Several Chiltern Harriers athletes were taking part for their schools in the Buckinghamshire Schools Track and Field Championships at Milton Keynes on Saturday.
 
In very warm, sunny weather, conditions were good for athletics and there were many good performances and several county titles won by Chiltern athletes.
 
Junior Girls
Frankie Baxter won the 800m final after a good performance in the heats. Frankie’s time of 2.21.4 was a season’s best and Lily Jessop-Tranter had a good run to be third with Olivia Clarke seventh. In the heats Jo Snelling (2.34.1) and Alice Peckham (2.34.1) ran PBs while Lucy Wilkinson had her first race in two years after a long injury lay off to run 2.51.2. In the 1500m Lesedi Nkoane ran a season’s best 5.02.9 to be fifth and there were PBs from Ffion Harman sixth in 5.13.7, Sofia Lomas eighth in 5.17.7, and Jocelyn Davies 11th in 5.32.3.
In the sprints Kayla Best was on good form with third in the 100m final in a PB of 13.2 and second in 200m in 27.4 after setting a PB of 27.3 in the heat. Sophie Habgood was third in the 200m final in a PB of 27.4. Alice Peckham was fifth in 300m in PB of 47.8. Jo Snelling (14.8) and Olivia Clarke (15.0) both ran PBs in 75m hurdles heats to make the final where Olivia was sixth in an improved 14.9 and Jo eighth.
In the field Sofia Lomas was third in long jump with an impressive 4.59m. Also jumping were Alice Peckham (3.52m), Olivia Clarke (3.41m) and Lesedi Nkoane (3.37m). Lucy Wilkinson was down on her usual 20m javelin form, with 12.69m.
 
Intermediate Girls
Chisom Nwafor had a stellar day, winning three events with English Schools qualifying standards. Chisom recorded a PB of 25.6 to win 200m, a PB of 5.40m in long jump and a season’s best 12.30m in shot. In 300m Rufaro Chikwanda was second in 45.6 and Olivia Edwards was third with 46.1. The 800m final saw Alice Brown second in 2.32.6 and Tia Lomas third in a PB of 2.33.8. Ellie Shield was sixth in 2.38.3 after a 2.33 in the heat. Hannah Ashby ran a season’s best 2.38.7 in the heat. Holly Henderson won 1500m in 4.52.6 with Abbie Henderson third and Charlotte Docwra fifth in a PB of 5.08.3. Maddie Hughes was second in 3000m in 10.31.2. Jess Cook was fourth in 80m hurdles in a PB of 14.0 and fourth in 300m hurdles in a PB of 52.6. Joining Jess in long hurdles was Gabi Riley, third in a PB of 51.9 and Rufaro Chikwanda fifth in 56.1 after a fall.
In the field Tia Lomas was a good second behind Chisom with an excellent PB of 4.77m. Gabi Riley was seventh in shot with 7.47m and Jess Cook was third in javelin with 22.16m
 
Junior Boys
The highlight was a 1-2-3 in 1500m with Alden Collier, Euan Pinder and Archie Pinder all achieving English Schools qualifying times – 4.14.6, 4.17.1 and 4.19.8 respectively. There was further Chiltern interest in this race with Max Baxter fifth (4.48.3), Daniel Munn seventh (4.51.0 – PB), Alex Hughes eighth (5.02.6), Rory Hilton tenth (5.14.7 - PB) and Danny Carruthers twelfth (5.22.1). In 800m Isaac Jessop-Tranter was a strong winner in 2.08.4. Ethan McCall was fourth (2.18.2), Callum Powell fifth (2.23.9) and Sammy Whibley sixth (2.29.4). Oscar Freemont ran a PB of 12.9 in the 100m heat. In the field Euan Pinder was second in high jump with 1.45m and Archie Pinder equal third with 1.30m.
 
Intermediate Boys
Oakley Denson won 1500m in 4.24.5 with Sammy Bennetts getting a PB of 4.30.6 to be second. A trio of Chiltern athletes ran 800m  - Thomas Askey third in 2.02.7, John Nickless fourth in 2.10.0 and Felix Palmer fifth in 2.13.9. Saajan Jassy had his first race in two years to run 12.4 in the 100m heat.

