The first race on the schedule featured both U17 Women and U20 Women running together on the 3k circuit. Chiltern had nearly three U17 teams out and there was one U20 team. The U17 A team was fifth with Charlotte Docwra (11.44), Maddie Hughes (11.17) and Abbie Henderson (11.42) all having good runs. The B team also did well to be eighth and featured Ellie Shield (12.35), Alice Brown (12.13) and Holly Henderson (11.47). An incomplete C team saw Hannah Ashby (12.19) and Grace Thorpe (13.26) do well. Meanwhile the U20 Women were also fifth in their race with Alicia Bushell leading off in 11.58 and undergrads Emily Alderson (12.10) and Soraya Lockwood (13.20) coming back from Loughborough and Exeter respectively to complete the line-up.
 
The U17 Men and U20 Men had the same race structure and also tackled the 3k route. For the U20s Max McGarvie led off well to come in ninth in 9.34 in a high quality field. Finn O’Brien (10.01) held that and Louis Peterson (9.49) moved up two to seventh. The B team of Ben Jackson (10.41), Jamie Carruthers (10.34) and Charlie Stone (11.06) all ran well for thirteenth place. The U17 Men were fifth with Laurie Gawne (10.01), Thomas Redmond (9.31) and Thomas Askey (10.26) all running well and Thomas Redmond running the fifth fastest individual lap of the race. In the incomplete B team Oakley Denson ran 9.47 and Matthew Evans 11.19.
 
The U13 girls ran well on the 2k route to be seventh, with Marlie Nkoane (7.46) continuing her good early season form to come in eighth. A recently post covid Evelyn Wildman (8.20) lost one spot and debutant Megan Lockwood (8.32) made up two.
 
The Under 15 Girls A team was twelfth with Lesedi Nkoane (7.19), Marea Logan (8.22) and Jocelyn Davies (8.07) all running well. The incomplete B team saw Lucy Wilkinson (8.06) and Rebecca Lawson (8.51).
 
The Under 15 Boys teams were strong with Alden Collier leading off on the first lap and recording the fastest lap of the race for the A team with 6.11. Isaac Jessop-Tranter extended the lead with 6.31 and Archie Pinder was well clear on leg 3 with 6.22. The B team was fifth comprising Alex Hughes (6.42), Max Baxter (6.56) and Euan Pinder (6.25). In the C team both Callum Powell (7.02) and Rowan Gawne (6.53) had good runs.
 
The Senior Women had a team out for the first time in several years. Hannah Wardley had a superb run on first leg to come in fourth in 11.02 on the 3k route and that was enough for sixth best time of the whole race. Ellie Bates (12.44) and Katie Royals (12.58) worked hard and an overall finishing position of tenth place from the 32 complete teams was an encouraging effort.
 
The Senior Men’s lap was billed as 4k but Strava reckoned was 3.9k. On Leg 1 Will Perkin had a good run to bring the team home in fifth in 11.39. Nick Hughes ran well but lost two spots on leg 2 with 12.33 and Richard Slade gained them back on leg 3 with 11.52. On Leg 4 Aran Davidson had a good run of 12.29 but lost three spots to some very fast finishers. The incomplete B team featured Tom Dixon (13.16), Jonty Wager Leigh (13.36) and Craig Fulham (14.42) and all ran well.
 
Hopefully more seniors will be keen to take part in these kind of high level but very enjoyable races.

 
After an early morning deluge, the weather improved into a sunny and quite warm day.
 
The first race was the U11 Girls and Kara Gorman scored a runaway win with Nia Clarke in second place. These two scored enough points to achieve second place in the team standings.
 
The inexperienced Under 13 Girls did very well to be second with Marlie Nkoane (3rd), Katie Allsop (12th), Issy Robinson (19th) and Lydia Cross (21st) being the scoring four. Also featuring were Keya Kara (24th), Anna Stoneham (30th) and Charlotte Grosse (43rd).
 
Tom Ford scored a second individual win of the day in the Under 13 Boys race, just holding off his rival from St Albans. The other scorers in this first winning team of the day were James Holdsworth (3rd), Jack Martin (5th) and Zach Cleary (8th). Other lads running well included George Mawby (18th), Zach Zeru (19th), and Charlie De Sousa (25th).
 
