With the SEAA Road Relays at Crystal Palace cancelled at the last minute, SOAR and a handful of Milton Keynes and AFD club people hastily arranged a replacement event based at Stantonbury Stadium, Milton Keynes on Sunday.
 
The sun shone and a good turnout of Chiltern athletes performed well on a 2.6k or 5.0k route around the footpaths near the stadium. There was a win for the U15 boys and plenty of good efforts elsewhere.
 
U13s
The U13 boys started at 11.00am followed by the U13 girls at 11.02am. There was one Chiltern team each in this age group. The boys were led off by James Holdsworth who ran well for 10.02 on the 2.6k circuit, coming home in ninth place. Felix Danielli ran 10.28 on leg 2 to move the team up to sixth and Charlie Quantrill continued the good work to run 10.12, moving the team up to fifth. Eighteen teams faced the starter.
The U13 girls also did well with Marlie Nkoane having a great leg 1 to run 10.41, bringing the team home in fifth. Issy Robinson ran 11.28  and Lydia Cross 12.15 to have the team finish in tenth. There were nineteen teams on the start line.
 
U15s
The Chiltern U15 boys are a formidable squad and the A team took a comfortable win with the B team third. Isaac Jessop-Tranter led off for the A team and came in third with 9.07. Archie Pinder ran 9.07 to put the team in the lead and Alden Collier completed the win with 9.05. For the Bs Alex Hughes ran 9.27 on leg 1 to put them in fifth and Max Baxter maintained that spot on leg 2 after a 9.48 lap. Euan Pinder powered round in 9.06 to put the team third. In an incomplete C team newcomer Hari Mistry ran 10.36 and Rowan Gawne 10.00. Eighteen teams toed the line.
There were three complete U15 girls teams. The A team did very well led off by Lesedi Nkoane with an impressive 10.05 to be fourth. Lily Jessop-Tranter ran 11.28 and Frankie Baxter 10.20 to secure a finish spot of seventh. The B team of Olivia Clarke (10.53), Lucy Wilkinson (11.59) and Izzy Martin (10.56) was 12th and the C team of Marea Logan (11.43), Rebecca Lawson (12.11) and Savarnah Pandya (11.57) was 16th. There were 26 teams on the start line.
 
U17s
It was great to have two full U17 women’s teams on show. The A team of Holly Henderson (10.20), Charlotte Docwra (10.46) and Abbie Henderson (11.04) were seventh and the B team of Alice Brown (11.01), Ellie Shield (11.09) and Olivia Edwards (11.27) were 13th. Nineteen teams started.
The U17 men took on the longer 5k circuit and the Chiltern A team started well courtesy of Thomas Askey. However after 800m Thomas pulled a pectoral muscle but bravely continued in pain to complete his lap in 18.01. Laurie Gawne made up four places with a solid 17.36 and Oakley Denson made up two more but was disappointed with his lap of 18.15. The team were 12th from 25th starters. Matthew Evans gained good experience running 19.59 in an incomplete B team.
 
Senior Men
Chiltern had a Senior men’s team out for the first time in a while. Up against some top-drawer clubs, the six-man team battled hard and finished in a creditable 26th place from 48 teams facing the starter. This was enough to be invited to the National Road Relays in Sutton Coldfield in two weeks time. Harry Cox led off on the gently undulating route and came home in 27th in a brisk 16.08. Richard Slade (15.53) made up several places and Will Perkin (15.49) made up one more to have the team in 18th. Tom Dixon (17.56), Finn O’Brien (17.18) and Luke Martin (17.48) all ran well but losing a couple of places each. The team were well ahead of local rivals Milton Keynes and Wycombe Phoenix.
 
 

​Sept 9th
There was a small meeting at Harrow on Thursday 9th with some good runs over 1500m.
 
