Cross Country Reports

SEAA CHAMPIONSHIPS CROSS COUNTRY REPORT
Stanmer Park, Brighton, Saturday 27th January 2012

Due to a home FA cup time at Brighton we had to make last minute travel arrangements and let the train take the strain. A small group set off from Havant station just after 9am and set up camp in the Park before inspecting the course. Just four athletes competing; all in different age groups.

First off was Georgie Lavery in the under 15 girls race, one or two fallers on the first lap but Georgie kept to her feet and finished in just over 19 and a half minutes in 188th place. Next off was Amy in one of the smallest fields of the day in the under 20 womens race. Amy ran well on the first lap, picking up several places and she will agree that it was a less than perfect second lap but nevertheless she finished in 41st place, just ahead of one of her Winchester rivals.

Chris was our next athletes to go in the under 20 mens race; as usual Chris got off to a steady start and continued to work his way through the field, recording a very respectable 29th place, good preparation for the schools inter counties match next week.

The biggest field of the day was the senior mens race with 750 runners setting of over the 15K course. Amongst those 750 was Malc Lavery who ran well over this demanding course to finish in 556th place overall.

An interesting return journey, the football fans were arriving as we were leaving many of them well under the influence. We entered the train to be greeted by a mass of empty beer cans! Apart from that it was an uneventful journey and we arrived back at Havant station at 6pm.

Under 15 Girls
188th 19:32 Georgie Lavery

Under 20 Women
41st 28:16 Amy Bream

Under 20 Men
29th 28:35 Chris Spinks

Senior Men
556th 72:37 Malc Lavery

Hants Schools Cross Country 21, Gang Warily, 21 January 2012

Junior Girls

42nd 13:21 Sharna Capel-Watson

59th 14:01 Rebecca Parry

Intermediate Girls

25th 14:21 Georgie Lavery

Senior Girls

6th Amy Bream 14:58

Senior Boys

4th 23:02 Chris Spinks

7th 23:26 Matt Gordon

Congratulations to Amy, Chris and Matt who have all been selected to represent Hampshire schools at the schools Inter Counties match in Basildon on 4th February.

HAMPSHIRE CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
DIBDEN INCLOSURE SATURDAY 7TH JANUARY 2012

The Hampshire cross country championships returned to Dibden after a 3 year absence and were held under near perfect conditions.

First Havant athlete to go was Amy in the under 20 womens race and her target was to finish in the top 8 and gain county selection. A faster start from Amy saw her move up to 6th place at the end of the first lap and she held on in the second lap (despite suffering from a trapped nerve in her back) to finish in 7th place and will hopefully be selected to represent Hampshire at the CAU Inter Counties match in Birmingham.

Three of our girls made the start line for the under 15 race with Georgie our first to finish in 27th place, a good sprint finish to take one of the Aldershot girls on the line. Next to finish was Sarah in 33rd place, closely followed by Alice in 35th. Good experience for Sarah and Alice in this, their first county competition.

Good results in the under 20 mens race with Chris, our only medal winner, taking the bronze medal with a great run behind AFD’s Harvey Dixon and Jersey’s Elliot Dorey. Matt Gordon also had a good run, finishing in 5th place so hopefully both Chris and Matt will be representing Hampshire in Birmingham.

Malc Lavery was our sole representative in the mens race (Chip had to withdraw due to injury), running well to finish in 107th place overall and was the 8th M50 to finish.

Well done to everyone who competed and thank you for turning out to represent the club.

HAMPSHIRE CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
DIBDEN INCLOSURE SATURDAY 7TH JANUARY 2012

The Hampshire cross country championships returned to Dibden after a 3 year absence and were held under near perfect conditions.

Malc Lavery was our sole representative in the mens race (Chip had to withdraw due to injury), running well to finish in 107th place overall and was the 8th M50 to finish.

Well done to everyone who competed and thank you for turning out to represent the club.

