Schools’ Cross Country League Race 2

Report: John Wharf -

Report of 2nd Event – 26 November 2016

We were pleased to record again a turnout of well over 300 runners. The hard early frost gave way to brighter, warmer conditions as the race progressed but the course held-up well despite the water-logged soil underneath.

We were again pleased to see Adam Finch of St. Simon’s continuing his rehabilitation programme and participating in the event by walking part of the course with two chaperones.

We have no results sheets for some of the positions: G3-4, positions 71 (10:13), 81 (10:44) and 97 (14:10); B3-4, positions 14 (7:00) and 60 (8:50); G5-6, position 61 (17:08); B5-6, positions 35 (12:33), 39 and 40 (both 12:47). If you can help us to put a name to the children in these positions, please contact me.

We also have some children reported as sharing positions: G5-6, position 36, G3-4, position 95. Any advice would be welcome.

Three girls from Chinley Primary missed the start of the G5-6 race and were allowed to join in with the B5-6 race. One did not finish but the other two ran in together in a time of 16:46 which has been recognised accordingly in the G5-6 results, without affecting other positions.

Again, we have allocated times of 50:00 minutes to runners who had to drop out races for one reason or another. This is to allow us to account for them more easily when determining which runners have done 5 or more races and are eligible for an endeavour medal.

Girls Years 3-4:

Rosie Philbin of St Mary’s Marple claimed her first win in the League in a time of 6:46, bettering her 2 second places last year. Just one second behind was the winner of the first race, Ella Buckley of Pownall Green and 4 seconds behind was Aisling Brooks of Ladybrook claiming her second 3rd place of the season. Ava Richards of St Philip’s claimed 4th spot following her 6th place in the first event of the season, while newcomer Ellena Walker of Tithe Barn finished a solid 5th just ahead of Aisling Brooks of Ladybrook and Alexa Billman of Cheadle.

In the team competition, Ladybrook achieved the best score (30 points) and cemented their position at the tops of the table with 42 points overall. High Lane and Pownall green came 2nd equal in the race with 35 points, which helped High Lane retain 2nd place in the table and Pownall Green to move from 5th to 3rd. Lady Barn House dropped to 4th, while Romiley held onto 5th place.

Boys Years 3-4:

Josh Garrone of Vernon Park achieved his 2nd win of the season in the fast time of 5:50. Will Bailey of Buxworth again came 2nd finishing in 6:22 while Will’s fellow pupil, Oliver Ecob , finished 3rd in 6:32, one place better than in his first event. William Berridge (Lady Barn) came 4th and Harry Seymour (Romiley) 5th.

Buxworth Primary again won the team competition with 36 points and so kept their position at the top of the League table with an overall score of 68 points. Lady Barn House retained their 2nd place in the table (79 points) despite dropping a couple of positions in the race. Romiley’s 2nd place in the race brought them up to 3rd in the table 3 points ahead of High Lane who finished 4th in the race.

Girls Years 5-6:

The top two runners in the first race, Jasmine Reed of Rose Hill and Freya Murdoch of Pownall Green, were absent today racing in the British Athletics Cross Challenge in Liverpool where Freya finished an excellent 1st in the U11 race. Charli Barnett of Stockport Grammar who finished 3rd in the first race duly too her opportunity to take first in a time of 11:18. Lucy Williams of Romiley (8th in the first race) came second in 11:43, with teammate Mary Seymour in 3rd place (11:48). Gabrielle Sampson of St. Mary’s Marple and Hannah Morrey of Romiley also improved on their performances in the first race, finishing 4th and 5th respectively.

Romiley Primary’s tight packing at the front of the field gave them a 10-point team score and a solid lead at the top of the League table. Below them, Romiley’s B-team is having a ding-dong competition with Lady Barn House and they share 2nd spot in the table with 101 points each.

Boys Years 5-6:

Luke Carrington of Gee Cross won his second race of the season in a time of 10:05, once again 9 seconds in front of 2nd-placed runner Finlay McLaughlin of Lady Barn House. Harvey Murphy of Romiley improved on his 9th place in the previous race by coming third in a time of 10:16 . Patrick Doohan of St Winifred’s again came 4th and, behind him, other runners in the top 12 shuffled their positions, giving weight to the forecast in the last report that this could be a closely fought league.

In the first race, the teams of St Winfred’s and Romiley shared the race lead with 50 points each. Today, Romiley had the edge on St. Winifred’s and won the team race with 33 points to St Winfred’s 42 points and so took the lead in the League table with 83 points to St. Winifred’s 92 points. Lady Barn slipped to 8th in the race with 103 points but their good score in the first race meant that they held onto 3rd place in the table with 168 points, just 3 points ahead of Gee Cross. Third team in the race was St. Peter’s who did not manage to field a full team in the first race.

Next Event

The next event takes place on Saturday 10 December.
Please remember that the race times changed this year to:
Race 1 Girls, years 3 & 4 at 10:30
Race 2 Boys, years 3 & 4 at 10:45
Race 3 Girls, years 5 & 6 at 11:00
Race 4 Boys, years 5 & 6 at 11:25

I would like to thank and congratulate to all the children who took part in the league races and to 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.


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