Although most of the focus in the first two weeks of June has been on the YDL Lower Age Group and the BMC PB Classic, there have been several other meetings where Chiltern runners have been competing
 
Kettering Open
On May 31st (bank holiday Monday) Thomas Askey went to the Kettering Open Meeting and ran 2.02.39 for 800m, a little outside his recently set best
 
Lee Valley Hurdles Fest
Also on bank holiday Monday three U17 Chiltern women tackled 300m hurdles for the first time. Rufaro Chikwanda was quickest with 52.39 followed by Gabi Riley (52.95) and Jess Cook (54.52).
 
National Athletics League
Senior Man Will Perkin attended the inaugural weekend of the new National Athletics League, a combined-gender league to replace the male only British Athletics League and the UK Women’s League. At an excellent meeting at Bromley on Sunday 6th June Will was competing as a ‘Higher Claim Athlete’ for Thames Valley Harriers. Will was running his first race for two years and had an encouraging run to win the 1500m in 3.54.39. After the first round of matches TVH are leading the nationwide competition.
 
BMC Regional Wormwood Scrubs
Several strong Chiltern athletes made the trip on June 9th to Wormwood Scrubs to compete in the British Milers Club Regional meeting.
800m
There were five 800m races and Chiltern had an interest in all five.
In the A race U23 Seb Mills was competing on the track for the first time since 2017. Targeting mid 1.50s, Seb was a little disappointed to finish with 1.59.65 but it was a good effort after a long lay-off. In the B race U17 Oakley Denson had his best race of the season to crack two minutes for the first time, fourth in 1.59.84. The C race saw U17 Thomas Askey run 2.02.16 to be third and newcomer U17 Matthew Evans ran a PB of 2.14.65 to win the D race. U15 Frankie Baxter ran a season’s best 2.23.01 to be fifth in the E race.
 
1500m
In three 1500m races, Chiltern again had runners in each. In the A race U20 Angus Williams had his best race of the summer to record a good PB of 4.00.66. Fellow U20 Max McGarvie was a little down on his best with 4.06.04. The B race saw U15s Euan and Archie Pinder a few seconds off their PBs set at Saturday’s PB Classic. Their 4.22.94 and 4.23.35 respectively are still very good times however. The C race saw a good PB for U17 Maddie Hughes of 4.50.16 and for brother Alex Hughes (U15) who ran well for 4.51.52
 
BMC Gold Standard, Birmingham University
Will Perkin was back on the track at the Birmingham University BMC Gold Standard meeting on June 9th. In a race paced by Chiltern team mate and Birmingham Uni student Adam Day, Will ran a strong last lap to finish fifth in a season’s best 3.51.30. 

Latest Season Best Performances from Steve

A good turnout of twenty-three Chiltern young track runners attended the British Milers Club PB Classic meeting at Stantonbury Stadium, Milton Keynes on Saturday.
 
There were some excellent performances and many PBs amongst the athletes with five excellent English Schools qualifications achieved.
 
It was a long, still, sunny afternoon, so good conditions.
 
800m

B Race Mens
U20 Angus Williams ran strongly to be second in a new PB of 1.57.20.
 
D Race Mens
U20 Max McGarvie powered away from the field to set a big new PB of 1.56.67, faster than the winners of both the B and C races. U17 Oakley Denson was slightly off his best with 2.03.33.
 
E Race Mens
Despite a bumpy start U15 Isaac Jessop-Tranter kept his composure and ran powerfully to a new best, and English Schools qualifying time, of 2.03.20. This puts Isaac fifth in the national rankings.
 
I Race Mens
U15 Callum Powell took three seconds off his best to record 2.22.52 to be fourth in this one.
 
H Race Womens
U17 Alice Brown won this heat in a season’s best 2.28.99 and fellow U17 Olivia Edwards logged 2.33.36.
  
1500m

C Race Mens
U15 Alden Collier ran a mature race to storm to the top of the national rankings with a big PB and English Schools National Standard time of 4.04.60.
 
E Race Mens
Euan Pinder (U15) and twin brother Archie (U15) both ran strongly and with great pacing to log big PBs of 4.16.77 and 4.17.91 respectively. Both times are comfortably within English Schools qualifying and the twins lie ninth and tenth nationally.
 