There was good packing from the second-placed Under 15 Girls team with the scoring four being Lesedi Nkoane (7th), Emily Ford (8th), Frankie Baxter (9th), and Olivia Clarke (10th). This large team also included Izzy Martin (12th), Alice Peckham (14th), Jo Snelling (18th), Lily Jessop-Tranter (21st), Lucy Wilkinson (27th), Rebecca Lawson (34th) and Macie Woodward (39th).
 
The Under 15 Boys won despite missing strong athletes. Issac Jessop-Tranter led the team home in second and the other scorers packed well: Daniel Munn (4th), Alex Hughes (5th), and Archie Pinder (6th). Also running well were Rowan Gawne (7th), Max Baxter (8th), Ethan McCall (9th), Sammy Whibley (15th), Max Roughton (20th), Rory Hilton (23rd), Hari Mistry (26th) and Danny Carruthers (32nd).
 
The Junior Women had a strong team out but were up against some good other clubs. The scoring three were Maddie Hughes (3rd), Charlotte Docwra (8th) and Abbie Henderson (9th). Also competing well were a recently post-covid Holly Henderson (11th), Alice Brown (13th), Ellie Shield (16th), Hannah Ashby (21st), and Grace Thorpe (26th). The team were narrowly third.
 
The U17 Men continued the male team-winning streak and added a further individual win from Thomas Redmond. Also scoring were Thomas Askey (3rd), Laurie Gawne (4th), and Oakley Denson (11th). Good back-up came from Jerry Anderson (16th), Sammy Bennetts (19th), Matthew Evans (22nd) and John Nickless (31st).
 
There was a good team effort from the Senior Women to finish third. Hannah Wardley led the team home in 7th and Bex Nkoane was 10th. The other scorers were Christine Burroughs (25th), Sue Elliott (26th), Becky McCall (27th), and Katie Royals (30th). Completing the team were Abi Askey (34th), Cathy Holloway (36th), Jenny Bizley (51st), Jinaan Lockwood (59th), Miriam Kempson (63rd), Jo West (69th), Claire Dickenson (70th), Ella Watson (75th), Tamsin Finch (78th), Fiona Williams (82nd), Isobel De Roever (85th), and Kathy Jessop (93rd).
 
The female Vets team of Bex Nkoane, Christine Burroughs, Sue Elliott and Becky McCall were second. Sue was first Vet 55 and Bex, Christine and Becky were second, third and fourth Vet 45s.
 
There were hopes that the Senior Men’s team could do well but the team surpassed expectations with a fantastic team win, just heading a strong Bedford team. Scoring were Richard Slade (6th), Aran Davidson (10th), Will Perkin (11th), Nick Hughes (20th), James Palmer (25th), Finn O’Brien (29th), Tom Dixon (40th), Luke Martin (45th), Ben Jackson (46th), and James Repper (52nd). Also running well were Neil Turner (58th), Adam Shute (61st), Ross Jarman (62nd), Jamie Carruthers (72nd), Alex Thompson (76th), Alastair Melville-Smith (92nd), Andy Hickman (120th), Paul McCarthy (138th), Jon Taylor (141st), and Trevor Brawn (206th).
 
The Veteran team of Nick Hughes, Tom Dixon, James Repper and Neil Turner won their category as did the Under 20 team of James Palmer, Finn O’Brien and Luke Martin. Nick was leading Vet 50 and Tom fifth Vet 40. In the U20 individual stakes James was 4th, Finn 5th, Luke 6th and Ben 7th.
 
For the next match at Teardrop Lakes, Milton Keynes on November 13th, the junior teams will be affected by a clash with schools cross country matches, but hopefully the club can keep competitive through the season.

All change for Tuesdays (during October) and Thursday as the winter season approaches:
Please nb
We need you to decide if you want to continue to meet at the Church Room each Tuesday, or, we can go back to what we did last winter, meeting and training in discrete locations in and around Chesham. The choice is yours and we will need to decide by the last Tuesday in October
We will organise some kind of voting system in the near future, so keep your eyes peeled!

