented England for the first time.

Taking part in the Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza (Elgoibar Cross Country) in Spain, Richard - who has been running with Chiltern Harriers since he was a junior - was part of a four-strong senior men's team.

Taking on the gruelling four lap course, complete with significant climbs and drops, Richard maintained a top 10 position throughout, staying close to the other England Athletes (Tomer Tarragano, Alfie Manthorpe and Jacob Cann).

The pace continued to pick up throughout and running what England Athletics described as a "fantastic last lap", Richard finished well to be the first member of the England team home, placing a very impressive 7th. This is despite him receiving a late call up to compete as he was originally named as a reserve in the team

Richard is due to race again for England in Belgium later this month.

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The 2025 Hertfordshire and Middlesex Cross Country Championships took place at Trent Park, Cockfosters on Saturday. A firm crust on the course soon cut up to a heavy, soft surface, and the hilly section through the woods created a challenging circuit.
 
It was the first time the counties had joined up and it made for good-sized races. As usual there were a small number of Chiltern runners taking part in the Herts Champs and this year, one in Middlesex.
 
The U11 Boys race saw a great run from Jack Dalton who was seventh overall and fourth in Herts - sixty-nine athletes faced the starter.
 
Further good efforts came in the U13 Boys race with Josh Woodward and Isaac Brown both involved, Josh eighth and Isaac tenth in the Herts results.
 
Tom Ford was third overall and second in Herts in the U15 Boys race which featured a large field of sixty-five. James Henderson was 29th overall and 19th in Middlesex, and Ben Reeder was 33rd overall and 11th in Herts.
 
In the U17 women’s race Emily Ford was fifth overall and second in Herts and in the U17 men’s race Callum Powell was fifteenth overall, sixth in Herts.
 
In the Senior Women’s race second claim member Beverely Whitfield, wearing the colours of first claim club Hillingdon, was an impressive 11th in the Herts results.