F Race Mens
U20 Jamie Carruthers ran a nine-second PB of 4.25.86 to win the F race and U17 Henry Webb also ran a big PB of 4.35.88.
 
G Race Mixed
Joe Day (U20) ran a PB of 4.45.80 in this one.
 
K Race Mixed
U20 and first year Loughborough student Emily Alderson ran well to record a season’s best 5.10.87. U15 Danny Carruthers ran 5.43.12.
 
L Race Mixed
U15 Jocelyn Davies ran her second ever 1500m and logged a PB of 5.34.96. U20 Soraya Lockwood struggled with ankle pain and ran 5.42.03.
 
3000m

D Race Mixed
U17 Tom Emery made his 3000m debut and was second in a strong time of 9.23.05.
 
E Race Mixed
Alicia Bushell (U20) with 11.10.42 and Charlotte Docwra (U17) with 11.11.00 both faded in the heat and were down on their best.
  
1500m Steeplechase Womens

U17 Holly Henderson took a second off her PB to run an English Schools qualifying mark of 5.21.07. Holly is fifth in the national rankings. Twin Abbie battled hard with breathing difficulties and was off her best with 5.39.97.
 
2000m Steeplechase Mens

U20 Louis Peterson made his debut at the event battled hard to a solid time of 7.04.15.

The first track and field league match that Chiltern Harriers have had in two years took place in Bedford on Saturday.
 
The Youth Development League is working on a no promotion, no relegation basis this year and divisions are as local as possible to avoid extensive travel.
 
The Lower Age Group match at Bedford for U13s and U15s saw Chiltern end up in a very creditable second place against some good clubs. We were behind winners Reading but ahead of Bracknell, Team Bedfordshire and Wycombe Phoenix. For this first match there were a restricted number of events to minimise social contact - so a short meeting
 
Nickie Pandya and Kathy Jessop were team managers and the Chiltern officials team of Fiona Williams, Sue Slade, Kenneth Huxham and Doug Smith provided a good deal of officiating seniority amongst the clubs taking part.
 
It was a warm sunny afternoon.
 
U15 Girls
The U15 girls had a good turnout and there was an A string win in 100m for Kayla Best in 13.30, and B string wins in 100m for Mila Luker (13.10) and Frankie Baxter in 800m (2.23.0). Elsewhere Lesedi Nkoane took care of A string 300m and A string high jump (also non-scoring 800m), Marea Logan ran B string 300m, Emily Ford was in B string discus and non-scoring 100m, Olivia Clarke was in A string discus and B string hurdles, and Jo Snelling scored a 75m hurdles PB in the A string of 13.7. Lily Jessop-Tranter ran A string 800m and Savarnah Pandya was B string shot and non-scoring 800m. Frankie Baxter added to her B string 800m win with a PB of 7.73m  in A string shot. Abigail Yoosuf ran a promising 100m in non-scoring on her club debut and teamed up with Kayla, Mila and Olivia to be second in 4 x 100m relay. The 4 x 300m relay team of Frankie, Marea. Emily and Lily were third.
 
U15 Boys
A very small U15 Boys team coped well with a range of events. Max Baxter was A string 800m and discus, and B string 100m. Issa Phillips-Pope ran a PB in A string 100m of 13.00 and jumped 1.25m in B string high jump, and Sammy Whibley had a busy day with PBs in 300m (44.3) and high jump (1.54m) and also helped out in B string 800m.
 
U13 Girls
A good quartet filled many slots with Evelyn Wildman winning A string 1200m in a promising 4.11.0 and running a 75m PB of 11.5. Marlie Nkoane ran a good B string 75m but struggled with a stitch in B string 1200m. Marlie and Keya Kara featured in long jump and Keya also looked after B string javelin. Issy Robinson and Keya ran non-scoring 75m and Issy was also A string javelin. The four girls were third in 4 x 100m relay.
 
U13 Boys
Tom Ford won A string 1200m in a PB of 3.57.3 and also ran B string 75m. Felix Danielli was second in A string 75m in a brisk 10.9 and was second in B string 1200m. Tom and James Holdsworth looked after long jump, and Henry Wendt threw a PB of 13.99m in javelin. Henry and Rex Considine ran non-scoring 75m and the relay quartet of Henry, Rex, Tom and James were second.

