Record numbers turn out for cross country championships
TEAM Kennet hosted the annual West Berkshire and North Hampshire Primary Schools Cross Country Championships at Newbury Show Ground with conditions very wet and soggy underfoot.
The event, now in its 26th year, saw a record turnout, beating their own UK record with 1,576 children finishing from more than 50 primary schools.
All four races saw record numbers, with 773 girls and 803 boys finishing.
Race one – the Year 3/4 girls – saw 373 finishers with a breakaway group of three girls well clear of the field.
It was Tinx Goad from Thorngrove school who came across the line in first place, while not far behind were Matilda Saunders from St Gabriels and last year’s winner Praiya Foreman from Chieveley in third.
The Year 3/4 boys saw 397 finishers.
Chester Bailey from Hermitage broke away for an early lead which he maintained all the way around to take a convincing win from Lenny Wyville from Shaw Cum Donnington in second place and William Hale from Falkland School in third.
The Year 5/6 girls saw 400 finishers – the first time to reach this landmark in any race.
Falkland’s Ella Larkin, who has won both younger year races, broke away to open up a huge lead and was crowned champion for third successive year.
Penelope Lyth from Fir Tree school was next home, timing her run to perfection to push Thorngrove school’s Alice Hargreaves back into third place.
The Year 5/6 boys saw a record field of 406 boys.
Ronny Bowsher from Thatcham Park ran a brilliant race to finish first, well clear of the field.
Alex Crosse from Falkland took second place and Malik Gaye from Spurcroft was third.
The major awards saw Streatley defend their Small Schools Trophy over runners-up Basildon with St Martin’s in third.
The Hampshire Cup went to last year’s winners, Thorngrove, with Woolton Hill second and St Martin’s third.
The League Division 1 Cup was won by Falkland ahead of runners-up Francis Baily and St Nicolas.
And the League Division 2 Cup went to St Andrew’s with John Rankin runners-up and Hermitage in third.
Springfield won the League Division 3 Cup, ahead of Parsons Down and Basildon, while the B team trophy went to St Andrew’s with Falkland in second.
The overall winners of all the leagues combined were:
1 – St Andrew’s
2 – Falkland
3 – Francis Baily
4 – St Nicolas
5 – John Rankin
Special thanks to event sponsor Newbury 4X4 and Great Britain four-man bobsleigh star Leon Greenwood.
