Chiltern Cross Country League - Match 2 at Teardrop Lakes, Milton Keynes

​Chiltern Harriers made solid progress at the second Chiltern League match at Teardrop Lakes, Milton Keynes on Saturday. After an unexpected win at Match I, the club managed a creditable fourth place. The turnout of 79 was well down on the 119 of the previous meeting.
 
In increasingly wet conditions the Chiltern athletes across the age groups did a good job at the match which also included the second leg of the British Athletics Cross Challenge series, which features top class athletes from around the UK in all age groups.

As usual the Under 11s were first off and the girls ran well to end up in second place. Scorers were Ellie Danner (8th), Marlie Nkoane (9th), and Katie Allsop (17th). Also running well were Evelyn Wildman (20th), and Charlotte Grosse (25th) from a field of 88.
 
The boys were also second but retain the league lead thanks to strong efforts from Zach Cleary (3rd), Tom Ford (7th), and Felix Danielli (9th). Also well up were Charlie Quantrill (10th), Kody Gilbody (11th), Hugo Mundy (18th), and Jacob Strutton-Smith (20th).
 
Twenty-seven U13 and U15 athletes were away running for their schools in ESAA Cup regional rounds, but those remaining did a great job in keeping the points ticking over. The U13 boys even managed a team win. Alden Collier entered the Cross Challenge race in addition to scoring in the league match. Alden took an immediate lead which he was not to relinquish, although his winning margin was only two seconds at the end. Also in the winning team were Gabriel Strutton-Smith who had his best ever run to be third, Leon Doran in fourth and Alfie Clifford in tenth. Other lads putting in a good shift included Frazer Peterson (17th), George Fotherby (20th), Freddie Emery (25th), Danny Carruthers (26th) and Issa Phillips-Pope (30th).
 
A second U13 League/Cross Challenge win came from Zoe Gilbody who had a great battle with top athlete Phoebe Gill from St Albans. The scoring team that finished second also included Lucy Wilkinson (6th), Izzy Martin (15th), and Beth Togneri (18th). The team were second on the day but stay on top overall.
 
The Under 15s were very light on numbers but the small turnout scored valuable points which could be crucial by the final match. Charlotte Docwra (13th) and Annie Hilton (26th) scored enough points to be seventh on the day, and the girls team are third overall. On the boys side Sammy Bennetts (15th), Zak Fisher (21st) and Jerry Anderson (23rd) did enough to be fourth and the team are second after two matches.
 
The Junior women had a solid turnout and were second – again the team stay top. Alicia Bushell (7th), Katie Repper (8th) and Charlotte Gilbody (17th) scored and there were good runs from Soraya Lockwood (18th), Jinaan Lockwood (21st), Millie Hughes (24th) and Ella Watson (34th).
 
The U17 Men battled hard through what by now were fairly dire conditions as the heavy rain churned up an already damp course. The team packed well to be second and are second overall. Alex Aldred was 11th, Ben Hunter 13th, Alex Johnson 14th and James Palmer 15th. Close behind were Ben Jackson 16th and Luke Martin 18th.
 
The senior women fielded a good team and were second. Scorers were Bex Nkoane (14th), Ellie Bates (19th), Hannah Wardley (23rd), Sarah Quantrill (29th), Sandra Reynolds (38th) and Sue Elliott (44th). Also contributing were Christine Burroughs (53rd), Cathy Holloway (60th), Sylvia Moss (64th), Helen Cholawo (76th), Tessa Passey (97th), Katherine Day (130th), Miriam Kempson (133rd), Ruth Holroyd (145th), Laura Gardner (146th), Tamsin Finch (153rd), Angela Hughes (165th), and Fiona Calder (187th). The Vets quartet of Bex, Sarah, Sandra and Sue were second.
 
The Senior Men had the worst of the weather but worked hard for ninth place. The scoring ten were Richard Slade (12th), Will Perkin (26th), Aran Davidson (39th), Cameron Reid (64th), Neil Turner (100th), Jon Taylor (126th), Nathan Taylor (146th), Matt Hipgrave (148th), Richard Moss (150th) and Tom Powell (151st). The vets foursome of Neil, Nathan, Richard and Andy Hickman were 11th. Also toeing the line were Neil Bates (161st), Mike Worsfold (171st), Cory Dyck (185th), Alan Hornibrook (193rd), Glen Martin 214th), and Trevor Brawn (262nd).
 
The third match is on December 7th at Luton.