Chiltern athletes have been competing in a variety of locations this weekend.
 
Battersea Park
U15 Alden Collier made the trip to South London to compete in the top 800m race at an endurance open meeting organised by Herne Hill Harriers. Alden had a great run to be third and log a PB of 1.58.50 which leads the national rankings in his age group.
 
Bromley
Also in PB form was U23 Harry Cox who competed in a hurdles and middle distance open meeting at Norman Park, Bromley, home of Blackheath and Bromley Harriers.
Harry was also in the top seeded race and had a strong run to be third and record 1.52.74
 
Milton Keynes
Alicia Bushell (U20) and Charlotte Docwra (U17) went to the popular Soar MK3000 Special meeting at Stantonbury Stadium. There were sixteen graded 3000m races taking place in the drizzle and both athletes were in the mixed ‘N’ race. Consistent lap times led to both girls well placed at the bell, but Charlotte had a storming last lap to record a PB of 10.55.76. Alicia had another solid run to log 11.07.61.

Chiltern Harriers were invited to a meeting at Eton organised by Windsor, Slough Eton and Hounslow AC on Sunday.
 
Forty-eight Chiltern athletes across the age groups took advantage and there were some great performances and many PBs in conditions that were mild and still, although a bit rainy at times.
 
100m
U13 Issy Robinson looked strong in Race 1 winning in 15.22. U15 Beth Togneri was second in 15.58. In Race 2 Jack Martin recorded a very promising time of 14.09.
 
5000m
Three Chiltern seniors toed the line in the 5000m with Aran Davidson looking good to be second in a PB of 15.11.44. There were also PBs for Ian Lawson in 18.30.84 and Hannah Wardley in 18.37.34.
 
800m
Race 1 – U20 Angus Williams was third in the top race in a  PB of 1.57.50.
Race 2 – U15 Sav Pandya scored a PB of 2.38.36 after a determined run to be second. Rebecca Lawson ran 2.54.40, just outside her best.
Race 3 – U13 Lydia Cross scored a PB with 2.36.38, followed by fellow U13 Evelyn Wildman in 2.38.38. U15 Jocelyn Davies ran 2.45.58 on debut and Rex Considine was hampered with knee problems to run 2.50.09.
Race 4 – Izzy Martin (U15) was slightly outside her best with 2.31.45 but U13 Felix Danielli ran a big PB of 2.31.48. U15 Speed Demons Sofia Lomas and Jo Snelling were in PB shape with 2.34.37 and 2.36.14 respectively, and Marlie Nkoane ran a PB of 2.41.01.
Race 5 – The Chiltern quintet in the middle of this race were U13 Tom Ford (2.31.47), U17 Olivia Edwards (2.33.28), U15 Olivia Clarke (2.34.83), U13 Hugo Mundy (2.35.56), and U13 Charlie Quantrill 3.35.69.
Race 6 – U15 Sammy Whibley won Race 6 in a PB of 2.25.83, just holding off fast finishing U15 Lily Jessop-Tranter in 2.25.98.
Race 7 – U15 Callum Powell ran well-paced race to be second in a PB of 2.25.88.
Race 8 – U20 Luke Martin was second in a PB of 2.13.42 and U15 Ethan McCall ran 2.23.83.
 
1500m
Race 1 – This was a Chiltern 1-2-3 with U17 Jerry Anderson running 4.57.85, U13 James Holdsworth 5.12.83 and U17 Tia Lomas 5.13.94: all PBs. Also running well were U17 Alice Brown, back from an injury layoff with 5.22.62 and U13 Anna Stoneham 5.49.38.
Race 2 – U15 Frankie Baxter ran very good and controlled race to win this one in a season’s best 4.59.61. U17 Charlotte Docwra ran a PB of 5.09.07 and U15 Emily Ford 5.17.11.
Race 3 – U17 Henry Webb made his 1500m debut with a very well-paced win in 4.41.97.
Race  5 – In a high powered 1500m U20 Max McGarvie confirmed his good training form to win in 4.01.40, a big PB. Alex Johnson (U20) battled shin pain to record a solid 4.11.02 to be third and U15 Alden Collier finished well after a well-paced run to log an English Schools National Standard of 4.12.38 in fourth. Alden lies second in the national rankings.
 