Kara Gorman            U11    5.29.09         PB
James Holdsworth   U13    5.18.15
Lily Jessop-Tranter   U15    5.14.00
Emily Ford                 U15    5.22.16
Hari Mistry                U15    5.23.91         PB
Ethan McCall            U15    4.40.78         PB
Max Baxter               U15    4.41.07         PB
Alex Hughes             U15    4.43.80         PB
 
Sept 14th
The final action of the Hertfordshire County Championships took place at St Albans on this Tuesday evening with 1500m races. Archie and Euan Pinder took a 1-2 in the U15 race with times of 4.28.6 and 4.31.2 respectively. The field of 17 was the largest of the night.
 
Sep 16th
A final Harrow Open saw a PB in 800m for U15 Rebecca Lawson - 2.50.23. U15s Lily Jessop-Tranter and Olivia Clarke ran 2.34.27 and 2.34.65 respectively, and in the final race of the evening U17 Oakley Denson won in 1.59.57 with U15 Isaac Jessop-Tranter third in 2.02.32.

A good turnout of Chiltern Harriers went to the final Watford open of the summer last night.
 
A lovely warm, sunny evening made for great conditions and there were some excellent performances despite it being the end of the season.
 
800m
Race 1
Marlie Nkoane ran a PB of 2.37.79 with fellow U13 Evelyn Wildman close behind on 2.38.89. U15 Lucy Wilkinson ran a season’s best of 2.41.83.
 
Race 2
U13 Tom Ford ran a PB of 2.30.26 to be second and U13 Hugo Mundy (2.36.70), U17 Ellie Shield (2.38.85) and U15 Emily Ford (2.39.34) ran well.
 
Race 3
This saw a great cluster of runs from a female Chiltern quartet. U17 Olivia Edwards was third in a big season’s best of 2.25.43. Just behind was U15 Lily Jessop-Tranter in a PB of 2.25.75 and in fifth was U15 Lesedi Nkoane with a season’s best 2.27.60. In sixth was U15 Izzy Martin with a PB of 2.29.18.
 
Race 4
In this one U15 Sammy Whibley ran a PB of 2.24.85.
 
Race 5
U15 Callum Powell ran well for 2.23.29, a couple of seconds off his PB.
 
Race 10
Euan Pinder (U15) ran a PB of 2.07.99 with U17 Thomas Redmond running his first 800m since 2017 in a big PB of 2.08.94.
 
Race 11
U15s Isaac Jessop-Tranter and Archie Pinder both ran well in this, Isaac logging 2.02.43 and Archie gaining a PB of 2.02.64.
 
Race 12
U20 Louis Peterson ran a PB of 2.00.04.
 
Race 13
In-form U17 Oakley Denson was third in a PB of 1.57.00.
 
3000m
In Race 1 U15 Max Baxter ran well for a PB, dipping under ten minutes for the first time with 9.59.35, and Alden Collier had a very good run in Race 2 with 8.51.04, second fastest U15 time of the season in the UK rankings.

Eltham BMC Grand Prix
In the final BMC Grand Prix of the season at Eltham on August 14th U23 Harry Cox was second in the Men’s 800m B race in 1.51.40 and Adam Day ran a PB of 3.55.10 to be seventh in the Men’s 1500m C race.
 
BMC Festival of Miles
British Milers Club combined with Thames Valley Harriers to host a Festival of Miles meeting plus a normal open meeting on August 22nd. U23 Harry Cox ran in the BMC B race and finished fifth in 4.18.40, a few seconds off his PB set a few weeks earlier. In the Open Meeting U20 Louis Peterson ran well in the 800m A race to run 2.02.01.
 
National Athletics League
Will Perkin had his first race for several weeks after covid to run as a higher claim athlete for Thames Valley Harriers in the final NAL match of the season. Will was second in the A string 800m in 1.57.40. It looks like Thames Valley will be national champions in this new premier track and field league competition.
 
