Chiltern Harriers U13s and U15s started their series of YDL league competitions at Bedford on Saturday.  A small number of Chiltern athletes did very well in cool and blustery conditions and everyone gained useful early season experience.
Athlete numbers meant that the club were seventh from the seven teams competing seven but bigger turnouts at subsequent matches will help to move Chiltern up the table.
 
U13 Girls
There was a double win in 1200m for Juliette MacDougall in the A string (4.07.50) and Emilia Ingham in the B string (4.35.99). Juliette also contributed in the A string long jump, fifth in 3.39m. Emilia also did B string long jump with 2.89m, and B string 75m. Holly Knott had a good day, winning B string 70m hurdles and third in both A string 150m and 800m. Bethan Lloyd was second in A string hurdles and was second in A string javelin. Bronwen Harman had a busy day running A string 75m and B string 150m and 800m. Bronwen, Holy, Juliette and Emilia combined to be sixth in 4 x 100m relay.
 
U13 Boys
Zac Taylor and Jack Dixon were the two U13 boys on show and both did well over a series of events, Zac in 75m, 1200m, and long jump, and Jack in 800m, long jump and javelin.
 
U15 Girls
Evelyn Wildman ran PBs in 300m (45.92 to be third) and 800m (2.27.08 to be second). Evelyn also did A string long jump. Maya Davis was second in B string 800m and helped in B string long jump. Newcomer Pia Walsh ran A string 100m and 200m and Anias Majekodunmi looked after A string shot and discus. Mimi Daley made her league debut in 1500m.
 
U15 Boys
Max King made a solid club debut, fourth in A string 800m and seventh in A string 300m. Luke Coultate was sixth in A string 1500m and Jacob McCall fourth in B string. Kit Dixon looked after B string 800m and Luke and Kit combined in long jump. Luke also did well to be fourth in javelin with a PB of 20.69m. Colin Miles gained useful points: third in A string 80m hurdles, third in A string high jump and third in B string javelin. Isaac Mcall was second in B string high jump, featured in non-scoring 800m, and was part of the 4 x 300m team, along with Max, Kit and Luke, that was fourth.
 
A positive aspect of the match saw Chiltern’s officials score more points than any of the other clubs. Doug Smith as timekeeper, Sue Slade as track judge and James Charles as lead field judge were the senior officials. Newly qualified level 1 field officials Becky McCall, Jennifer Wildman, Nick Pinder and Graham Tranter completed the field team and gained great experience under James and were aided by ‘track groupie’ Ellie Bates.
 
The second match is closer to home at Hemel Hempstead on Sunday May 19th where the club will hopefully see a bigger turnout and a higher placing.

Good Evening, Race Report fans, on that most wonderful of wonderful days - London Marathon Day. Once again the sun was shining and Harriers didn’t let us down as they pounded the pavements of the capital.​

However, before we get to that, let’s look back to the Boston Marathon, which took place on Monday 15 April. Caroline Stephens and former member Adrian Berry both toughed out the course, which is the home of ‘Heartbreak Hill’ on a hot day. Caroline finished in 4.29.26 and Adrian in 3.13.16. Well done, both!

Good Evening, Race Report fans at the end of a weekend that was not only notably for its epic marathon performances… but also for the dry weather! I hope you managed to enjoy both, either vicariously or personally :-)​

Aran Davidson kicked the weekend off ‘Under the Lights’ at Battersea Park, competing in a hotly-contested 10k event and coming home in a brilliant 33.06.

Bracknell Young Athletes Open
Several Chiltern athletes turned out at Bracknell on March 30th for the popular Young Athletes Open.
U13
Juliette MacDougall had a busy day winning 1200m in 4.03.53, and putting in good efforts in 150m 24.14, and 3.69m in long jump. Bethan Loyd was similarly active with three PBs - 11.48 in 75m, 12.76 in 70m hurdles and 16.49m in javelin. Bea Robinson got her season going with second place in her 600m race in 1.56.07.
 
U15
Emile Morti showed his great potential with a win in 100m in a PB of 11.78, and another PB win  with 12.72 in 80m hurdles.
 
U17
Issy Robinson started her U17 career with second place in 800m in a swift 2.21.78. Also tackling 800m were Alice Peckham (2.31.10) and Lydia Cross (2.34.47). Izzy McFetrich ran 5.42.26 in 1500m and newcomer Tyrell Gardner got his season going with 26.01 in 200m.
 
 
Watford Open
The first Watford Open of the season took place in cool but quite good conditions on April 3rd. There were numerous excellent efforts across the age groups in 1500m and 3000m.
1500m
Race 1
Annie-Rose Quantrill U13  5.40.44 PB, Emilia Ingham U13  5.45.97 PB, Albert Rushton U13 6.00.72 PB.
 
Race 2
Hector Gamblen U13  5.17.49 PB, Jacob McCall U15  5.26.09 SB, Bea Robinson  5.26.49 PB, Isaac McCall U15  5.35.93 SB.
 
Race 3
Zac Taylor U13   5.08.53 PB, Maya Davis U15   5.09.63 SB, Lydia Cross U17  5.16.42 SB.
 
Race 4
Emily Ford U17  4.52.29 PB, Luke Coultate U15  5.03.56 SB.
 
Race 5
Issy Robinson U17 4.53.85 SB, Felix Danielli U15 4.56.23 SB.
 
Race 6
Frankie Baxter U20  4.48.99 SB.
 
Race 7
Edward Johnson U17  4.33.56 PB,  Kara Gorman U15  4.38.78 PB.
 
Race 8
Charlie Quantrill U15  4.35.78 PB, Rory Hilton U17 4.37.81 SB.
 
Race 9
Callum Powell U17  4.24.95 PB.
 
Race 10
Tom Ford U15  4.21.63 PB.
 
Race 13
Isaac Jessop-Tranter U20  4.02.67 PB, Alex Hughes U17 4.04.78 PB.
 
3000m
Maddie Hughes U20 10.16.60 SB, Aran Davidson SM 9.19.33 SB, Leon Doran U20 8.42.72 PB
 
 
Lee Valley Open
It was a mild, dry day but a very strong blustery wind caused havoc with times at Lee Valley on April 6th.
 
In 800m U15 newcomer Rahael Tsolaki gained experience with 2.36.20 in 800m and followed that up with 47.10 in 300m. A quintet of Chiltern females tackled the awkward conditions in 800m with U13 Julliette MacDougall winning her heat in 2.38.23. Olivia Edwards (U23) ran 2.42.37, Alice Brown (U20) 2.43.89, Charlotte Docwra (U20) 2.49.14 and Emilia Ingham (U13) 2.58.82.
 
Elsewhere Taye Awaku-Chan ran 12.90 in 80m hurdles just ahead of training partner Emile Morti in 12.91, and Taye added 12.71 in 100m. Chisom Nwafor ran 16.29 in 100m hurdles and Ffion Harman ran 52.82 in 300m hurdles despite a heavy fall on hurdle 1.

Well, there certainly aren’t any April Fools amongst Chiltern Harriers. A great long weekend’s worth of results to report as we move into British Summer Time and the start of track training season for many of us.​

On which note, can I make a small plug for the Club Calendar. With huge thanks to the coaches and run organisers, this has now been updated to provide a one-stop shop for details of training and racing. So please ‘favourite it’ on your preferred browser and use it to find out what is going on in the Club.