Friday 16th January 2009

THE final race of the Leicestershire Primary Schools Cross Country season has, sadly, had to be cancelled as a result of adverse weather conditions.

Due to the ground conditions at Leicester's Western Park we will have to cancel the cross country event planned for the 24th January. We have been informed by the Parks Dept. that ground conditions on the park are not good at the moment and the park still hasn’t recovered from previous runs and damage caused by illegal vehicle activity. It is particularly wet, soft and very slippy underfoot which may present a danger even on the gentler slopes of the park. With further rain forecasted by the Met Office between now and next weekend this would significantly increase the risk of damage to the park and the risk of injury to the runners.

We are proud of the health and safety record of our league and realise that we have no choice but to cancel if conditions (and advice from the parks department) indicate that there may be significant risk to our young athletes.

George Smolinski and David Dewdney

Date for your diary is the Leicestershire Primary Schools Cross Country County Championships to be held at Beaumont Park on Saturday March 28th.

Tuesday 6th January 2009

IVANHOE Robins Junior Athletics Club Cross Country event will take place on Sunday 22nd February 2009. These annual races have become an unmissable fixture in the calendar for young runners and one of the areas most prestigious events.

The event is staged in the scenic grounds of Foremark Reservoir, near Ticknall, Derbyshire, and is entirely off road.

Races range from a gentle half-mile course for year 1 and 2 children up to a challenging 2 miles for years 9 and over. The races are open to everyone between the ages of 5 and 18. Trophies will be awarded for the first 3 individuals in each race as well as medals for the 1st two clubs or schools. (3 runners to count).

Entries are now open and forms can be obtained from the Robins website at: www.ivanhoerobins.co.uk
Or for further info please email: Challenge@ivanhoerobins.co.uk
Entries will be accepted on the day up to 11.30.am.

Monday 15th December 2008

THE next generation of Charnwood’s highly talented production line of cross-country athletes made a successful debut at Under-13 level last weekend.

Following in the footsteps of their all-conquering senior women’s national champions in their first outing as an Under-13 girls team, Hannah Cox, Georgia Gartside and Emily Hollis competed in the Kettering Town Harriers Charity Cup cross country meeting on Saturday 13th December winning the team prize in style.

Over a tough and muddy 3km course at Wicksteed Park in Northamptonshire the girls battled through the rain swept elements with Hannah Cox coming home in second place overall followed by Georgia Gartside claiming third and Emily Hollis completing the team in sixth.

With their athletes fine combined performances all finishing inside the top six this gave the Loughborough-based club the team prize.

Above photo – Charnwood AC Under-13 team: L-R. Emily Hollis, Hannah Cox and Georgia Gartside.

Monday 15th December 2008

ONE week on from the Sainsbury's ESAA National Championships the weather conditions at the same Shepshed venue for the 2008 Leicestershire & Rutland Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships could not have been more contrasting as the bright blue skies were replaced by grey clouds and constant heavy rain.

Highlights of the event included three county schools achieving double success in the races as Lutterworth High, Loughborough High and Burleigh College all claimed two victories respectively.

Lutterworth High won the year the year seven and eight boys races, whilst, Loughborough High girls claimed the year seven and junior events as Burleigh dominated both senior age-groups.
Leading Results:
Boys
Year 7
1 Lutterworth HS, 2 Brockington CC, 3 De Lisle, 4 John Ferneley, 5 Shepshed, 6 DeLisle B
Year 8
1 Lutterworth HS, 2 Shepshed HS, 3 Kibworth HS. Year 9: 1 Leysland HS, 2 Lutterworth HS, 3 John Ferneley HS
Intermediates
1 Loughborough GS, 2 Lutterworth College, 3 De Lisle, 4 Leicester GS
Seniors
1 Burleigh College, 2 Leicester GS, 3 Groby CC, 4 Leicester GS, 5 Robert Smyth
Girls
Year 7
1 Loughborough HS, 2 Manor HS, 3 Lutterworth HS
Juniors
1 Loughborough HS, 2 Leysland HS, 3 John Ferneley HS, 4 Hastings HS, 5 De Lisle, 6 Lutterworth HS
Intermediates
1 John Cleveland College
Seniors
1 Burleigh College

www.beaconhillstriders.co.uk/

Saturday 13th December 2008

FOUR youngsters completed repeat victories in the second of the 2008/09 Leicestershire Primary Schools Cross-Country League meeting of the season which, on a bright but cold morning, attracted 1,521 runners to Western Park on Saturday 6th December, this despite many schools fielding squads depleted by illness.

A delighted Ryan Brown from Ab Kettleby school was presented with a special medal for becoming the league’s 9,000th. Year 6 Boy finisher since it began its highly successful 8 race format in 1993.

Harry Allen (Year 3 - Fleckney), Marcus Rowland (Year 4 - Brownlow), Ben Dijkstra (Year 5 - Burton on the Wolds) and Hannnah Cox (Year 6 – South Charnwood High) added to their opening day successes in their quest for leagues titles.

Eleanor Mere (Year 3 - St Bartholomews, Quorn), Annie McAllister (Year 4 - Claybrook) and Harvey Barnes (Year 6 – Greenfield) all notched their first ever league wins while Lucy Jones (Year 5 Martinshaw) secured her second league success.

Individual and team titles are all up for grabs in the final league race on January 24th. Currently Ellen Gibbs (St Peters RC, Hinckley) and, Tess Fisher (Claybrook) are tied in first place for the Year 3 title. Similarly, the scores of Year 4 girls Annie McAllister (Claybrook) and Sophie Domingo (St Cuthberts) as well as those of Year 6 Boys Sam Elliott (Burbage) and Harvey Barnes (Greenfield) are all square in their respective competitions.

The race for team trophies is similarly balanced. In the Year 6 medium schools category Kestrels Fields girls lead Ridgeway by 3 points. Further exciting finishes are guaranteed in the Year 5 Girls medium schools league where just seven points cover the top three teams from St Peters, Leicester Grammar and Blaby Stokes while Sketchley Hill Year 6 boys are level with Fleckney at the top of their large schools league.

Splendid team performances by Greenfield’s girls in both Year 5 (three runners in the Top 17) and Year 6 (three packed in the Top 9) meant that the school leapfrogged to the top of the Joey Masterson trophy for the best overall team ahead of current holders, Leicester Grammar.

Report by George Smolinski.