 
Tuesday 19 October - Session 1
Speed endurance with Craig Fulham assisted by Trevor and Mike .  Warm up, followed by some hills on the way up to flat circuit intervals.  A meeting room has been booked at the Rear Hall at Broadway Baptist Church, 78 The Broadway. Chesham HP5 1EG from 6.45 until 8.45. This will provide a chance to pass on key messages about activities that we expect you will be interested in, and for our new members to ask questions about different aspects of our Club before we start the training session. Toilets will be available and items may be left in the Hall during your run. The closest parking is at Star Yard, Chesham (free after 6pm) and the meeting room can be accessed close to the Car Park Toilet Block. Mike Shrive and Steve Field will be heading up our coaching team.
We will also be trialling a new run start time of 7.15pm and splitting the group only if we decide the number of attendees is unsafe to train as one group.  We will allow a maximum of 30 runners per group. Please continue to use the current booking system throughout October.
Please also ensure you are wearing hi viz clothing, and use a torch with care if you need to

Thursday 21 October - Session 2 -
Speed endurance with Ali Young and Mike Shrive. Limited to 30 athletes.  Meet in Rickmansworth Road car park, Amersham, ready to run at 7.15pm.
Please ensure you are wearing hi viz clothing, and use a torch with care if you need to.
Important message to all those attending our training sessions and those looking to do races 
If you have not yet renewed your membership for the current year. It is important for you and important for the club as the Insurance cover for incidents that occur in training with the club only applies to fully paid up club members. If you are not sure if you have paid, you can check with Tamsin Finch whose details are on the membership application forms.
Most race events, including the Chiltern XC League require you to be registered with England Athletics. 

How to book into your sessions
1. Athletes must go to this link and check that there are places available at their preferred session(s) - check the number, NOT the percentage of people opted to attend. If you are the first person you will not see any responses.

2. Athletes will then need to go to this link to then register their intention and ensure that they have read the COVID19 Risk Assessment. 

PLEASE NOTE: the COVID-19 Risk Assessment has been amended for current guidance and change in location so you must have another look at it. 
 ​

 

​Buckinghamshire County Round
 
Several Chiltern Harriers took part for their schools in the ESAA Cross Country Cup first round at The Cottesloe School, Wing on Tuesday.
 
This year there is an additional senior age group for those in years 11,12 and 13. Conditions at Wing were good with a firm surface and pleasant weather.
 
Junior Girls
The Junior Girls (Years 7 and 8) ran a 2.3k circuit and Katie Allsop (Misbourne ) had a great run to be second. Also featuring were Issy Robinson (Chesham) in 4th, Evelyn Wildman (DCHS) 5th, Lydia Cross (DCHS) 16th, and Keya Kara (DCHS) 28th.
 
Junior Boys
On a 2.7k route Zach Cleary (Aylesbury) was highest placed Chiltern boy in 7th. Will Adey (RGS) was 8th, Hugo Mundy (RGS) 18th, and George Mawby (DCGS) 20th.
 
Inter Girls
Lesedi Nkoane and Frankie Baxter (both DCHS) ran a 1-2 and Olivia Clarke (Chesham) had a great run to be 4th on a 2.7k course. Also running well were Jo Snelling (Wycombe High) 10th, Alice Peckham (Chesham) 11th, Marea Logan (Misbourne ) 12th, Lucy Wilkinson (Beaconsfield High) 15th, Jocelyn Davies (Beaconsfield High) 17th, Ffion Harman (Wycombe High) 20th, Lily Jessop-Tranter (Misbourne ) 28th, Macie Woodward (Wycombe High) 31st, and Rebecca Lawson (DCHS) 39th.
 
Inter Boys
Chiltern athletes made a strong showing in the 4.4k  inter boys race with 11 of the top 14 places. Alden Collier (RGS) won the race followed by Archie Pinder (Chesham) 2nd, Euan Pinder (Chesham ) 3rd, Isaac Jessop-Tranter (DCGS) 4th, Daniel Munn (DCGS) 5th, Max Baxter (DCGS) 6th, Ethan McCall (DCGS) 8th, Rowan Gawne (RGS) 10th, Alex Hughes (DCGS) 12th, Callum Powell (Chesham) 13th, and Max Roughton (RGS) 14th.
 
