The National at Parliament Hill Fields: the most prestigious race of the season at the most famous cross-country venue in the country, and I am sure that those juniors who did compete will never forget the experience.
The weather on the day was bright, though it was cold, and there was a very keen wind. Unfortunately London had endured a good deal of rain in the week up to the Championships and conditions underfoot were muddy, to say the very least.
Our small band of dedicated racers was full of determined enthusiasm and made the most of the day with some splendid results.
Joseph Carnelley was our youngest runner and, in a field approaching 400 competitors, he had a fine run to finish 152nd in his first year in the U13 age-group.
Also running for the first year in their age-group, the U15s, and in a similarly sized field, were Eliza Findlay and Lucy Miller, and they acquitted themselves very well, finishing in 150th and 170th positions respectively, providing valuable support to Vicki Merrick who finished in 94th place.
Matthew Merrick, in the U15s, started very aggressively and, although he couldn’t quite keep up that pace, he still finished in 100th place, in the top quarter of the field.
In the Junior Women’s race Sarah Dewhirst, who for much of the season has been running with the Senior Women, found herself very much on her own. However, she battled on, as always, and finished in 115th position, despite finishing the race with only one shoe on.
Before the U17 Men’s race, we had high hopes for Emile Cairess and he certainly did not let us down. On a course which didn’t really suit his fluent running style, he finished in a superb 6th position, only about 10 seconds behind the runner in 2nd.
This was certainly the highest placing achieved by a junior in a national race since I became Team Manager: well done!
Congratulations to all of those who ran, (not forgetting Emma Green and Lesley Watson who carried the flag for Bingley Harriers Seniors) and a big thank you to all the parents and supporters who made a huge effort to be there, and who helped to make it a very memorable day.
On a more personal level I would like to thank Dave Potter for getting me there (and for getting me back!) and for his unflagging support throughout.
Tony Kingham