Leading Results:
Year 3 Girls - 185 finishers
1. Elenor Mere (St Bartholomews)
2. Ellen Gibbs (St. Peters R.C., Hinckley)
3. Lottie Edwards (Ridgeway)
Year 3 Boys – 283 finishers
1. Harry Allen (Fleckney)
2. Christopher Nealon (Elizabeth Woodville)
3. Daniel Van der Mere (Ridgeway)
Year 4 Girls - 176 finishers
1. Annie McAllister (Claybrook)
2. Jessica Claxton (Red Hill Field)
3. Sophie Domingo (St. Cuthberts)
Year 4 Boys - 241 finishers
1. Marcus Rowland (Brownlow)
2. Simranjit Thandi (Martinshaw)
3. Teddy Coleman (Queniborough)
Year 5 Girls - 169 finishers
1. Lucy Jones (Martinshaw)
2. Rachel Fisher (Claybrook)
3. Laura Mullin (Mountfield Lodge)
Year 5 Boys - 201 finishers
1. Ben Dijkstra (Burton on the Wolds)
2. Alfie Thompson (Seagrave)
3. Daniel Cole (Gilmorton Chandler)
Year 6 Girls - 112 finishers
1. Hannah Cox (South Charnwood H.S.)
2. Eleanor Long (Claybrook)
3. Shannon Anderson (Greenfield)
Year 6 Boys – 154 finishers
1. Harvey Barnes (Greenfield)
2. Sam Elliott (Burbage)
3. Joshua Knight (Fleckney)
Team leaders (after 1st race)
Small-Medium-Large-High
Year 5 Girls-Burton on the Wolds-St Peters RC-Greenfield--
Year 5 Boys-Wymeswold-Kirby Muxloe-Sketchley Hill-
Year 6 Girls-Claybrook-Kestrels Field-Greenfield-Manor
Year 6 Boys-Burton on the Wolds-Ridgeway-Sketchley Hill- Fleckney-Bushloe

Tuesday 9th December 2008

THERE were a selection of special performances from the Leicester Coritanian young athletes at the latest round of the 2008/09 West Midlands Cross Country League held on Sunday 7th December at Sandwell Valley Country Park, West Bromwich.

The course was fast and undulating with the first few races run in cold frosty conditions. As the day progressed and the sun shone, the frost turned to mud making the conditions less than ideal for the final races.

Individual winners were Amy Griffiths (Under-13 Girls) and Lucy Crookes (Under-17 Girls) whose dominant front running left their competitors in their wake. Louisa Monk put in her best performance yet and finished with a thrilling sprint finish to snatch second place behind Lucy and to help the Under-17 Girls to win the team event on the day and to place her third individually overall. Catherine Robertson (12) and Amy Danaher (16) completed the team to leave the Coritanian's team in a strong position going into the next two races with a healthy 47 point lead over Royal Sutton Coldfield.

The Under-11 Girls were out in force today and they managed to reduce the gap on team leaders Royal Sutton Coldfield to 26 points. The performances by these girls were especially rewarding because the majority of them competed in the Primary School races at Western Park yesterday. Eleanor Long put in another confident performance to place third in the race and to be the second placed individual overall. Shannon Anderson was the next Leicester athlete home after she worked through the field to claim 5th place in the race and this resulted moved her to 5th place in the overall standings.

Xander Tansey (Under-13 Boys) tracked the leaders throughout his race and lost by a narrow margin to finish in third place. His placing makes him the second placed athlete in the overall standings.

Report & photo of Girls Under-11 team by Rob Griffiths.

Full Results:
Under 11 Girls: Eleanor Long (3) Shannon Anderson (5) Beth Taylor (12) Bronya Bird (17) Lucy Whitehead (21) Niamh Kirk (31) Molly McCallister (52) Lucy Perry (65) Katie Saunders (66) Olivia Bramley (67) Chloe Cotterill (68) Ellen Smith (87)
Team second place overall with 2803 points (RSC leaders on 2829 points.)
Under 13 Girls: Amy Griffiths (1) Livvy Tansey (13) Rachel Borrows (22) Hannah Perry (27) Nettie Burd (47)
Team second place overall 2697 points (Leaders Halesowen 2743 points)
Under 15 Girls: Freya Vincent (5) April Beeby (9) Megan Fairbrother (11)
Team sixth place overall 2378 points (Leaders RSC 2794)
Under 17 Girls: Lucy Crookes (1) Louisa Monk (2) Catherine Robertson (12) Amy Danaher (16)
Team first place overall 1762 points.
U11 boys: Luke Beeby (16)
Under 13 Boys: Xander Tansey (3) Zak Anderson (28) Ben Craig (36) and Cameron Hart (62)
Team 10th place overall 1935 points. (Leaders Tamworth 2804 points)
Under 15 Boys: Harry Mullen (14) Jonathan Monk (24)
Under 17 Boys: Liam Phelan (8) and 6th placed individual overall Elliott Hart (12) Stephen Maddocks (21) Danny Callow (23)
Team 11th overall 1319 points (Leaders Cannock and Staffs 1666 points)

2008 Sainsbury's English Schools Cross Country National Cup Final

Shepshed High School, Leicestershire

Saturday 6th December 2008

THE United Kingdom's brightest athletics talent were on top form as Leicestershire welcomed the 2008 Sainsbury's English Schools Cross Country National Cup Final held in perfect conditions on a cold crisp day under bright blue skies over a challenging course around the playing fields of Shepshed High School.

Performance of the day for Leicestershire & Rutland athletes came in the Junior girls race where Mari Smith representing Loughborough High collected a well-deserved individual bronze medal crossing the line in a time of 8mins 50secs to finish third behind the Cumbrian duo of Abbie Hetherington (8:44), the reigning Scottish Under-13 800m champion and team mate Hannah Bethwaite (8:46) running in the colours of Nelson Thomlinson School following a highly competitive tussle.

Other highlights for county athletes included in the Inter-Girls race as Amelia Milton (sister of senior British international Felicity) secured a top ten place with a time of 11:04 as she finished 9th to Guildford's Ruth Haynes - club mate of world junior 1500m champion Steph Twell at Aldershot, Farnham & District AC - who claimed an impressive victory in 10:10.

Reading’s Zak Seddon representing Piggot School won the Inter Boys race with an excellent performance, the 14-year-old Berkshire Under-15 county cross-country champion who competes for Bracknell AC crossed the line in a time of 15:45 to finish ahead of Ben Austin (FitzWimarc, Rayleigh) and Southend’s Joshua Rees.

In the Junior Boys event Thomas Biegel from the Lawrence Sheriff School, Rugby, prevailed by a margin of just six-seconds to take victory in a time of 10:12 with Matthew Westby securing silver in 10:18. Robbie Loraine having made the 200 mile journey south to the Midlands claimed bronze for the Whickham School, Durham in 10:20.