3000m
Just one race for this one and a big Chiltern presence did well. U20 Ben Jackson was seventh in 9.55.87. U17 Angus Stoneham ran 9.58.07, U20 Sammy Bennetts 10.00.35, U15 Max Baxter 10.09.77, U15 Alex Hughes 10.10.30, and U20 Alicia Bushell 11.02.77.
 
1500m Steeplechase
Holly and Abbie Henderson were making their debut in the chase. After an aggressive first lap Holly did well to control her fatigue on the last lap and ran an English Schools qualifier of 5.22.81. Holly lies third in the national rankings. Abbie Henderson hurdled well but faceplanted (twice!) in the water jump. Despite this her time of 5.30.83 was very good.

A big turnout of Chiltern middle distance runners attended the second Harrow open of the season on Thursday. Both 800m and 1500m were on offer and the Chiltern presence was fairly even across the two.
 
There were some excellent runs and many inexperienced athletes gained useful race competition.
 
Conditions were sunny and still but fairly cool.
 
800m
Race 1
U15 Rebecca Lawson made her season track debut and ran a PB of 2.53.50.
 
Race 2
Newcomer Lydia Cross (U13) impressed with a determined run to win Race 2 in 2.38.71. Fellow U13 Charlie De Sousa also made his track debut and ran 2.52.15.
 
Race 3
Danny Carruthers (U15) ran positively to record a PB of 2.32.77 to be second, U13 Ellie Danner made an impressive debut to run 2.35.60.
 
Race 4
U15 Izzy Martin ran strongly for a PB of 2.29.95.
 
Race 5
U17 Olivia Edwards had her first rack run for a couple of years to run 2.32.52. U15 Olivia Clarke was close behind to log 2.33.12. Felix Danielli (U13) made his track debut to run 2.38.12.
 
Race 6
Lily Jessop-Tranter (U15) continued her great early-season form to run a big PB of 2.25.97. U15 Alex Hughes ran a PB of 2.30.16 and U15 Lesedi Nkoane ran 2.32.84.
 
Race 8
Ethan McCall (U15) ran a PB of 2.16.55; U17 Henry Webb ran a good race of around 2.15 but was DQ’ed for an early break.
 
Race 10
Possibly race of the evening for Chiltern saw big PBs for Thomas Askey (U17), first in 2.00.27, and U15 Isaac Jessop-Tranter who had a stunning run to log 2.05.24 and put himself at the top of the national rankings.
 
Race 11
U20 Charlie Stone was sixth in 2.11.77.
 
1500m
Race 1
Debutants Jocelyn Davies (U15), Evelyn Wildman (U13) and Rex Considine (U13) all acquitted themselves well in their track debuts with 5.35.64, 5.40.11, and 5.47.89 respectively.
 
Race 2
Tom Ford (U13) made an assured track debut to run 5.03.43 to win race 3.
 
Race 3
U13 Marlie Nkoane finished with a flourish to log a PB of 5.25.91.
 
Race 4
U15 Emily Ford ran well to run a PB of 5.13.55 whilst U17 Ellie Shield ran a season’s best 5.19.55.
 
Race 5
Holly Henderson (U17) ran positively to run a good PB of 4.49.25. Vet 50 Ian Lawson continued his track season with a hard-earned 4.56.25, and U15 Callum Powell was next placed with a PB of 4.58.28. U15 Frankie Baxter ran 5.06.17.
 
Race 6
A week ago Max Baxter, Daniel Munn and Maddie Hughes shared the same 3000m race, and this week the trio repeated the dynamic with excellent runs of 4.47.91(PB), 4.52.77 (PB), and 4.54.38 (SB) respectively.
 
Race 7
After a long battle with knee problems U20 Jamie Carruthers had his first track race for years and looked good to be second in a PB of 4.34.47.
 
Race 8
Oakley Denson (U17) won in a PB of 4.25.26 and Euan Pinder (U15) was also in PB form to log 4.30.28 to be third. Vet 50 Nick Hughes ran well to run 4.37.78.
 