England Athletics Combined Events
Chsiom Nwafor took part on her first full heptathlon at the England Athletics Combined Events Championships at Sportcity, Manchester on Saturday and Sunday 28th/29th August. Chisom had a solid day on Saturday ending up in fourth place from the total of twenty-seven U17 women taking part, but excelled in her more unfamiliar events of javelin and 800m on day two to gain a brilliant bronze medal.
 
Chisom’s performances are as follows 
                                                            Points
80m hurdles            12.21 (10th)           771
High Jump              1.53m (7th)              655
Shot Putt                10.84m (8th)            585
200m                      25.66 (2nd)              827
Long Jump              5.45m (4th)             697
Javelin                    28.90m (6th)            456     PB
800m                      2.27.33 (2nd)           727     PB
                                                                4718
UK School Games
Chisom Nwafor continued her purple patch at the UK School Games National Finals at Loughborough the following weekend. This multi-sport festival is a mini-Olympics for U17 sportspeople and athletics is included alongside cricket, hockey, laser run, netball, triathlon, cycling, BMX, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis. Chisom was taking part in long jump whilst Chiltern’s other representatives Abbie Henderson and Holly Henderson were both in the 1500m steeplechase.
The games last for three days and the competitors attend various talks as well as competing and also get a taster of what university life could be like.
Able to focus on one event, Chisom jumped a PB of 5.88m for a win in long jump. Holly and Abbie, after a summer break involving holidays and Reading Festival, did well and were seventh and eighth in 5.23.70 and 5.44.41, well down on their PBs recorded earlier in the summer. All three enjoyed the experience.

15 Boys
A strong U15 team scored excellent points for the overall score. There was domination of middle distance with Isaac Jessop-Tranter winning A string 800m, Euan Pinder the B string; Alden Collier and Archie Pinder gaining a double win in 1500m. Ethan McCall and Daniel Munn ran well in non-scoring 800m. Oscar Freemont and Issa Phillips-Pope ran 100m, Isaac and Oscar running 200m. Max Baxter and Alex Hughes ran well in 300m and Sammy Whibley was A string hurdles. Sammy was also second in A string high jump and fourth in A string shot. Elsewhere in the field, Archie was second in B string high jump and Euan and Alex Hughes looked after long jump. Max and Alex did discus, and Alden Collier and Ethan McCall gained good points in hammer, Ethan winning the B string. Ethan and Isaac threw well in javelin. The 4 x 100m team of Isaac, Issa, Sammy and Oscar were a good second, and the 4 x 300m team of Euan, Archie, Alden and Max won with a very strong 2.47.1.
 
U13 Boys
There were some good efforts in this age group. Henry Wendt ran a PB to be second in A string 75m, Austin Tinsley fourth in B string. Henry was third in 150m A string, newcomer Tommy Arnold third in B string. Felix Danielli ran well for a win in A string 800m, James Holdsworth second in B string. Tom Ford was second in A string 1200m with Charlie Quantrill winning the B string. Austin and Felix looked after hurdles. In the field Austin and Tom did high jump, Felix and James long jump, Charlie Quantrill and Charlie De Sousa shot, and Hugo Mundy achieved an impressive 22.80m to be third in javelin, Henry winning the B string. Hugo also ran well in non-scoring 800m as did Charlie De Sousa, who added non-scoring 75m to his day. The 4 x 100m team of Tommy, Hugo, Henry and Tom was fourth.
 
All the athletes performed well and several gained good experience in new events.

Team South Bucks had a solid day at the final YDL Upper Age Group match of the season at Bracknell on Sunday.
 
Although missing several athletes due to many end-of-season factors, there were some good efforts and the team finished a decent third. The weather was sunny and warm.
 
U20 Men
Max McGarvie won a hard-fought A string 800m with Aaron Phillips winning B string. In 1500m Angus Williams also won a tough race. Keelan Welch ran well in 100m and 200m and there was a 3000m win for Louis Peterson, James Palmer winning B string. In the field Toby Folkes and Kesegan Suthakar looked after all the throws. The 4 x 400m team of Max, Aaron, Keelan and Ryan Wells ran well for second.
 