A total of 545 athletes took part in the event from all regions of the United Kingdom and congratulations go out to former British international Dave Driver and his team at Shepshed High for organising and staging such a prestigious event in the county - the first of two major national schools fixtures that will be held in Leicestershire over the winter season when on Saturday 21st March the 2009 Sainsbury's ESAA National Cross Country Championships will take place at Stanford Hall, nr. Loughborough.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Leading Results:
Team:
Junior Boys
1-76--St Anselm's College, Prenton
2-85--The Eastwood School, Leigh-on-Sea
3-94--The Bishop's Stortford High School, Bishop's Stortford
4-115--The FitzWimarc School, Rayleigh
5-149--Bishop Wordsworth's Grammar School, Salisbury
6-152--Wolfreton School, Hull
7-153--Robert Bloomfield Middle School, Shefford
8-167--Grammar School at Leeds, Leeds
9-167--Lincroft Middle School, Bedford
10-173--Helsby High School, Frodsham
11-180--Millfield Preparatory, Glastonbury
12-183--Lawrence Sheriff School, Rugby
13-219--The Judd School, Tonbridge
14-253--Dr Challoner's Grammar School, Amersham
15-261--Whickham School, Newcastle upon Tyne
16-263--Lutterworth High School, Lutterworth
17-263--Trinity School, Croydon
18-263--St John Fisher Catholic High School, Harrogate
19-277--Penair School A Science College, Truro
20-305--Ermysted's Grammar School, Skipton
21-310--West Hill School, Stalybridge
22-321--Crompton House CofE School, Oldham
23-325--St Mary's College, Southampton
24-383--Marling School, Stroud
Leicestershire & Rutland Individual
Lutterworth - 36 Sam Mabey; 62 David Robertson; 79 Oliver Stringer; 86 Tom Ward
Inter Boys
1-31--Southend High School for Boys, Southend-on-Sea
2-48--Calday Grange Grammar School, Wirral
3-109--St Anselm's College, Prenton
4-115--The Judd School, Tonbridge
5-141--The Eastwood School, Leigh-on-Sea
6-156--The FitzWimarc School, Rayleigh
7-158--Lancaster Royal Grammar School, Lancaster
8-160--Royal Grammar School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
9-172--Sharnbrook Upper School and Community College, Bedford
10-177--Northampton School for Boys, Northampton
11-208--Helsby High School, Frodsham
12-230--Emmanuel College, Gateshead
13-236--The Piggott School, Reading
14-239--Oxted School, Oxted
15-253--Wilson's School, Wallington
16-267--Park View Community School, Chester le Street
17-271--Shelley College, Huddersfield
18-288--The Windsor Boys' School, Windsor
19-311--King's Norton Boys' School, Birmingham
20-320--Queen's College, Taunton
21-323--Loughborough Grammar School, Loughborough
22-344--Chase Terrace Technology College, Burntwood
23-368--Highfields School, Matlock
24-419--John Colet School, Aylesbury
Leicestershire & Rutland Individual
Loughborough Grammar - 33 David Ogg; 80 Ben Chang; 86 Mike Hsu; 124 Robbie Sweet
Junior Girls
1-69--Dr Challoner's High School, Amersham
2-80--James Allen's Girls' School, London
3-113--Highfield School, Liphook
4-114--Robert Bloomfield Middle School, Shefford
5-141--Aylesbury High School, Aylesbury
6-160--The Sir John Colfox School, Bridport
7-173--Durham Johnston Comprehensive School, Durham
8-176--Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Altrincham
9-179--Newquay Tretherras School, Newquay
10-186--The Nelson Thomlinson School, Wigton
11-191--Helsby High School, Frodsham
12-205--Bromsgrove Preparatory School, Bromsgrove
13-208--Southend High School for Girls, Southend-on-Sea
14-224--Dame Alice Owen's School, Potters Bar
15-228--Penair School A Science College, Truro
16-232--Loughborough High School, Loughborough
17-236--Danes Hill, Leatherhead
18-236--The FitzWimarc School, Rayleigh
19-243--Central Newcastle High School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
20-271--Ilkley Grammar School, Ilkley
21-303--Shrewsbury High School, Shrewsbury
22-351--Westholme School Blackburn, Blackburn
23-387--Giggleswick School, Settle
24-444--Lutterworth High School, Lutterworth
25-454--Bourne Grammar School, Bourne
Leicestershire & Rutland Individual
Loughborough High - 3 Mari Smith; 64 Lauren Davy; 72 Jemima Green; 93 Ellen Cody
Lutterworth High School - 87 India Mitchell-Jarvis; 104 Alex Fuller; 126 Jordan Cross; 127 Guinny Newton
Inter Girls
1-105--Leweston School, Sherborne
2-119--Guildford High School for Girls, Guildford
3-126--Penair School A Science College, Truro
4-128--South Wilts Grammar School for Girls, Salisbury
5-142--St Julie's Catholic High School, Liverpool
6-144--Beaumont School, St Albans
7-149--St John Fisher Catholic High School, Harrogate
8-159--Oakham School, Oakham
9-164--Southend High School for Girls, Southend-on-Sea
10-178--Malvern College, Malvern
11-198--Central Newcastle High School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
12-204--Grammar School at Leeds, Leeds
13-218--King Edward VI Upper School, Bury St Edmunds
14-225--Sharnbrook Upper School and Community College, Bedford
15-228--Bromsgrove Preparatory School, Bromsgrove
16-230--Westholme School Blackburn, Blackburn
17-244--The North London Collegiate School, Edgware
18-246--Robert May's School, Hook
19-270--Dame Allan's Girls' School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
20-273--Bridgewater High School, Warrington
21-273--Prior's Field School, Godalming
22-278--Headington School, Oxford
23-300--Loughborough High School, Loughborough
24-305--Sedbergh School, Sedbergh
Leicestershire & Rutland Individual
Oakham - 9 Amelia Milton; 32 India Hill; 47 Somerby Hamdorff; 71 Pip Nicholas
Loughborough High - 55 Joni Ashford; 67 Helena Smith; 70 Zoe De Rijk; 108 Sarah Wilkinson

www.esaa.net

Thursday 4th December 2008

THIS weekend Leicestershire welcomes the United Kingdom's brightest athletics talent to the playing fields of Shepshed High for the 2008 Sainsbury's English Schools Cross Country Final.

The competition is for Junior (under 14) and Intermediate (under 16) age groups (ages as on 31st August 2009), and started with Round 1 during October, with over 850 schools throughout England competing against other local schools in their County. The leading teams from all the competitions held in each County then went on to compete in one of 8 Regional Finals on 8th November.

This National Final pits the leading 3 teams in each Region against each other. Teams comprise 6 athletes with the first 4 counting towards the points total. In the event of a tie on points, the team whose 4th counter finishes higher takes precedence.

For Leicestershire Georgie Brookes led an impressive performance for Oakham’s Intermediate Girls team by securing her second race victory of the competition at the regional final held at the Longcroft School in Beverley situated in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Their fine combined win qualified the team through to the National Final.

Brookes (15), from the Leicester Coritanian club crossed the line in a time of 10mins 20secs to take victory ahead of fellow county athlete Matilda Abraham representing Loughborough High as they finished runners-up to the Oakham team comprising of Amelia Milton (sister of British international Felicity), Somerby Hamdorff and India Hill.

In the Junior Girls event Loughborough High were equally impressive as they qualified through to the National Final with Mari Smith, club mate of Brookes at Leicester, and Alice Murfitt taking the top two positions as they combined with team mates Jemma Green and Lauren Davey to finish top of the team standings ahead of Ilkley Grammar School. India Mitchell-Jarvis representing Lutterworth also secured a top-ten finish in 6th place.

