Gloucester League Cross Country Report
Fenella Madley and Kitty
Jewell were first off. Both are 9 years old and are learning quickly about
racing and judging the pace. Fen is normally a careful starter but this
time went off closer to the leaders and stayed up there all the way to finish
in 3rd place the same as the 1st race. Fen has always looks very comfortable
when she is running. The coaches at the club are doing a really good job
of relaxing the athletes and getting them to enjoy their running Fen smile
rarely leaves her face, except when she is competing. She is fresh from
having beaten all the girls a year older than herself in the Forest schools
trials. Kitty is used to being on horseback but had to use her own legs
to get the course. She probably would have been more comfortable jumping
the stream had she had her pony with her. Kitty did start carefully and
finished with her customary smile.
Sam Roberts as usual
led the clubs U13 girls home in 2nd place. This race provided several similarities
to the 1st meeting at Gloucester in October. Sam would have pleased to be
a little closer to Amber on time and little further away from the following
group. Tilley Jewell was 10th 4 places better than last time but almost
exactly the same time as Sam. It looks as though the careful build to the
cross country season is paying off for them. Beth Williams in 26th was a
little out of sorts and dropped 8 places from the last race. Holly Wilber
another of those who finish with a smile was 29th exactly the same as the
1st meeting. The girls finished 3rd team again behind Gloucester and Cheltenham.
The margin between themselves and Cheltenham was much closer this time.
Emmett Thompson, Rhys
Lloyd and young Mark Eynott opened the event for the boys. In the last race,
Emmett who won the Forest schools trials earlier in the month, looked to
be on with a shot at victory but this time he got a slow start and then
struggled to get back in touch with the leader. He dropped two places from
the last race but still came home a hard fought fourth to keep his championship
medal homes alive. Similarly Rhys found this a more difficult track and
had to cut his way through the pack which broke his usual pace, he finished
15th this time. Mark, his training paying off, improved significantly
to finish 21st on his very last day as a nine year old. Mark
is catching his team-mates and finished with style this time, three places
up on his previous race. Emmett, Rhys, Mark and Tom, who could not compete
today, are currently lying third in the table and in with a big shot at
a team medal this year.
In the under 13s it
was business as usual for Kyran Hale who lead the Forest athletes out Kyran
ran his usual well judged and mature race to finish 6th beating
many of the older and much bigger competitors in this age group. Freek van
Arkle ran a well paced race in the midfield and finished 31st,
Ben Fishwick ran a well judged race as he works to build his stamina, he
finished 45th and Alfie Thompson a sprinter and hurdler, who
runs only to build his stamina for the 400 meters, was well ahead of his
usual pace until his fuel ran out and he was forced to pull up with cramps.
In the under 15s Sasha
Herman and Jordan Fishwick are the lonely Forest of Dean AC competitors.
Jordan entered for the right race this time, his serious and focused training
is really paying off, renowned for his strength, this long and bumpy track
suited his style and pace he finished a solid 18th. Sasha too
found the track to suit him too he came home in touch with the leading runners
in 22nd.
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