TODAYS RUNNER CROSS COUNTRY REPORT
Lord Wandsworth College
Monday 2nd January 2012

Last years fixture was run in sub zero conditions, this year couldn’t have been more different with the warmer conditions making for a very muddy course. For our men this was one of our best team results, finishing in fourth place overall. Chris led from the gun and steadily increased his lead over the two lap course, winning by almost a minute. Craig was our next runner home in 7th place with another good run, unfortunately Matt Gordon had breathing problems but still finished in a respectable 35th, just one place ahead of Dave Symmonds in 36th place. Malc had a good run, pacing Amy for the first part of the course then breaking away to finish 65th in the 300+ strong field. Next to finish was Matt McNamara in 8rth place and a good run by newcomer Matt Knight in 112th. Pete Pullan completed the Havant team finishing in 165th place.

Our sole female competitor was Amy with a good run to finish 11th female overall, unfortunately we need three females to score so overall we were classed as an incomplete team, hopefully we will have a better turn out from our ladies at the next venue which is Manor Farm Park at the end of January.

Women

11th Amy Bream 39:37

Men

1st Chris Spinks 29:51
7th Craig Berryman 32:01
35th Matt Gordon 34:39
36th Dave Symmonds 34:41
65th Malcolm Lavery 37:09
86th Matt McNamara 38:14
112th Matt Knight 39:48
165th Pete Pullan 44:33

Times are unofficial

SEAA Inter Counties Cross Country Championships

Lloyd Park, Croydon Saturday 10th December 2011.

Under 20 Women

25th 29:15 Amy Bream

Amy was third Hampshire runner to finish and helped the team to win a silver medal. A two lap course, hilly with the only flat part being at the start, several runners dropped out.

Hampshire team was
3rd Jess Chen

13th Jennifer McLachlan

25th Amy Bream

26th Victoria Stoodley

Oxford v Cambridge Varsity Match – Cross Country

Wimbledon Common

Saturday 3rd December

SW 10th 25:36 Polly Keen

TODAYS RUNNER CROSS COUNTRY REPORT
Bourne Woods, Farnham
Sunday 4th December 2011

The second match of the season was a bit different from the previous year. Last year the course had to be altered due to icy conditions, this year couldn’t have been more different with almost perfect weather conditions. Many of our runners had competed the previous day at Popham so a very big thank you to them for turning out two days in a row (Amy, Kirsten, Matt, Dave, Chip and Malc).

A great run by Matt saw him storm home in first place, his first win, very well done, those Saturday morning runs up Pigeon House obviously paying off. Another good run from Dave who finished in 25th place and then our third runner was Chip in 60th. Malc only just made it to the start line, finishing in 86th place and our final runner was Pete in 153rd. Again we did not have a complete womens team but we done to Amy and Kirsten. This was Kirsten’s first time over this distance so Amy supported her around the course and they finished together in 72nd and 73rd respectively.

After the race we were forced to partake in the post race refreshments which involved eating some very enjoyable home made cakes, well worth going for.

Next fixture is on MONDAY 2nd January 2012 at Lord Wandsworth College. Hope to see everyone there.

Men

1st 28:41 Matt Gordon

25th 31:43 Dave Symmonds

60th 34:02 Chip Wrapson

86th 35:56 Malc Lavery

153rd 42:10 Pete Pullan

Women

72nd 43:40 Amy Bream

73rd 43:40 Kirsten Burley

HAMPSHIRE LEAGUE CROSS COUNTRY REPORT
Popham, Saturday 3rd December 2011

Apart from the under 15 girls it was a pathetic turn out from our younger athletes, no under 13/under 15 boys at all and no under 13 girls. Cross country is good preparation for the summer season for athletes of all disciplines. How about a few New Year resolutions which would involve participation in cross country.

