The second fixture of this season’s Hampshire Cross Country League (with three more fixtures to go) took place at Kings Park, Bournemouth on 3 December 2022, hosted by Bournemouth Athletic Club, and the third and final fixture of the Wessex Cross Country League was hosted by Wimborne Athletic Club at Canford School on 18 December.

A total of 50 BAC athletes (including the U11 boys and girls whose races don’t form part of the League) competed at Kings Park with, on the one hand, some excellent team and individual results, but, on the other hand, perhaps a little disappointment that the club didn’t capitalise fully on a home fixture.  Rob McTaggart led the senior mens’ team to the finish line, followed by Szymon Chojnacki, Ben Collins, Craig Palmer and Adam Corbin, with the team scoring 9th of 10 teams on the day. Well done to everyone who supported the club on the day, including the 7 further athletes who followed the team to the finish, but more strength is going to be needed in the subsequent fixtures if BAC is to avoid relegation to Division 2. Simon was the first BAC veteran man over the line, with Richard Brawn and Adrian James completing the team, which was the 4th team of 24 teams on the day – a very good result!  Simon, after two fixtures, at 9th, is amongst the top 10 veteran men in the League.  BAC‘s senior womens’ team of Harriet Slade, Rebecca Knapton and Jolanta Dewerenda achieved an excellent 8th position of 18 teams.  The veteran womens’ team of Debbie Lennon, Julia Austin and Lea Lohk also had a very good day, finishing 7th of 11 complete veteran womens’ teams.  BAC‘s normally strong U17 mens’ team was weakened at Kings Park as the fixture clashed with a schools’ cross country fixture, with the result that only Hugo Richardson and Nathan Mearns competed at Kings Park.  Hugo‘s excellent run propelled him into the top 10 U17 men in the League.  It’s pleasing to report that both BAC‘s U15 boys and U15 girls fielded teams at this fixture.  The U15 boys’ team of Harry Butcher, Oliver Thomson and Oliver Canavan (closely supported by Ewan Brown) were the 4th of 8 teams on the day, and, for the U15 girls, Isabel Cherrett, Matilde Blagden and Laras McKenna (supported by Emily Stuckey) were the 4th of 5 teams – most of the competing clubs not fielding complete teams at all.  Isabel showed her good form and ability, finishing 3rd on the day, and is now 3rd U15 girl in the League.  Conor Grocott and Seni Purnell also showed their form in the U13 boys’ and U13 girls’ races respectively, both finishing 2nd on the day, and both now lying ranked 2nd in their age category in the League.  There were also some impressive runs amongst the 16 boys and girls who ran in the U11 races, with Imogen Pope finishing 2nd U11 girl and Finley Hurst Atkins 6th U11 boy.  A huge thank you is due to all the officials, marshals and volunteers who made staging the fixture in Kings Park possible, and let’s hope for a strong BAC presence (particularly the senior men to improve the club’s Division 1 position) at Reading on 14 January.

Full results for 3 December (BAC); S/V Men: 41. Rob McTaggart 33.07, 51. Szymon Chojnacki 33.47 (6th veteran), 54. Ben Collins 34.00, 74. Craig Palmer 35.09, 81. Adam Corbin 35.35, 94. Matt du Cros 36.10, 100. Richard Brawn 36.25 (V 26), 108. Adrian James 36.39 (V 32), 126. Alex Goulding 37.45 (V 41), 168. Simon Hearn 39.50 (V 69), 216. Jud Kirk 44.10 (V 107), 238. Tim Hughes 48.01 (V 127); S/V Women: 24. Harriet Slade 23.07, 25. Rebecca Knapton 23.13, 61. Jolanta Denerenda 25.37, 72. Debbie Lennon 26.05 (V 17), 75. Sian Mcilwaine 26.31, 91. Julia Austin 27.48 (V 29), 110. Lea Lohk 31.26 (V 45), 118. Jayne Wade 33.21 (V 51); U17 Men: 7. Hugo Richardson 19.41, 26. Nathan Mearns 22.43; U15 Boys: 18. Harry Butcher 15.04, 22. Oliver Thomson 15.31, 23. Oliver Canavan 15.32, 24. Ewan Brown 15.33; U15 Girls: 3. Isabel Cherrett 15.11, 28. Matilde Blagden 17.37, 32. Laras McKenna 18.03, 39. Emily Stuckey 19.28: U13 Boys: 2. Conor Grocott 11.09, 6. Marni Purnell 11.26; U13 Girls: 2. Seni Purnell 11.58, 15. Constance King 12.58; U11 Boys: 6. Finley Hurst Atkins 8.12, 27. Edward Davies 8.42, 35. Harry Selwood 8.47, 39. Ted Fewings 8.58, 40. Jake Ryan 9.02, 42. Aiden Blagden 9.05, 44. Toby Sims 9.08, 47. Rory Dixon 9.13, 50. Petya Mott 9.22, 75. Jude Austin 11.44; U11 Girls: 2. Imogen Pope 8.27, 12. Ava Richmond 9.26, 15. Ruby Lakey 9.57, 16. Skye Grocott 10.15, 17. Anna Mott 10.19, 21. Erin Ryan 10.26.

