You won't be surprised to know that this is quite a short Race Report, as everyone settles into the Christmas spirit and takes a little break from racing.

Yesterday, Saturday 21 December, Chiltern Harriers AC had two female first finishers, in the shape of Natalie Hallas (20.16 at Black Park) and Zoe Gilbody (21.27 at Severn Valley Country Park). There were all-time PBs for Amber Galley (22.29) and Evangelina Baker (26.13) at Wycombe Rye, and for Thomas Askey - 17.28 at Rickmansworth. Finally, Kody Gilbody earnt himself a course PB at Severn Valley Country Park (22.24), as did Victoria Lucas (26.10) at Rickmansworth.

And with that, all that remains to be said is Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Race Report is going to take a week off, but looks forward to seeing you in 2020! Remember, if you plan to do the County Cross Country Champs on 4 or 5 January, you need to enter yourself. Bucks here and Herts here. 

​Another reasonably quiet week in Race Report land, as people seemingly begin to ease their way into the festive season. In fact, there were no Harriers racing at all today, according to my psychic skills.
 
Ben Hetherington completed the Dorney Christmas Half yesterday, Saturday 14 December, in a very respectable 1.23.42. Dorney Lake was as windy as ever, if the photos on Ben’s Strava are anything to go by! Cormac Nisbet had a storming run in the 10k, to come home 1st U20 in 39.46. Amber Stubbings finished 5k in 35.22.

RESULTS of the BRAN TUB RELAY

A big thank you to all the volunteers, without whom this event would not be possible.

Steve's Report
There was a great turnout at the 2019 Bran Tub Relay at Hervines Park on Sunday. A rare pleasant weather day saw some competitive racing with several course records broken.
 
There were enough athletes to create thirteen teams of five, with team captains running two of the 1450m legs around the Devonshire Avenue, Chesham Road, Hervines Road loop.
 
The finishing order ebbed and flowed as the laps proceeded but it was Abbie Henderson’s Black team that prevailed, ending up comfortable winners with a great combined time of 29.21 (Abbie Henderson, Euan Pinder, Matt Brown, Frankie Baxter).
 
Only Will Perkin had previously gone below 4 minutes on the circuit but a very competitive lap 1 saw Richard Slade break the record with 3.53, and Alex Johnson (3.58) and Alex Johnson (3.59) also dip under. Alden Collier ran an U13 record with 4.16 and a record numbers of girls broke 5 minutes (Holly Henderson 4.35, Abbie Henderson 4.39, Frankie Baxter 4.49, Orla Williams 4.54, Lesedi Nkoane 4.56, and Maddie Hughes 4.57).

​Twenty-three Chiltern Harriers U13s and U15s featured for their schools in the English Schools Cross Country Cup Final at Mount St Mary’s School, Spinkhill near Sheffield on Saturday.
 
Continuing a strong tradition of success in recent years, Dr Challoner’s Grammar School won the Junior Boys race and the Dr Challoner’s High School team won the Intermediate Girls competition. There were also good runs from other harriers in other races.

​Good evening, everyone. First of all, a big congratulations to all who were competing in cross country yesterday, Saturday 7 December, either at the Chiltern League or in the English Schools’ Athletics Association national final. No doubt a report will follow from Steve Perkin, but (spoiler alert) there were great results from Harriers at both events.

​Good Evening Race Report fans! I hope you are keeping warm on this chilly December evening.