Report of 3rd Event – 21 November 2015
Most of the year 3 children would have experienced their first taste of what is commonly thought of as real cross-country conditions today – the course made soft, muddy and heavy-going by recent heavy rain, a stiff and chilly north-west wind and a temperature no more than 5c. The one consolation was the brilliant sunshine. The conditions were reflected in the race times, which were 5 -10% longer than in the previous 2 races, and in the number of runners which were 20-30% down, except in the Boys’ Years 5-6 race. It was a challenge and one well met by all.
We have two missing positions: 64th in the G3-4 race and 29th in the B5-6 race. If you know who were in those positions, please let us know.
If you have not already caught the announcements at Woodbank and on the website, please note that the timetable for the remainder of the races has changed. Please see the foot of this report for the details.
Girls Years 3-4:
Freya Murdoch of Pownall Green added to her tally of wins, leading the way home in 6:34. Following her diversion off-course in the 2nd event, Saffron Meade of Great Moor, came home 2nd in 6:52, the same time as in her 1st race when the race conditions were easier. Eleanor Boyd came in 3rd in 7:08 and showed that she is getting to grips with cross-country running, having finished 11th in her first race and 8th in her second. She was followed home shortly after by a clutch of runners who have already established themselves in the top ten of the League. Freya continues to head the League with 3 points, while Saffron lies 2nd with 8 points and Emily Whitworth of Lady Barn House in 3rd with 10 points, just a point in front of Rosie Philbin of St Mary’s Marple in 4th place.
In the team competition, Lady Barn House St Mary’s Marple moved into the lead with 95 points by a consistent set of good scores. Lady Barn House slipped to 2nd on 124 points and Ladybrook held onto 3rd place by coming 2nd in the race.
Boys Years 3-4:
First place was taken by Harry Ahearn of St Christopher’s Romiley in a time of 6:05. William Bradford of High Lane Primary, who has two 6th places to his credit, came 2nd with a time of 6:42. Finley McLaughlin of Lady Barn House came 3rd in 6:43, producing another consistent result, which places him at the head of the League table with 8 points. In 2nd overall with 13 points is Dylan Norburn of St Mary’s Marple, another consistent finisher. 3rd place is held by William Bradford 14 points, one point ahead of Joshua Stutchfield of Torkington Primary.
Gee Cross were absent for this race so the competition for top place was more open for others to tilt at. High Lane won the race with a good score of 26 points, which was more than sufficient to put them at the head of the table. St Paul’s maintained their scoring consistency which moved them up from 3rd place to 2nd with 187 points, just ahead of Romiley Primary on 190 points, who moved up from 6th place to 3rd.
Girls Years 5-6:
Isabelle Burke of St Ann’s again took first place in a time of 10:33. Second was Jasmine Reed of Rose Hill Primary with a time of 11:06 and third was Sofia Livesey of St Simon’s in a time of 11:44, 5s ahead of Elizabeth Hill of High Lane. The League is led by Isabelle with 3 points, with Jasmine in 2nd place on 8 points and Elizabeth in 3rd with 12 points. At the half-way point, the most likely challengers to the top three is most likely to come from those in positions 4 to 6 in the table and the 3 runners lying further down the table who lead those with have done only 2 races so far.
In the team competition, the top three positions are unchanged. Stockport Grammar holds onto to the top position with 83 points, after achieving the excellent score of 20 points in the race, followed by High Lane in 2nd place with 96 points, and Romiley in 3rd place with 130 points. The nearest challenger to the top three is Norbury Hall with 195 points.
Boys Years 5-6:
Cathal O’Grady Smith of St Christopher’s won his third event of the season coming home in a time of 10:20. Jonah Wall of Great Moor who came 4th in the first race, then 3rd in the second climbed another position to 2nd, finishing 4s behind Cathal and lifting himself to 2nd spot in the League table. Bow Hornby of Norbury Hall came 3rd in 10:49 in his 2nd race of the season, 10s ahead of William Parker of Lark Hill, also in his 2nd race. Finley Mayoh of Nevile Road finished 5th after two successive 2nd places, which dropped him to 3rd in the League table.
St Christopher’s Romiley gained their 3rd League win and hold onto the head of the team table with 121 points. Their nearest challengers, Romiley Primary again chased them home and held onto 2nd place with 145 points, while St Mary’s Marple had another consistent performance and held onto 3rd place with 182 points. Nevile Road, with 198 points remains the nearest challengers for a top three position.
Next Event
The next event takes place on Saturday 12 December 2015. If the conditions are slow, we shall slip the start of the B5-6 race to 11:35.
I would like to thank and congratulate to all the children who took part in the league races and express my appreciation to their managers, family and friends for supporting them, St John Ambulance for tending to those needing medical attention and members and supporters of Stockport Harriers who helped put on a successful event. I hope to see you again at the next event.
Revised Dates
Woodbank Athletic Stadium will have builders on site in March 2016 to replace our current clubhouse with a new one. Access to the stadium will be limited, if not entirely restricted. We have therefore re-scheduled the remaining league events as follows:
Event 4 - 12 December 2015
Event 5 - 9 January 2016 (currently event 4)
Event 6 - 6 February 2016 (currently event 5)
We are considering a change of venue for the presentation event, which will now be held on 5 March 2016, and we shall advise you of the location in due course.