 

True cross country weather arrived for the final fixture of the Wessex Cross Country League season at Canford School on 18 December, with pouring rain, strong winds and lots and lots of mud!  As a result, numbers in all the races were down on previous fixtures (which often occurs at the last fixture anyway), and BAC were represented by 28 athletes, albeit 2 running as guests as there was no registration for the league after the cut off date. Finley Hurst Atkins again showed his form, finishing 2nd U11 boy and in the U11 girls’ race Isla May impressed with her win.  Isla had a good season in this league finishing 2nd overall U11 girl – well done Isla!  The O’Brien family again stood out in the U13 girls’ race, with Albha O’Brien winning and Clodagh O’Brien finishing 4th.  Albha concluded the season as 1st U13 girl overall, with Clodagh 3rd, and Amy Betts demonstrated that it is worth competing in all the fixtures, as Amy also finished as 3rd= U13 girl overall with Clodagh.  Isaac May, running as a guest, was 3rd U15 boy, and in the U15 girls’ race Isabel Cherrett, impressive as ever, finished 2nd on the day resulting in an aggregate position of 2nd U15 girl in the league for the season – Isabel is one to watch!!  With no competing fixtures elsewhere BAC‘s U17 men were again present in some strength, with Seb Crowe 2nd, Hugo Richardson 3rd and Nathan Mearns 4th, with Seb achieving 1st U17 man overall. In the U17 women’s race Emily Coltman finished 7th which put her 3rd in the league for the season. Mariah Marshall was 11th in the race, putting her 5th in the league for the season. Oliver James has clearly been keeping up his training at University, as he won the U20/S/V mens’ race by some distance from Simon Chojnacki who is himself in excellent form.  Szymon was the first veteran man to cross the line and finishes the season as 1st man overall.  Amongst the senior and veteran women Debbie Lennon and Kirsty Drewett have had excellent seasons, with Debbie concluding as 1st woman overall as well as 1st veteran, and Kirsty 2nd overall and 2nd veteran.  On the day Caitlin Peers finished 2nd in the race, with Jola Dewerenda, running as a guest, also performing well. 

 

 

 

 

 

Full results for 18 December (BAC); U20/S/V Men: 1. Oliver James 27.01 (1st U20 man), 2. Simon Chojnacki 27.56 (1st veteran), 15. Chris O’Brien 32.50 (V 8), 21. Jud Kirk 36.41 (V 12), 26. Geoffrey Newton 40.29 (V 16); S/V Women: 2. Caitlin Peers 20.00, (Jola Dewerenda – guest – 22.52), 7. Debbie Lennon 23.20 (V 1), 8. Kirsty Drewett 23.30 (V 2); U17 Men: 2. Seb Crowe 15.24, 3. Hugo Richardson 15.41, 4. Nathan Mearns 16.22; U17 Women: 7. Emily Coltman 19.15, 11. Mariah Marshall 23.39; U15 Boys: (Isaac May – guest – 15.02); U15 Girls: 2. Isabel Cherrett 15.18, 6. Matilde Blagden 19.13, 7. Elizabeth Davie 19.16; U13 Boys: 4. Austin Riley 13.01: U13 Girls: 1. Albha O’Brien 17.16, 4. Clodagh O’Brien 18.09, 10. Amy Betts 20.18; U11 Boys: 2. Finley Hurst Atkins 5.17, 8. Ted Fewings 5.37, 13. Edward Davie 5.59, 15. Aiden Blagden 6.12; U11 Girls: 1. Isla May, 6. Mabel Jundi 5.52.

Other BAC athletes at Canford School included: