Surrey Schools Cross Country Competition 2010/11

The smallest canton of Surrey pitted itself against the ten other areas in the County at the muddy Reigate Priory Cross country Course to good effect. The strength of the team lay in the numbers not just of athletes competing but the diversity of the schools they came from. Not only did nearly every school in the Borough made significant contributions to the vitality of the team there was also testament to the organisation by the school sports partnerships, the teachers, the local athletics clubs and the parents who supported the Borough so readily.

The day started with an above par 5^th from the Under 13 girls. Saffy Martineau, Lucy Pirkle, Molly Allen and Emma Pitcairn placed well up the field in their race. The year 7 boys had a great team effort where Coombe Boys Kane Corby, Rokeby's Wilf Goodhart and Arun Astley (Southborough) supported the leading quartet of Antony Anderson and Sam Helm (both Kingston Grammar) along with Tiffin's Daniel Riding and Hollyfield's Borough Champion Josh Hall all placing in the top bakers dozen to not only gain County selection but seal a first Kingston win in this age group in two decades. A fabulous start to the team's athletes in their first attempt at the Secondary Schools County Championships.

The Junior Boys did better than previous years scoring below 100 for the first time in a decade. Aaron Farr (Kingston Grammar) and Aedan O'Brien (Richard Challoner) gained inter county selection. Joshua Bartholomew from Chessington Community College and Canbury's Miles Stewart lent support to a fine 5^th position. (Again us punching at above our weight). The junior girls as a team did a good one better with Emma Headley gaining the first English schools Surrey team selection of the day in a great third individual position. Bea Sayer made the inter counties team and the scoring four was closed out by Phoebe Law and Ellie Butcher.

The inter boys carried on the upward trend with English schools selection beckoning for Tim Livingstone and Eoin O'Brien 7^th and 8^th from Tiffin and Richard Challoner . Tim's school fellows Oliver Garner gained inter county selection and Ben Gibbons closed out the quartet to seal a great 3^rd place for the team. The girls section saw Sophie Kenneally lead the team to 7^th.

The senior boys clocked the same position as the inter girls with Aaron Moran of Tiffin being the leading athlete for the borough. Invaluable help was afforded by Coombe sixth form's Giles Hanratty. The day's results were still yet to be completed by a fine English schools selection for Maddy Garner and Molly Renfer in the senior Girls event ending a great day of individual and collective success for the Borough.

Summary. Yr 7 boys 1^st ,Inter Boys 3^rd ,Junior Girls 4^th ,Year 7 girls and Junior boys 5^th, Inter Girls and Senior Boys 7^th The strongest set of team results we have had in a decade.

The Borough has a more local event to attend on Saturday 29^th of January at Kingston gate Richmond Park. Year 7&8 girls 13.30 Boys 14.00 year 9&10 girls 14.30 Boys 15.00. This is courtesy of the most Local club Kingston and Polytechnic Harriers. Individuals and schools should see the K&P web site for more up to date information.

KSSP - Secondary Championships

Eight schools from the borough of Kingston travelled to Richmond Park on Tuesday 16th November to run in the Annual Borough Cross Country Championships. Sadly the weather was unkind to the competitors, with thick fog threatening to cancel the races and the cold playing havoc with the pupil's preparations. The course was challenging and hilly, but spurred on by the support from the KSSP SSCo's, PE teachers and parents alike; all races went ahead with some excellent performances by the girls. Y7 girls ran a 2k course, Y8 & 9 ran 2.5k and years 10 - seniors ran 3K. Congratulations to all the runners and the parents for coming to support the girls. The top 10 runners will now be selected to run for Kingston in the Surrey Schools X-Country competition.

With over 300 competitors running from Kingston Secondary schools the event promised to be very well contested. It was a dark blustery day but the weather managed to hold providing the runners with an excellent chance to challenge for the Kingston team and individual titles.