The last weekend of the winter season brought a big variety in the events for our juniors.
Cross Country Races
In cross country, some Year 7 were selected for North Yorkshire in the Leicestershire Cross Country, an Inter County event and the main event of the season for Year 7. Held at Prestwold, the same site as the UK Inter Counties 2 weeks previously, with some parts of that course. This was very muddy in places, especially where it overlapped the Inter County course, and the high standard made it a tough race. It was a great experience for ours who hadn’t run in the Inter Counties to run in a meeting like this, and they coped really well with it.
In the boys, Ollie Wright had a great run to finish 9th of 140, and for North Yorkshire James Bastow was 52nd, Leo Forsydke 56th, Teddy Latham 119th out of 140. They helped North Yorkshire win the team event. Recent joiner Ben Falkingham was an excellent 13th in his first proper race, as an individual as he goes to school in Humberside.
For the girls, Hannah Lovett was 31st and Cate Stewart 67th out of 140, as North Yorkshire finished 2nd team, with Brodie Barrow 117th as an individual.
At the “less formal” end of the competition programme, 2 teams went to the PECO end of season relays in Leeds. This also proved to be a tough muddy course, but they really enjoyed the relay format and had a successful day. Hannah Lovett, Leo Forsyke, James Bastow (who had all run at Prestwold the previous day) were so keen they ran again, and were rewarded with an excellent 6th place out of 41 teams, many much older. And the first Under 13 team, beating the All Boy teams. Lydia Scott, Liv Hardy, Carys Briggs were the first Older Girls team, and a very good 13th overall. Well done to all for organising their own entry and organisation on the day.
Track and Field
A good group travelled to the North East Indoor pentathlon at Gateshead. A popular event, which attracted entries from a wide area with some good Scottish athletes. In the Under 20 Men, William Reid dominated to win with a consistent day, and Isaac Henson was 4th. The Under 15 Girls had a big entry and high standard event. Carys Francis finished 3rd, Talia Northcott 4th, Sophie Willams 6th, Molly Skelton 12th. In the Under 13 Girls, Sophia Horsfall-Samb was a convincing winner by 370 points, with big pbs in hurdles, shot and high jump. The recent bad weather and track closure had made training for the technical events difficult, and run ups were difficult with conditions being so different to training, but all worked hard to overcome this. It was a great experience of the demands and “emotions” of a pentathlon for them.
Road Racing
On Sunday Tim Stratton ran 74.19 in the Wilmslow half marathon just south of Manchester. Last Wednesday Dave Lancaster ran in the Leeds University 5k on a course that is hillier than its equivalent race in York. Dave was the first Vet 65 in a time of 20.28.
17 runners from the club did parkrun over the weekend with a bit of wind on Saturday morning spoiling people’s times. James Tucker (15.47) and Ed Brown (17.07) were the first two runners on the Knavesmire. Julie Mastrolonardo was first at Dalby Forest in 21.48 and 6th overall. At Heslington Steve Asquith came 2nd in 18.38 with Chrissie Dover 3rd in 20.44 whilst at Selby Isabel Madden was 2nd in 21.27. Josh Reid was the first runner across the line in the York junior parkrun in 8.28.