Christina Boxer, a former Olympian, will be in attendance with her team from Malvern College and will be involved with the presentations of the trophies and medals.

She was Intermediate Girl's champion in 1972 before going on to a career that included Commonwealth 1500m victory in 1982.

In the 2008 competition St John Fisher School from Harrogate will be the defending their Intermediate Girl's title.

The champions in the Intermediate Boy's age-group, Southend High School for Boys, return. They bring four athletes who helped them secure gold last year.

In the Junior Boys age-group, Lincroft Middle School from Bedford are back to defend their title, but with a totally new team - as are West Hill School from Stalybridge in Greater Manchester - runners-up in 2007.

However, the Junior Girl's age-group will feature a new winner as none of the top three teams from 2007 are competing.
Race Timetable:
10.30 to 12.30 Course open for inspection
10.30 to 12.30 Declarations open
13.00 Intermediate Girls Race
13.30 Junior Boys Race
14.00 Junior Girls Race
14.20 Intermediate Boys Race
15.15 approx Presentations
Finalists:

The Country is divided into 8 regions. The leading 3 school teams from each Regional Final compete in this National Final.
Regions are allocated as follows:
A: Merseyside, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cumbria
B: North Yorkshire, Durham, Cleveland, Northumberland
C: Cheshire, Gloucestershire, West Midlands, Warwickshire, Hereford & Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Shropshire
D: Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Humberside, Nottinghamshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire
E: Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Norfolk, Suffolk
F: Berkshire, Avon, Cornwall, Wiltshire, Devon, Dorset, Somerset
G: Middlesex, North London, Hertfordshire, Essex
H: Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey, Channel Islands, Kent, South London
Numbers - Region - School - Town - Teams:
7 to 12 region A : Calday Grange Grammar School Wirral IB
19 to 24 region A : St Anselm's College Prenton JB IB
31 to 36 region A : Altrincham Grammar School for Girls Altrincham JG
61 to 66 region A : Westholme School Blackburn Blackburn JG IG
61 to 66 region A : Crompton House CofE School Oldham JB
73 to 78 region A : Lancaster Royal Grammar School Lancaster IB
115 to 120 region A : Sedbergh School Sedbergh IG
127 to 132 region A : West Hill School Stalybridge JB
133 to 138 region A : St Julie's Catholic High School Liverpool IG
133 to 138 region A : The Nelson Thomlinson School Wigton JG
25 to 30 region B : Central Newcastle High School Newcastle-upon-Tyne JG IG
49 to 54 region B : Emmanuel College Gateshead IB
55 to 60 region B : St John Fisher Catholic High School Harrogate JB IG
67 to 72 region B : Dame Allan's Girls' School Newcastle-upon-Tyne IG
73 to 78 region B : Ermysted's Grammar School Skipton JB
91 to 96 region B : Durham Johnston Comprehensive School Durham JG
97 to 102 region B : Park View Community School Chester le Street IB
97 to 102 region B : Giggleswick School Settle JG
109 to 114 region B : Royal Grammar School Newcastle-upon-Tyne IB
133 to 138 region B : Whickham School Newcastle upon Tyne JB
1 to 6 region C : Helsby High School Frodsham JB IB JG
13 to 18 region C : Bridgewater High School Warrington IG
19 to 24 region C : Bromsgrove Preparatory School Bromsgrove JG IG
31 to 36 region C : Chase Terrace Technology College Burntwood IB
67 to 72 region C : King's Norton Boys' School Birmingham IB
79 to 84 region C : Lawrence Sheriff School Rugby JB
91 to 96 region C : Malvern College Malvern IG
97 to 102 region C : Marling School Stroud JB
127 to 132 region C : Shrewsbury High School Shrewsbury JG
31 to 36 region D : Grammar School at Leeds Leeds JB IG
37 to 42 region D : Loughborough High School Loughborough JG IG
55 to 60 region D : Highfields School Matlock IB
67 to 72 region D : Bourne Grammar School Bourne JG
79 to 84 region D : Loughborough Grammar School Loughborough IB
91 to 96 region D : Lutterworth High School Lutterworth JB
97 to 102 region D : Oakham School Oakham IG
109 to 114 region D : Ilkley Grammar School Ilkley JG
115 to 120 region D : Shelley College Huddersfield IB
139 to 144 region D : Wolfreton School Hull JB
145 to 150 region D : Lutterworth High School Lutterworth JG
3 to 48 region E : Sharnbrook Upper School and Community College Bedford IB IG
43 to 48 region E : Robert Bloomfield Middle School Shefford JB JG
55 to 60 region E : Aylesbury High School Aylesbury JG
61 to 66 region E : John Colet School Aylesbury IB
67 to 72 region E : Dr Challoner's Grammar School Amersham JB
79 to 84 region E : Headington School Oxford IG
85 to 90 region E : Dr Challoner's High School Amersham JG
85 to 90 region E : Lincroft Middle School Bedford JB
85 to 90 region E : King Edward VI Upper School Bury St Edmunds IG
85 to 90 region E : Northampton School for Boys Northampton IB
7 to 12 region F : Penair School A Science College Truro JB JG IG
49 to 54 region F : Bishop Wordsworth's Grammar School Salisbury JB
103 to 108 region F : Millfield Preparatory Glastonbury JB
103 to 108 region F : Queen's College Taunton IB
121 to 126 region F : Newquay Tretherras School Newquay JG
121 to 126 region F : South Wilts Grammar School for Girls Salisbury IG
127 to 132 region F : The Piggott School Reading IB
127 to 132 region F : Leweston School Sherborne IG
133 to 138 region F : The Windsor Boys' School Windsor IB
139 to 144 region F : The Sir John Colfox School Bridport JG
1 to 6 region G : Beaumont School St Albans IG
13 to 18 region G : The FitzWimarc School Rayleigh JB IB JG
25 to 30 region G : The Eastwood School Leigh-on-Sea JB IB
49 to 54 region G : Southend High School for Girls Southend-on-Sea JG IG
73 to 78 region G : Dame Alice Owen's School Potters Bar JG
115 to 120 region G : The Bishop's Stortford High School Bishop's Stortford JB
121 to 126 region G : Southend High School for Boys Southend-on-Sea IB
139 to 144 region G : The North London Collegiate School Edgware IG
37 to 42 region H : The Judd School Tonbridge JB IB
73 to 78 region H : Guildford High School for Girls Guildford IG
79 to 84 region H : Danes Hill Leatherhead JG
91 to 96 region H : Oxted School Oxted IB
103 to 108 region H : Prior's Field School Godalming IG
103 to 108 region H : Highfield School Liphook JG
109 to 114 region H : Robert May's School Hook IG
109 to 114 region H : St Mary's College Southampton JB
115 to 120 region H : James Allen's Girls' School London JG
121 to 126 region H : Trinity School Croydon JB
139 to 144 region H : Wilson's School Wallington IB

www.esaa.net

Thursday 4th December 2008

LOUGHBOROUGH University is holding a two day sports camp for children aged five to 14 this Christmas.

Hosted amongst the University’s world class sports facilities, recruits will take part in a variety of exciting sports and activities including trampolining, football, swimming, tag rugby, basketball, cricket, hockey and Rock-it-ball. Campers are split into three different teams - Nike for 5 to 7 year olds, Hercules for 8 to 10 year olds and Zeus for ages 11 to 14, with the youngest group also having quiet time during the day.

The camps take place on Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd December and community sport development officer Nick Wilkinson is looking forward to welcoming local youngsters onto campus.

“We’re pleased to be able to offer our sport camp in the final days before Christmas,” he said. “Our summer camps are always very popular with children of all ages and we continue to have good feedback and commendations from their parents.

“Kids can come and take part in our wide range of sports while their parents make their final preparations for the Christmas holiday.”

The camp runs from 9am (drop off from 8.30am) to 5pm (pick up before 5.30pm) daily and costs £30 per child per day. Camps are registered with Ofsted and a qualified welfare office is present each day. Loughborough also accepts payment via Busy Bees or Accor vouchers.

To book a place or for more information contact For Sport reception on 01509 226250 or email sdc@lboro.ac.uk

Saturday 29th November 2008

THE fourth round of the 2008/09 Leicestershire & Rutland Secondary Schools Cross-Country League was held at the Melton Country Park on Saturday 29th November - the full results are now available on the results page.

Loughborough High's Mari Smith and Roundhill's James Hatton – both year-seven pupils – plus junior James Nutt, representing Lutterworth High, completed a clean sweep of victories.

In the team standings with one race remaining in the series at Ratcliffe College on January 17th, the trio cannot be overhauled in the individual standings.

Bushloe junior, Leicester Coritanian Amy Griffiths, is also in an unassailable position with three first places and one second position to her credit, whilst, Burleigh senior Zoe Hawkins from Charnwood AC and Ratcliffe intermediate Elliott Hart are also in strong positions.

In the team rankings, De Lisle year seven boys, Lutterworth junior boys, Loughborough High junior girls, Lutterworth College intermediate boys, John Cleveland intermediate girls and Loughborough Grammar senior boys have secured their respective championships.

There were new winners in the junior girls' race at Melton with Leysland High achieving their first league victory. Their team had a great start with Megan Fairbrother and April Beeby finishing second and fourth respectively followed by Rebecca Saunders 12th and M Barnes 14th.

www.athletics-leics.com/results.html
The cross-country relays take place on Saturday 13th December at Shepshed High School. www.beaconhillstriders.co.uk/

Wednesday 26th November 2008

THE third round of the 2008/09 Leicestershire & Rutland Secondary Schools Cross-Country League was held at Lutterworth High School on Saturday 15th November - the full results are now available on the results page.

www.athletics-leics.com/results.html
The next race takes place on Saturday 29th November at the Melton Mowbray Country Park - first race 10.30am www.beaconhillstriders.co.uk/

Friday 14th November 2008

THE venue for the 2009 (ESAA) Sainsbury's English Schools National Cross-Country Championships that takes place on Saturday 21st March has had to be changed.

The massive event, which will feature hundreds of the best school-age athletes from all over the country, was originally scheduled to take place on grassland that forms part of the Donington Park motor-racing circuit.

However, the championships have been switched to Stanford Hall, nr. Loughborough, due to the work being carried out at the circuit ahead of the Formula One British Grand Prix which Donington is set to host from 2010 when the race is switched from Silverstone.

Like the initial Castle Donington option, this is close to Junction 24 of the M1 motorway and has ample car-parking areas to cope with up to 1,000 cars and 45 buses on the day.

The championships - whose past winners include athletes of the calibre of World marathon record-holder Paula Radcliffe, Peter Elliott and former European cross country champion Mo Farah - are the second of two national schools events being held in the county over the next few months, the first being the 2008 Sainsbury's English Schools National Cross-Country Cup Final at Shepshed High School on Saturday 6th December.

www.esaa.net

Wednesday 12th November 2008

LEICESTER CORITANIAN's young athletes enjoyed another successful weekend at Newbold Comyn competing in the West Midlands Cross Country League. (Race 2).

The course was demanding being very wet and muddy underfoot and the steep hill claimed many victims throughout the course of the day. Thankfully the rain pretty much held off until the last moments but the blustery conditions were not kind to the competitors.

There were three individual winners, each of them successfully defending their first league race wins and heading the individual competitions in their age groups. They were Sam Elliott U11 boys, Amy Griffiths U13 girls and Lucy Crookes U17 girls.

The under 17 girls team are also leading the team challenge 1174 points with at 25 point advantage over Tipton Harriers 1149 points. Following on from Lucy's win were strong performances from Louisa Monk (3), Catherine Robertson (10) and Amy Danaher (15).

The Under 17 boys put on marvellous display today by accumulating the most points on the day in this age group with a magnificent 567 point tally. Elliott Hart lead the charge (4) closely followed by Liam Phelan (6), Stephen Maddocks (26) and Danny Callow (32).

Unfortunately, they are lying in 14th place overall with 757 points because they did not field a complete team in the first race. Liam is currently the 6th place overall athlete in the individual standings.

Eleanor Long improved on last times 4th place to lead the Under 11 girls to a second place finish. Eleanor started back in the field and worked her way into second place. Shannon Anderson finished five places better than her last placing in 6th place. This leaves Eleanor in 2nd place overall and Shannon in joint 6th place overall in the individual standings.

Team mates Rebecca Orton (19), Bronya Bird (21), Niamh Kirk (22), Beth Taylor (23), Caitlin Bateman (32), Lucy Whitehead (34), Lucy Perry (60), Molly McCallister (64), Chloe Cotterill (66), Katie Saunders (67), Olivia Bramley (68) and Ellen Smith (80) meant that the team is in second place overall with 1856 points. Royal Sutton Coldfield head the team standings with 1894 points.

Sam Elliott lead the U11 boys race throughout. and finished with a flurry. He was backed up by team mates Luke Beeby (17) and Ben Crookes (24) .

Amy Griffiths won the Under 13 girls race in a tightly fought race. She relinquished the lead she had established early on but managed to break a gap on the downhill slope just before the finish and she held on with a determined sprint for the line.

Team mates Livvy Tansey (9), Rachel Borrows (14), Mari Smith (15), Hannah Perry (37), Nettie Burd (54) and Becky Saunders (126) put pressure on League Team leaders Halesowen and managed to close the deficit from the first race by 5 points. Halesowen 1823 points and Leicester Coritanian's 1802 points.

Xander Tansey was the first Coritanian home in the Under 13 boys race. He finished in second place for his second successive West Midlands race thus putting him as the second placed individual runner overall. Zak Anderson followed Xander home in 23rd place, with a massive improvement of 15 places, with Cameron Hart (76), Ben Craig and Jed Halpine-Mecabe (87).

Megan Fairbrother showed her determination by improving on her 8th place in the last race to 5th place in this race. This has moved her into joint 5th place in the individual standings overall. Megan was followed home by Georgie Brookes, who, fresh form her victory at Beverly in the Schools Cup the previous day, ran a tactical race to finish in 9th place.

They were supported by team mates April Beeby (12), Tilly Abraham (23), Emily Orton (33), Bethan Elliott (46) and Caitlin Pratt (74). This leaves the girls trailing Halesowen in 3rd place by 3 points in the team standings. Halesowen 1803, Leicester Coritanian's 4th place 1800 points and Cannock and Staffs 1st place 1865 points.

In the under 15 boys race, the two front runners dominated the proceedings, with Jacob Kench fighting for third, fourth or fifth position. Jacob was to win this mini-battle and finished triumphantly in 3rd place. He was followed home by Harry Mullen (14) and Jonathan Monk (28).

Report by Rob Griffiths.

Regional Final

Longcroft School, Beverley

Saturday 8th November 2008

GEORGIE BROOKES led an impressive performance for Oakham’s Intermediate Girls team by securing her second race victory of the competition at the regional final of the 2008 ESAA Sainsbury's English Schools Cross Country Cup Regional Final held at the Longcroft School in Beverley situated in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Their fine combined win qualifies the team through to the National Finals that takes place on Saturday 6th December in Leicestershire at Shepshed High School.

Brookes (15), from the Leicester Coritanian club crossed the line in a time of 10mins 20secs to take victory ahead of fellow county athlete Matilda Abraham representing Loughborough High as they finished runners-up to the Oakham team comprising of Amelia Milton (sister of British international Felicity), Somerby Hamdorff and India Hill.

In the Junior Girls event Loughborough High were equally impressive as they qualified through to the National Final with Mari Smith, club mate of Brookes at Leicester, and Alice Murfitt taking the top two positions as they combined with team mates Jemma Green and Lauren Davey to finish top of the team standings ahead of Ilkley Grammar School. India Mitchell-Jarvis representing Lutterworth also secured a top-ten finish in 6th place.
Full Results:
Inter Boys
1-Gordon Benson-LeedsGS-13:11;2-Tom Halton-ShelleyC-:35;3-Jonathan Doull-Highflds-14:00;4-David Ogg-LoughGS-:20;5-Sam Bowden-NewMills-:30;6-Aled Hopkins-Longcrtf-:33;7-Jamie Higgins-ShelleyC-:36;8-Ashley Boardman-NewMills-:44;9-Jamie Pratt-Monks-:45;10-James Whittingham-Longcrtf-:52;11-Andrew Elder-Highflds-:54;12-James Thomas-RobMann-:54;13-Ben Hampson-RobMann-15:02;14-Declan McGivern-ShelleyC-:12;15-Jamie Henderson-NewMills-:18;16-Ben Chang-LoughGS-:24;17-Jack Scarborough-Monks-:28;18-Dave Lander-Highflds-:30;19-Mike Hsu-LoughGS-:31;20-Aaron Abidi-Longcrtf-:35;21-Max Hutchinson-RobMann-:37;22-Oliver Preston-LeedsGS-:38;23-Jake Walker-Wolfretn-:38;24-Tom Reilly-Wolfretn-:40;25-Daniel Jenkins-ShelleyC-:41;26-Steven Scupham-RobMann-:44;27-Robbie Sweet-LoughGS-:46;28-Jamie Snape-RobMann-:46;29-Oliver Fields-LeedsGS-:46;30-James Bowker-Wolfretn-:53;31-Simon Parkes-Monks-:58;32-Charles O'Donovan-LeedsGS-16:02;33-Ryan Gackowski-Highflds-:02;34-George Mason-Longcrtf-:20;35-Tom Smith-LeedsGS-:20;36-Robert Langthorp-Longcrtf-:26;37-Peter Phillips-ShelleyC-:43;38-Ashley Standland-Monks-17:08;39-Ben Morley-LeedsGS-:19;40-Oliver Ewin-Monks-:46;41-Alex Braund-Highflds-18:31;42-Matthew Holt-NewMills-19:22
Teams:
1-Shelley College, West Yorkshire-2 7 14 25-48
2-Highfields School, Derbyshire-3 11 18 33-65
3-Loughborough Grammar School, Leicestershire-4 16 19 27-66
4-Longcroft School and Performing Arts College, Humberside-6 10 20 34-70
5-New Mills School and Sixth Form Centre, Derbyshire-5 8 15 42-70
6-The Robert Manning Technology College, Lincolnshire-12 13 21 26-72
7-Leeds Grammar School, West Yorkshire-1 22 29 32-84
8-Monks' Dyke Technology College, Lincolnshire-9 17 31 38-95
-Wolfreton School, Humberside-23 24 30-
Junior Boys
1--Adam Oxley-Wolfretn-9:40;2--Peter Bolton-NottsHS-:45;3--Liam Catley-Wolfretn-:50;4--Macaully Kearney-LeedsGS-:52;5--James Needham-Wolfretn-:53;6--Charlie Stevenson-Shepshed-:56;7--Lloyd Stock-Shepshed-:58;8--Oliver Sharratt-LeedsGS-10:04;9--Joshua Birks-LeedsGS-:06;10---DerbyMr-:07;11--Fahiim Osman-LeedsGS-:08;12--Tom Potter-Parkside-:09;13--David Robertson-Lutterw-:12;14--Tom Ward-Lutterw-:13;15--Michael Adlard-Wolfretn-:15;16--Will Rawlinson-LoughGS-:15;17--Sam Moore-LoughGS-:16;18--Samuel Mabey-Lutterw-:18;19---Longcrtf-:20;20—Oliver Glasse-Lutterw-:21;21--Fraser Marshall-Oakham-:21;22--Josh Ferguson-Oakbank-:22;23--Louis Rowledge-Wolfretn-:23;24--Taylor Lawrence-LeedsGS-:24;25--Daniel Haymes-LeedsGS-:26;26--Nathan Lawson-Lutterw-:28;27--Tom Loring-Oakham-:28;28--Tristan Abraham-Oakham-:36;29--Oliver Maynard-Oakham-:37;30--Tim Mulvaney-LoughGS-:38;31--Oliver Stringer-Lutterw-:39;32--Jack Bridle-Wilsthrp-:40;33--Robbie Moulding-LoughGS-:42;34---DerbyMr-:44;35--Nick Mahoney-LoughGS-:47;36--George Bairstow-Parkside-:51;37--Jake Brennan-Wilsthrp-:57;38---DerbyMr-:58;39--Ryan Bowes-NottsHS-:59;40---Longcrtf-11:02;41--Josh Clackstone-NottsHS-:05;42--Sam Lister-Shepshed-:07;43---Longcrtf-:10;44---DerbyMr-:12;45--Adam Dugmore-Shepshed-:13;46--Joe Wain-Parkside-:16;47--Lawrence Shore-Wolfretn-:17;48--Harry Phipps-Wilsthrp-:20;49--Tom Bolton-NottsHS-:22;50--Ben Addison-Oakbank-:23;51--Jordan St.Julian-Oakbank-:24;52--Jordan Townsend-Wilsthrp-:27;53---Longcrtf-:32;54--Ben Cook-Shepshed-:38;55--Taylor Stott-Oakbank-:43;56--Lewis Blythe-Shepshed-:44;57--Jack Michaels-NottsHS-:48;58--Cameron Lane-Wilsthrp-:59;59--George Dennis-Oakbank-12:02;60--Josh Greaves-Oakham-:03;61--Arron Cuttriss-Wilsthrp-:04;62---DerbyMr-:13;63--David Peacock-Parkside-:57;64---Longcrtf-13:33
Teams:
1-Wolfreton School, Humberside-1 3 5 15-24
2-Leeds Grammar School, West Yorkshire-4 8 9 11-32
3-Lutterworth High School, Leicestershire-13 14 18 20-65
4-Loughborough Grammar School, Leicestershire-16 17 30 33-96
5-Shepshed High School, Leicestershire-6 7 42 45-100
6-Oakham School, Leicestershire-21 27 28 29-105
7-Derby Moor Community Sports College, Derbyshire-10 34 38 44-126
8-Nottingham High School, Nottinghamshire-2 39 41 49-131
9-Longcroft School and Performing Arts College, Humberside-19 40 43 53-155
10-Parkside School, West Yorkshire-12 36 46 63-157
11-Wilsthorpe Business & Enterprise College, Derbyshire-32 37 48 52-169
12-Oakbank School, West Yorkshire-22 50 51 55-178
Inter Girls
1--Georgie Brookes-Oakham-10:20;2--Matilda Abraham-LoughHS-:25;3--Samantha Sajkovic-Longcrtf-:57;4--Katie Michaels-Longcrtf-:30;5--Amelia Milton-Oakham-:34;6--Alicia Jeavons-LeedsGS-:35;7--Somerby Hamdorff-Oakham-:38;8--Joni Ashford-LoughHS-:39;9--Emily Allsop-Ockbrook-:42;10--India Hill-Oakham-:46;11--Ellen McArthur-LeedsGS-:47;12--Nuala Price-LeedsGS-:51;13--Alice Middleton-Wolfretn-:51;14--Lottie Jones-JohnFern-:53;15--Brittany Tate-IlkleyGS-:54;16--Charlotte Marsh-JohnFern-:58;17--Ella Smith-JFlamstd-11:05;18--Jess Turner-JFlamstd-:06;19--Ella Graham-JFlamstd-:06;20--Helena Smith-LoughHS-:07;21--Sarah Dias-Oakham-:10;22--Zoe de Rijk-LoughHS-:10;23--Sophie Adlard-Wolfretn-:17;24--Molly Beck-Walton-:19;25--Emily Adlard-Wolfretn-:33;26--Niomi Petch-Wolfretn-:36;27--Nicole Peters-Wolfretn-:39;28--Millie Cooper-Walton-:44;29--Lizzie Golland-JohnFern-:45;30--Kirsty Shipman-WestPark-:47;31--Ellie Taylor-IlkleyGS-:47;32--Mollie Temple-LincolnM-:50;33--Sophie Latta-IlkleyGS-:51;34--Rebecca Painter WestPark-:52;35--Jasmine Dalton-Longcrtf-:54;36--Lydia Bunn-WestPark-:56;37--Ella Grimoldby-Oakham-:57;38--Sabrina Clay-WestPark-12:01;39--Susannah Fleming-Walton-:03;40--India Bell-JFlamstd-:03;41--Florence Haines-IlkleyGS-:06;42--Annabel Middleton-Longcrtf-:07;43--Poppie Miller-LincolnM-:15;44--Alice Trout-LincolnM-:17;45--Kate Dybeck-IlkleyGS-:25;46--Alex van Doorn-JohnFern-:30;47--Emma Newman-WestPark-:37;48--Alice Newton-JohnFern-:45;49--Zoe Czelecki-Longcrtf-:53;50--Kirsty Joyce-Longcrtf-:55;51--Esther Heath-Ockbrook-:55;52--Kirsty Holding-WestPark-13:02;53--Megan Carpenter-LeedsGS-:04;54--Grace James-Ockbrook-:10;55--Emily Wells-Walton-:14;56--Oke Oteri-LincolnM-:16;57--Sophie Mudie-Walton-:17;58--Ruth Smith-Ockbrook-:20;59--Charlotte Jackson-LincolnM-:24;60--Victoria Harrison-LincolnM-:27;61--Eve Cavany-Wolfretn-:40;62--Lilly Kitchen-IlkleyGS-14:39
Teams:
1-Oakham School, Leicestershire-1 5 7 10-23
2-Loughborough High School, Leicestershire-2 8 20 22-52
3-Leeds Grammar School, West Yorkshire-6 11 12 53-82
4-Longcroft School and Performing Arts College, Humberside-3 4 35 42-84
5-Wolfreton School, Humberside-13 23 25 26-87
6-John Flamsteed Community School, Derbyshire-17 18 19 40-94
7-John Ferneley High School, Leicestershire-14 16 29 46-105
8-Ilkley Grammar School, West Yorkshire-15 31 33 41-120
9-West Park Community School, Derbyshire-30 34 36 38-138
10-Grantham The Walton Girls' High School, Lincolnshire-24 28 39 55-146
11-Ockbrook School, Derbyshire-9 51 54 58-172
12-Lincoln Minster School, Lincolnshire-32 43 44 56-175
Junior Girls
1--Mari Smith-LoughHS-8:50;2--Alice Murfitt-LoughHS-:53;3--Jade Carvath Smith-BourneGS-:58;4--Amy Clackstone-Longcrtf-9:03;5--Jemima Green-LoughHS-:05;6--India Mitchell-Jarvis-Lutterw-:06;7--Georgia Barker-WestPark-:08;8--Robyn Allan-JFlamstd-:20;9--Izzie Gibbs-IlkleyGS-:23;10--Naomi Elliott-IlkleyGS-:23;11--Anna Sinclair-IlkleyGS-:27;12--Natalie Clarke-Lutterw-:32;13--Elizabeth Wardale-Longcrtf-:32;14--Emma Hornsby-BourneGS-:33;15--Lauren Davy-LoughHS-:34;16--Holly Plamer-Oakham-:34;17--Sophie Hayward-Lutterw-:41;18--Isobelle Smith-LoughHS-:41;19--Sarah Fountain-BourneGS-:41;20--Anna Tench-IlkleyGS-:42;21--Zara Knappy-Oakbank-:46;22--Ellen Cody-LoughHS-:47;23--Holly Cavany-Wolfretn-10:02;24--Lauren Bingley-WestPark-:03;25--Alice Bowden-NewMills-:05;26--Lucy Roberts-Oakham-:05;27--Charlotte Atkin-Oakham-:07;28--Jessica McLeod-NewMills-:08;29--Bea Bradley-IlkleyGS-:08;30--Charlotte Cox-Oakbank-:09;31--Lucy Omond-Wolfretn-:09;32--Aimee Kettle-Walton-:15;33--Rebecca Allen-Wolfretn-:15;34--Zoe Farmer-BourneGS-:16;35--Jordan Cross-Lutterw-:18;36--Ellie Wilkinson-Wolfretn-:20;37--Hannah Jones-JFlamstd-:21;38--Hannah McCombe-Oakham-:22;39--Shannon Pike-Lutterw-:25;40--Elizabeth Doyle-Longcrtf-:27;41--Guinny Newton-Lutterw-:28;42--Rachel Dias-Oakham-:28;43--Chelsey Holder-Oakbank-:46;44--Abbie James-NewMills-:50;45--Georgia Wright-Walton-:51;46--Laura Blount-JFlamstd-:51;47--Melissa Jackson-WestPark-:56;48--Emily Davies-Oakham-:58;49--Emily Walker-Wolfretn-11:03;50--Alex Stimpson-Longcrtf-:05;51--Megan Hibbs-Longcrtf-:10;52--Hannah Hiscock-Oakbank-:19;53--Hannah Robinson-IlkleyGS-:20;54--Lydia Warren-JFlamstd-:22;55--Imogen Cresswell-JFlamstd-:33;56--Amy Hewitt-WestPark-:37;57--Catherine Bentham-BourneGS-:37;58--Hannah Brown-WestPark-:38;59--Alice Macgowan-Walton-:20;60--Abbie Eldred-Walton-13:20;61--Louise Eastcrabbe-Longcrtf-:37
Teams:
1-Loughborough High School, Leicestershire-1 2 5 15-23
2-Ilkley Grammar School, West Yorkshire-9 10 11 20-50
3-Bourne Grammar School, Lincolnshire-3 14 19 34-70
4-Lutterworth High School, Leicestershire-6 12 17 35-70
5-Oakham School, Leicestershire-16 26 27 38-107
6-Longcroft School and Performing Arts College, Humberside-4 13 40 50-107
7-Wolfreton School, Humberside-23 31 33 36-123
8-West Park Community School, Derbyshire-7 24 47 56-134
9-John Flamsteed Community School, Derbyshire-8 37 46 54-145
10-Oakbank School, West Yorkshire-21 30 43 52-146
11-Grantham The Walton Girls' High School, Lincolnshire-32 45 59 60-196
-New Mills School and Sixth Form Centre, Derbyshire-25 28 44

