Hordle

This annual cross country always provides the stiffest test for our runners and with half of our runners returning to Moyles Court for the second time they knew what to expect.   THE start alone is a tough test with a long up hill to face and then a difficult undulating run through the New Forest following.  

Our Junior’s set off and it is a nervous wait for the spectators as we do not see the runners again until the emerge at the top of the sand dune, before the steep dissent to the finish.   Having finished 3^rd last year, George Grisley was determined to win the event and after about 10 minutes we were delighted to see him appear well in the lead to win the Junior Boys event.   The key to good cross country team running is to get all your runners coming through in a group.  This we did with Jasper Toor and William Mitchell following close behind , which was enough to win the Junior Boys team event for the 2^nd year running.  The Junior girls ran superbly  with Eliza Dubois finishing 3^rd in the race backed  up brilliantly by Jemima Walters, Hattie Rogers and Rachel Crawford.  Unfortunately we were narrowly beaten  to first place by Baden Powell to finish a fantastic 2^nd in the team competition.

With most of the Senior’s running last year they had the experience of the best way to run this demanding course.   The boys ran well, but before even Tim Morgan finished we knew the team competition had been won by Clayesmore who had secured the 1^st four places.  The boys team of Tim Morgan, Thomas Leon, Hugo Walters and Alex Carey Morgan, finished in 3^rd place overall behind, Clayesmore and Ballard.     The performance of the afternoon was by the Senior Girls team, who all finished within the top ten.  Isabel Mitchell finished  2^nd and Sophie Shakespeare 3^rd, Katie Newsom 4^th backed up by Flora’s excellent run clearly won the team event.

All the runners represented the school brilliantly and Mr Norris and I were very proud of both their attitude and performances.   With the Perry Daziell Cross Country next week we hope to repeat this success.  Watch this space!! 

NJR

NB  At the time of writing the actual positions of the other runners are not known as the boys and girls ran at the same time and were not separated at the finish.  The results of the other runners will be published as soon as we received them.