Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow Athletic Club

Windor Slough Eton & Hounslow Athletic Club contested the 2nd of the Apex Sports Chiltern Cross Country League series at RAF Halton on Saturday. There were some excellent performances from the WSEH young athletes on display but there was a worrying and conspicuous absence of the Senior Men where 10 were required to make a team wheras WSEH musterd just 5 and of these 2 were in the Under 20 age group and two were veterans.

The WSEH best team performances came in the Under 13 Boys and Under 17/20 ladies events where they both finished in second place, the boys still maintaining their place at the top of the division. The top WSEH individual performances were from Kathryn Ditton (Under 11 Girls), Kegan Lymn (Under 15 Boys) and Bex Myers (Under 17 Ladies) who all won their events in fine style. There was also a fine run by Kieran Wye in the Under 13 Boys race who, after nearly missing the start, finished in a fantastic 2nd place.

Senior Mens Race: Alex Tovey, in the form of his life at the moment, led the charge of the depleted team, taking 12th place just heading off Ian May who was 12th. There was a gap before Cameron Smart appeared in 79th place with more gaps until the WSEH vets crossed the line, Roy Temple being 128th and Wal Wessely 174th.
Team Result: 1st Harrow AC 1958 pts, 11th WSEH 659 pts

Senior Ladies: Super vet Paula Fudge showed the way for the rest of the WSEH team finishing an excellent 11th, just ahead of newcomer Charlotte Firth who was 14th. Leigh James had probably her best run to date to come home in 18th place and Yolanda Edwards completed the team scoring in 24th spot. Other WSEH finishers were: Dee Breaden 38th,
Ruth Lingley 55th, Paula Hing 70th, Steph Brown 71st
Team Result: 1st Milton Keynes 271 pts. 4th WSEH 241 pts.

Under 17 Men: Josh Radvan in 8th place led the very strong WSEH home, with Elliot Woolmer 9th and Nick Lingley just behind in 11th. Nathan Ditton completed the team scoring in 14th place, his best race of the season. Other WSEH finishers were: 29th Chris Reilly, 36th Callum Calvert.
Team Result: 1st Luton AC 143 pts, 3rd WSEH 122 pts

Under 20/Under 17 Ladies: Another fine set of results by the club’s young ladies. Bex Myers finished in 4th place overall but was the first Under 17 home, Rachel Stedman was 6th, with Louisa Lingley in 10th to fill the 3 scoring postions in the team. Other WSEH finishers were: 11th Hannah Barefield (5th Under 17), 17th Lauren Wye, 20th Leah Barrow, 27th Jessica Wilkinson, and 28th Diana Barac.
Team Result: 1st Bedford & County AC 97 pts, 2nd WSEH 91 pts.

Under 15 Boys: There were a number of absences in the Under 15 race but the team still managed to fight for a creditable 3rd place. Kegan Lymn maintained his stunning start to the season with an emphatic win over the hilly, muddy course. Next home was Ben Bradley, who didn’t score in the first match, in a superb 9th place. Next home was Gari Brown in 21st with John Cousins in 33rd place to complete the team scoring. Other WSEH athletes: 43rd Dereece Green, 44th James Porter, 49th Robbie Partridge, 50th Mark Barac.
Team Result: 1st Bedford 172 pts, 3rd WSEH 140 pts.

Under 15 Girls: There were also a number of absentees in the girls event but again the race produced a number of fine runs by WSEH athletes, with Maryse Haynes finishing in a superb 6th place. Next home was Emma Maurer who, running her first race over cross country, finished in 18th place. Next home was Christina Hall in 19th, with Laura Suggitt in 25th completing the WSEH scoring team. Other WSEH finishers were: 34th Rosie Adams, 38th Emily Wilkinson and 49th Kerry Gorman.
Team Result: 1st Bedford & County 165 pts, 5th WSEH 136 pts.

Under 13 Boys: After reporting to the wrong start position Kieran Wye ran a fine race to finish in 2nd place. He was followed home by another great run from Jack Rowe in 6th. With 4 of the clubs top 6 boys missing due to school commitment it was always going to be tough for the team. The runs from Greg Baynham 16th and Giles Robinson 23rd showed what great strength in depth the club has at this age group, with the team just being pipped into second place but stiill holding onto top spot in the league. Other WSEH finishers were: 26th William Brennan, 51st Luke Batchelor.
Team Result: 1st Chiltern Harriers 175pts, 2nd WSEH 169 pts

Under 13 Girls: This was another team hit hard by the English Schools Cup events. Ellie Wallis ran her best race of the season in 11th place. She was chased home by Abbie Schmid in 12th and Rebecca Riches in 14th. The team was completed by a super run from Joanne Fallon who finished 22nd in her first Chiltern League race. Other WSEH finishers were: 38th Charlotte Stoate, 40th Heather Riches and Mikaela Wright 63rd.
Team Result: 1st Chiltern Harriers 217 pts, 4th WSEH 197 pts.

Under 11 Boys: The 3 boys who ran in this race all competed well. Ben Gordon led them home in 12th, Will Goddard was 19th and Ross Adams was 35th.
Team Result: 1st Chiltern Harriers 173 pts, 5th WSEH 120 pts

Under 11 Girls: The young girls maintained their fine form from the first race. Kathryn Ditton was the star turn with a well paced, battling run, she stormed to victory, leading the way home in 4th. She was well supported by 8 year old Eugenie Cockle in 12th and Lucy Mauer, competing in her first race, finishing in 15th. Other WSEH finishers were: 16th Alex Barbour, 21st Jamie Marshall, 43rd Sophie Lingley and 55th Hope White.
Team Result: 1st Bracknell AC 191pts, 4th WSEH 179pts

WSEH were 7th in the overall match result with 1751 pts behind winners Bedford & County AC on 2911 pts

Next Saturday WSEH contest the Berks Bucks and Oxon Cross Country Championships, one of the oldest of the Champioships in the calender, going back to 1918. The match takes place on Braywick Playing Fields with the first race being the U13 girls at 12.00 and culminating in the senior mens Race at 2.15pm.