U20 Women
Hannah Wells competed excellently in all throws as usual. Nemiah Munir had a superb pole vault competition, winning with a PB of 3.70m, third in the U20 national rankings. Lily Holt and Jemima Hay scored a double win in long jump, Jemima adding a win in A string triple jump. There was a double win in 1500m from Ellen Cooper and Ellie Shield, and an 800m one from Amy Hogbin and Orla Williams later in the afternoon. Charlotte Rigby ran well in 100m and Cerys Vico took care of A string 200m and 400m, with Lottie Warcup and Abi Symonds B string in those events. Lily Holt won 100m hurdles and there were good efforts in 400m hurdles from Sophie Thomas and Mia Caddell in 1500m steeplechase. The 4 x 100m team of Lily, Lottie, Jemima and Charlotte was second and the 4 x 400m team of Abi, Lottie, Amy and Cerys were just pipped by a tenth 4.12.26 to 4.12.41 in an exciting two team race.
 
U17 Men
Noah Hobson ran 100m A string and added good efforts in long jump and triple jump. Thomas Askey was just outside his PB in A string 400m and Oakley Denson made his debut in B string, winning in a solid time. Jamie Shepherd and Matthew Evans ran well in 800m and there was a PB for Laurie Gawne in A string 1500m, his first race for two years. Henry Webb ran well in B string. Sammy Bennetts and Jerry Anderson teamed up in 3000m, struggling slightly in the heat. Ryan Wells won 100m hurdles and Thomas Askey improved his best time in 1500m steeplechase by a couple of seconds for a win. Ryan added a win in A string triple jump and third in hammer to his day, Noah Hobson contributing in B string triple jump and A string long jump. Oakley Denson threw A string javelin. The 4 x 400m team of Oakley, Thomas Matthew and Jamie was second.
 
U17 Women
Christina Paulsen and Maisie Grimsditch did well in 100m and 200m, with Jemma Thomson and Olivia Edwards running strongly in 300m and Zenzele Samuel-John doing well in non-scoring. Alice Brown was third in A string 800m and Charlotte Docwra was third in a string 1500m, Emma Caddell first in B string. Maddie Hughes won A string 3000m comfortably. In the field, Rufaro Chikwanda did triple jump and Amber Galley discus. The 4 x 100m team of Christina, Jemma, Zenzele and Maisie won as did the 4 x 300m team of Rufaro, Zenzele, Olivia and Jemma.

A strong turnout of twenty-three Chiltern athletes ran in the third, and penultimate, Watford open of the season on Wednesday. Conditions were grey, but mild and still so very good for fast times.
 
Although the end of the season approaches, there were some very good runs and a pleasantly surprising number of sixteen PBs.
 
400m
Alice Brown (U17) and Isaac Jessop-Tranter (U15) both made their debuts at the event. Both did well, Alice running strongly in race 2 for 63.59 and Isaac setting a good benchmark in race 4 of 55.52.
 
 
1500m
Race 1
U13 Hugo Mundy made his 1500m debut with a good run of 5.21.14 to be fifth.
 
Race 2
U15 Olivia Clarke ran 5.14.42 for a new PB. U13 Marlie Nkoane ran well for a new best of 5.19.88 and U13 Lydia Cross made a good debut at the event with 5.25.38.
 
Race 3
Fast improving U13 James Holdsworth ran positively for a big new best time of 5.02.40. U15 Emily Ford was a little outside her best with 5.13.56.
 
Race 4
U15 girls Lesedi Nkoane and Lily Jessop-Tranter were both a little off their PBs with 5.05.02 and 5.07.00 respectively.
 
Race 5
This one saw four evenly matched Chiltern athletes running well. Senior Woman Hannah Wardley ran 4.52.19, a tenth outside her best set earlier this season. Callum Powell (U15) ran a PB of 4.55.81, U13 Tom Ford ran 4.57.28 and U15 Frankie Baxter ran 4.58.56, both slightly outside their season’s bests.
 
Race 6
A close race saw great PBs from U15 Max Baxter (4.42.82), U17 Maddie Hughes (4.44.78) and U15 Alex Hughes (4.45.52).
 
Race 7
U17 Henry Webb ran well for third in 4.36.42, a second outside his best.
 
Race 9
Three strong runs from Chiltern males in this one which saw a win for U20 Jamie Carruthers in a new best of 4.23.14. U17 Sammy Bennetts ran well for a PB of 4.27.13 and Vet 40 Tom Dixon made his 1500m debut with 4.30.50.
 
Race 10
Senior Man Aran Davidson was well below his usual long race distance but ran well for a new PB of 4.14.89.
 
Race 12
In-form U17 Oakley Denson, fresh from an SEAA 800m win at the weekend, ran a superb race to smash his PB and log a strong time of 4.02.69.

A busy weekend for Chiltern track athletes took place in mostly pleasant mild, sunny conditions.
 
SAL
The first meeting on the agenda was the Southern Athletics League match 3 at Oxford Horspath. The league is for senior athletes in the U17, U20 and senior age groups, all competing together. Six Chiltern athletes took part and all did well. U23 Seb Mills had his first race at the 400m since 2017 and took a win in a good time of 52.00. Senior Woman Sarah Cross was second in 100m in 13.16 and followed this with third in javelin with 29.72m. U20 Finn O’Brien was second in 1500m with a PB of 4.25.01 and U17 Henry Webb was third in B string in 4.50.94 after already having been fifth in 800m A string in 2.19.35, his PB. U17 Olivia Edwards ran a PB of 65.03 to be third in 400m and T20 athlete Fiona Calder kept busy with good performances in 100m, 200m, 400m and long jump.
 
 
BMC Grand Prix
The final British Milers Club Grand Prix of the season took place at Eltham on Saturday evening. U23 Harry Cox continued his great season with second place in the men’s 800m B race in 1.51.40 and Adam Day ran a strong PB of 3.55.10 to be seventh in the men’s 1500m C race.
 
 
Bucks County Champs Day 2
Day 2 of the Bucks Track and Field Champs at Milton Keynes was a fairly quiet affair but there were plenty of great performances and interesting athletics to watch in the 1500m, hurdles and field events taking place.

Perfect still, warm conditions were in evidence at the latest Watford Open. Thirteen Chiltern Harriers made the trip and there were several PBs across the races. Two ran BMC 800m, ten ran 800m and one 3000m.
 
The evening started with 40 minutes of top class British Milers Club action and two Chiltern athletes took part. U23 Adam Day was first up in the Men’s 800m C race and had a solid run to be sixth in 1.53.50. Fellow U23 Harry Cox was a late call-up for the 800m B race and pushed hard to be fourth in 1.51.01.
 
800m
Race 2
This saw a talented quartet of Chiltern girls run well. Olivia Edwards had her best race of the season to win in a season’s best 2.30.11. In third, fellow U17 Charlotte Docwra ran a PB of 2.31.58. Ellie Shield (U17) ran 2.33.35 and promising U13 Lydia Cross had a good run to log 2.35.97.
 
Race 6
U15 Callum Powell ran strongly and with determination to run a good PB of 2.21.42, over a second off his previous best.
 
Race 7
Ethan McCall ran a PB of 2.16.17 in this one after a fast start.
 
Race 10
U20 Louis Peterson recorded a big PB of 2.01.26 to be fourth.
 
Race 12
U15 Alden Collier was bumped at the start and at the bell but still managed a win in 1.58.33. A cleaner race would have seen him close to his 1.55 PB set last week.
 
Race 14
U20 Max McGarvie had a great run to take over a second off his best in second place with 1.55.33, and U23 Seb Mills ran a season’s best 1.59.55.
 
3000m
Senior Man Aran Davidson had a gutsy run in a high quality race 2 to log a PB of 8.58.99.