The under 15 girls continue to put the rest of the youngsters to shame with another good turn out. Chloe led the team home, despite a painful ankle, finishing in 52nd place. A good run from Sarah who finished just behind Chloe in 53rd place and our third place runner was Alice in 60th. Lucy is one of the few to have competed in all matches and fished strongly in 63rd. Unfortunately Ashley twisted her ankle in a rabbit hole and had to drop out, hope you are re4covered by now. Well done girls, a good turn out and you finished 10th team overall.

Again it was our under 20 women who made up the senior team. Amy celebrated her 18th birthday with a strong finish in 38th position followed by Kirsten in 72nd place and Sarah in 75 place. The senior team finished in 11th place and the under 20 women were 4th team home, again, one of our youngest senior teams.

Another good turn out from the men who hold on to third place overall in Division 2 with the vets team 5th in Division 1. Our first runner home was Colin in 29th place followed by U20 Matt Gordon in 55th. Another good run from Dave Symmonds in 95th and always a close battle between Chip and Malc with Chip in 130th and Malc finishing 132nd. These were followed by Paul in 157th and Matt McNamara in 170th. Just two more fixtures to go and with our current turn out we should finish strongly in both divisions.

Well done to all who turned out.

HAMPSHIRE LEAGUE CROSS COUNTRY REPORT
Goodwood, Saturday 12th November 2011

The men continue to set a good example to the rest of the club with yet another good turn out. Chris Spinks continues to improve and became the first Havant athlete since Tom Buckner to beat Colin Dixon over a cross country course. No shoe problems at this venue and Chris stormed round the course to finish in 25th place overall and 5th U20. Colin came home in 28th place (1st veteran man overall) and our next finisher was Matt Gordon in 62nd. Craig Berryman was the next to finish, just eight places behind Matt in 70th followed by Dave Symmonds in 119th. Good grouping by our next four finishers with Malc Lavery in 164th, Matt McNamara 165th, Chip Wrapson in 170th and Paul Carter in 175th. The ever reliable Phil Western completed the Havant team, coming home in 206th position. The vets team now lie in 6th place in Divison 1 with the senior team 4th in Division 2. A shining example to the rest of the club; well done to everyone.

Just one boy in the U13 race, Jack Noble making his team debut giving a good performance and finishing in 56th place (out of 65 finishers), well done Jack on your first outing for the club. The under 15 girls were the only complete team for our youngsters, Chloe Knight improved on her last position and was our first athlete home in 48th place, Alice Rorke ran her first cross country of the season to finish in 53rd place and Lucy Emms completed the team finishing in 56th position.

The ‘senior womens’ team comprised all under 20 athletes. First to finish was Amy Bream in 37th place, this was enough to earn Amy county selection and she will represent Hampshire at the SEAA Inter Counties at Croydon in December. Next to finish was Georgie Parks in 86th place, closely followed by Sarah Johnson in 93rd place. Well done ladies, one of our youngest ‘senior teams’.

TODAYS RUNNER COUNTRY REPORT
Queen Elizabeth Country Park, Petersfield
Sunday 13th November 2012

The opening match of the season was held on Remembrance Day with 1 minutes silence at the start of the race. Another good turn out from the men and just one in the womens race, many of our athletes had competed at Goodwood the previous day so well done to Amy, Dave, Paul, Chip, Matt and Malcolm for turning out two days in a row.

A good run from Amy in the womens race, off to a steady start and working her way up the field to finish 20th in the womens race. Our first man home was Dave in 35th position and well done to Jonathan who was our second placed runner, finishing in 80th place. Paul finished just behind Jon in 82nd place and right behind him was Chip in 83rd, good grouping. Matt had his revenge over Malcolm by finishing in 97th place and Malcolm in 10th. Good to see Pete out again, finishing in 187th place with Tony Prks not far behind in 198th.

Always a good turn out for the first venue with almost 300 runners on the start line. Well done to second claimer Dave Woods who won the mens race by a considerable margin.