Race 9
U17 Tom Emery and U20 Ben Jackson ran well to be fourth and fifth in PBs of 4.30.50 and 4.31.43 respectively.
 
Race 10
Yet another Chiltern in PB form was U20 Finn O’Brien who ran 4.30.15, only a slightly fast first lap preventing a sub 4.30 clocking.
 
Race 11
U20 Angus Williams ran a solid 4.10.46 in this one. Alden Collier (U15) ran 4.30.88 but has the potential to go much faster in a more evenly paced race.

Track and Field Round Up
 
A few Chiltern Harriers have started the 2021 track season in April, setting some good times, hopefully a good indicator for the season ahead.
  
Nuneaton Opens
The Gilbody family have made two trips to Nuneaton to make use of the open meetings there. On April 11th U13 Kody Gilbody ran a PB of 30.38 in 200m and another with 5.16.65 in 1500m. U15 Zoe Gilbody ran a great 1500m PB of 4.42.93, an English Schools qualifying time which currently leads the national rankings. Zoe also logged a 200m PB of 29.51. On April 18th Zoe added a further PB - 2.20.58 in 800m.
  
Lee Valley Open
First Year U17 Jemma Thomson made a good start to the season with a PB of 26.83 in 200m at Lee Valley on April 10th
  
Birmingham Uni Open Meeting
Three Chiltern Harriers made the trip on April 21st to the first of Birmingham University’s popular summer series meetings. U23s Adam Day and Richard Slade ran in the fastest 1500m in the open event and U23 Harry Cox was in the Men’s 1500m in the British Milers Club Gold Standard portion of the meeting. All ran well with Adam finishing fast to be second in 3.58.91 and Richard logging a PB of 4.08.52. Both will aim to improve on those times this season. Harry was in a very quick race and ran well to be 11th in 4.02.31.

A great turnout of twenty-four Chiltern Harriers across the age groups made the trip to Bannister Stadium Harrow for the first local open meeting of the track season.
 
The only distance on offer was 3000m and there were twelve races of about 14-20 in each, and many of the younger athletes were making their debuts at the event.
 
Conditions were dry and still but with cooler temperatures as the evening wore on.
 
Race 1
This contained veterans only and included Ian Lawson who ran his first track race for many years, recording an impressive 10.32.42 to be fifth.
 
Race 3
First year U15 Lily Jessop-Tranter made a great debut to be fourth in 10.55.78. Others making their debut in this one were U15 Lesedi Nkoane (seventh in 11.06.34), U17 Charlotte Docwra (eighth in 11.13.24), and U20 Emily Alderson (13th in 11.27.41). U17 Ellie Shield had a solid run for a season’s best 11.17.76 to be tenth.
 
Race 4
Sammy Bennetts (U17) gained the first of three Chiltern wins of the evening with a strong run in 10.15.18. U15 Emily Ford made a good debut to be 13th in 10.54.36, U15 Frankie Baxter ran 11.11.09, and U20 Alicia Bushell, after a fall at the bell, ran 11.22.59.
 
Race 5
Three Chiltern PBs in this one – U15s Max Baxter (fifth in 10.04.83), Daniel Munn (tenth in 10.11.91) and U17 Maddie Hughes (15th in 10.30.56)
 
Race 6
Two more PBs  - U15s Alex Hughes (ninth in 10.03.78) and Ethan McCall (12th in 10.18.23).
 
Race 7
U15 Isaac Jessop-Tranter had a storming run to log a new PB and win the race in an impressive 9.42.61. U17 Angus Stoneham ran well to be second in 9.46.42 on debut. U15 Zoe Gilbody ran a gutsy 10.11.38 to be ninth and go second on the U15 Girls national rankings.
 
Race 8
There were PBs for V50 Nick Hughes (tenth in 9.36.55) and V40 Tom Dixon (13th in 9.42.26) in this one.
 
Race 9
A third Chiltern win of the night came courtesy of U20 Max McGarvie who duked out a win in 9.08.68 against training partner, U17 Thomas Redmond (9.09.11).
 
Race 10
Senior Man Aran Davidson ran a good 9.03.11 to be seventh and U20 Louis Peterson ran a PB of 9.19.23 to be tenth.