Senior Girls
Maddie Hughes (DCHS) ran well over 3.4k to win this one with Abbie Henderson (DCHS) 6th, Charlotte Docwra (Chesham) 7th, Olivia Edwards (DCHS) 8th, Alice Brown (DCHS) 9th, Hannah Ashby (DCHS) 12th, and Amber Galley (Wycombe High) 30th
 
Senior Boys
Thomas Redmond (DCGS) took the win over a 5k course and there were other strong efforts from Finn O’Brien (DCGS) 3rd, Thomas Askey (DCGS) 5th, Luke Martin (DCGS) 6th, Laurie Gawne (RGS) 7th, Ben Jackson (DCGS) 8th, Jerry Anderson (RGS) 12th, and Charlie Stone (RGS) 15th.
 
Many of these athletes will feature in the Regional Final taking place on November 13th.
 
Hertfordshire County Round
 
On Wednesday a small number of Chiltern youngsters were running at the Herts Schools Cup first round at Dame Alice Owen’s School, Potters Bar. All were taking part for Berkhamsted School.
 
Tom Ford ran well for second in the Junior Boys race and Matthew Evans was 14th in the long Senior race. Emily Ford had an excellent run to win the Inter Girls Race.

Chiltern Harriers had teams in the U13, U15, and U17 age groups at the National Road Relays in Sutton Coldfield on Saturday.
 
This major event attracts strong endurance clubs from all around the country and the standard is very high.
 
All the Chiltern runners, many making their debut at this event, did well with the U15 Boys A team in tenth being the highest placed Chiltern team.
 
All the age groups tackle a 3.88k undulating road circuit. The weather stayed fair all day and at points was unseasonably warm.
 
The U13s were first off and the U13 boys trio did well to finish 16th from the 33 complete teams. Tom Ford led off and ran well to come home in 13th in 14.22. James Holdsworth ran 14.49 on leg two and Charlie Quantrill ran 15.12 to complete the team.
 
Issy Robinson ran 17.04 to start the U13 girls team. Evelyn Wildman ran 16.33 to make up six places and Marlie Nkoane with 16.41 made up three more and the team finished 25th overall.
 
Both U15 age group teams fielded the maximum allowed number of three teams. The boys teams all packed well with the A team 10th, B team 15th and C team 25th. Isaac Jessop-Tranter led off for the A team and ran 13.22 to bring the team in 17th. Archie Pinder ran 13.35 to move the team up to 12th and Alden Collier made a valiant effort to get towards the podium, running 13.10 to move to 10th. For the B team in-form Alex Hughes ran a strong 13.14 to finish 10th on leg 1. Max Baxter ran 14.36 and Euan Pinder 13.29 to end up  a creditable 15th, the second highest placed B team. For the C team Ethan McCall (13.50), Callum Powell (14.39) and Rowan Gawne (14.08) all ran well for 25th. There were 48 complete teams.
 
The U15 girls A team featured Lesedi Nkoane (14.44), Olivia Clarke (15.43) and Frankie Baxter (14.52) running well for 14th place. The B team saw Izzy Martin (15.33), Emily Ford (15.03) and Lily Jessop-Tranter (17.49) finish 34th and the C team of Marea Logan (16.32), Lucy Wilkinson (17.31) and Jocelyn Davies (17.16) 44th from 52 complete teams.
 
Both U17 teams did well. Oakley Denson ran 12.50 to be 29th on leg 1 for the U17 men. Laurie Gawne ran 13.10 to maintain that spot and Thomas Askey moved up four spots on the last leg with 13.08. There were 51 teams. The U17 women finished 17th: Maddie Hughes ran 14.04 to be tenth on leg 1, Charlotte Docwra held that with 15.05 and Ellie Shield brought the team home with 16.12.
 

Racing is hard, but runners are lucky. We have each other, we have our fitness and we have a place to escape to. For many running is as much for mental as physical health, and it’s proven a much needed release during the hard times of the pandemic. So, I’d like to ask you all to reflect a little as you read this about how you’ll continue to look after you - in mind as well as body. ​