Cross Country
The Hampshire Cross Country League is held on once a month on saturdays and is open to all ages, we look foward to seeing you there!!
Dates for the forth coming Hampshire cross country league have now been released,
October 9, Farley Mount Winchester
November 6, Goodwood, nr Chichester
December 4, Popham airfield, Baisingstoke
January 15, Prospect Park, Reading
Febuary 12, Sailsbury
Route details will be available nearer each event.
The Todays Runner dates will also be released very shortly, these meetings are held on Sundays and are for seniors only.
Along with The Hampshire X Country and the Todays X Country Leagues, Havant ac has also had a day out in London, Parliament Hill, and the Southern X Country Championships.
Mike Williams, the x country team managers report.
SEAA X/C Championships, Parliament Hill Fields
Saturday 30th January 2010
This year we decided to let the train take the strain and the group set off from Havant station at 7.30am. Following two changes on the underground we exited at Highbury, only to find that due to engineering works we had to catch the bus. They had a fall of snow during the night and most of the roads were still covered in a layer of snow. The bus dropped us fairly close to Hampstead Heath and by taking a short cut we arrived on the Heath adjacent to the athletic track. On arrival the ground seemed fairly firm but once the sun had got to work it became very muddy indeed.
We set up camp just opposite the finish and while I collected the race numbers the athletes had time for a look round the course, for most of them it was their first experience of Parliament Hill.
First off was Georgie in the under 13 girls race with just over 200 runners setting off up the hill over the 3k course. Georgie worked well going up the hill and maintained her pace to finish in 127th place, a good run and her first experience at this level.
Chris was our next runner off in the under 17 mens race with just under 200 starters over the 6k course. A steady run up the hill and by the end of the first lap he was in 58th place. During the second lap he began to pick runners off and eventually finished in 29th place, a fantastic run from Chris who continues to go from strength to strength.
Amy started off in the under 17 womens race, run over 5k course, she ran well up the hill but reached South Meadow and was forced to stop due to a severe nose bleed (caused by the altitude!). Fortunately Malcolm Lavery was on hand so managed to get Amy to the nearest first aid point where she was given treatment, arriving back at the base with her vest more red than white.
We had two runners in the senior womens race with just over 350 entrants running the 8k course which by this time had become really muddy. Polly had an extremely good run, finishing in 41st place and a brave run by Vicki who finished in 279th place.
Final race of the day was the senior men who had to run over 15k (3 laps of this demanding course). Mal-colm was the clubs sole representative in this race and ran well to finish in 597th place. The start was a very impressive sight with just over 800 athletes making their way up the hill to begin their first lap.
For our return journey we decided to walk to Kentish Town and catch the underground from there, which took us straight to Waterloo station where our train was awaiting us and we arrive back in Havant at 6.50pm. Polly and her Uni colleagues made their way back to Cambridge with Polly preparing for the Na-tionals which this year are held at Roundhay Park, Leeds on February 27th.
Results were as follows:
Under 13 Girls 3K
127th 15:04 Georgie Lavery
Under 17 Men 6K
29th 22:03 Chris Spinks
Senior Women 8K
41st 34:45 Polly Keen
279th 44:56 Vicki Spencer
Senior Men 15K
597th 76.01 Malcolm Lavery
See Photos in the Gallery.