www.esaa.net

Saturday 8th November 2008

A near-record turn-out graced the launch of the 32nd Leicestershire & Rutland Primary Schools Cross-Country League at Leicester's Western Park on Saturday 1st November to underline its status as the leading event of its kind in the country.

A total of 1,788 children took part in the day's eight races to record the fifth-largest field in the league's long and distinguished history.

There were some special presentations to mark a series of milestones.

Shepshed High's Seamus Gallagher received a commemorative medal on becoming the 75,000th finisher since the league moved to an eight-race format in 1993. It was presented by George Ball, who was the league's 50,000th finisher five years ago.

Emily Askham, of St Bartholomew's in Quorn, received a medal as the 8,000th finisher in the year-four girls' category since 1993, while Simon Scully (Husbands Bosworth) was similarly honoured as the 12,000th year-four boy.

Year-three debutants Tess Fisher (Claybrook) and Harry Allen (Fleckney) each took first place in their respective races.

At year four, Sophie Domingo won her first league race ahead of last year's top two – Grace Scott (Hallaton) and Annie McAllister (Claybrook). In the boys' event, Marcus Rowland (Brownlow) led home Teddy Coleman (Queniborough).

Holywell's Elizabeth Mulvaney opened her year-five account with a win over Lucy Jones (Martinshaw) and Rachel Fisher (Claybrook). In the boys' race, Ben Dijkstra (Burton on the Wolds) took his unbeaten league tally to seven with Alfie Thompson (Seagrave) notching his third successive runner-up spot.

At year-six level, Mercenfeld's Hannah Cox took her undefeated run to 10 league outings, while Burbage's Sam Elliott won his fifth successive race.
Leading Results:
Boys
Year 3 (294 finishers): 1 Harry Allen (Fleckney), 2 Corey Armeni (Mercenfeld), 3 Christopher Nealon (Elizabeth Woodville). Year 4 (292 finishers): 1 Marcus Rowland (Brownlow), 2 Teddy Coleman (Queniborough), 3 Undeclared
Year 5 (243 finishers): 1 Ben Dijkstra (Burton-on-the-Wolds), 2 Alfie Thompson (Seagrave), 3 Thomas Winfield (Belvoirdale)
Year 6 (180 finishers): 1 Sam Elliott (Burbage), 2 Harvey Barnes (Greenfield), 3 Sam Edwards (Ridgeway)
Girls
Year 3 (197 finishers): 1 Tess Fisher (Claybrook), 2 Jocelyn Parkes-Bowen (Fleckney), 3 Ellen Gibbs (St Peters RC)
Year 4 (240 finishers): 1 Sophie Domingo (St Cuthbert's), 2 Grace Scott (Hallaton), 3 Annie McAllister (Claybrook). Year 5 (203 finishers): 1 Elizabeth Mulvaney (Holywell), 2 Lucy Jones (Martinshaw), 3 Rachel Fisher (Claybrook)
Year 6 (139 finishers): 1 Hannah Cox (South Charnwood), 2 Eleanor Long (Claybrook), 3 Niamh Kirk (Manor)
Teams:
Year 5 girls small schools: Burton-on-the-Wolds, medium schools: Rothley, large schools: Greenfield
Year 5 boys small schools: Wymeswold, medium schools: Kirby Muxloe, large schools: Sketchley Hill
Year 6 girls small schools: Claybrook, medium schools: Thistly Meadow, large schools: Greenfield, high schools: Manor
Year 6 boys small schools: Burton-on-the-Wolds, medium schools: Ridgeway, large schools: Greenfield, high schools

2008 Commonwealth Youth Games

Pune, India

Thursday 16th October 2008

SHAUNNA THOMPSON completed a sprint double at the Commonwealth Youth Games in India when she won 200m gold on the final day of the athletics competition in Pune.

The 16-year-old from Manchester, one of British athletics' rising stars, equalled her personal best of 23.42 seconds in a championship record.

Thompson won the 100m title, also in a championship record time, on Tuesday.

"To win two gold medals at these Games has exceeded my expectations and I'm delighted to set another Youth Games record," she said.

"My focus now is the European Juniors next summer."

Rachel Stringer claimed silver England ahead of Lynsey Sharp who won bronze for Scotland in a competitive 800m final where a new Games record of 2mins 04.23secs was set by South African Mokgadi Caster Semenya who took the gold.

Stringer from the City of Norwich club clocked a time of 2:05.71 to eclipse Edinburgh-based Sharp who ran 2:06.77 in third.

In the field events England’s Shaunagh Brown won bronze in the Discus with a throw of 42.96m.
Leading Results:
Men
200m: 1 Shehan Abeypitiyage (Sri) 21.27, 2 Ray Williams (Aus) 21.30, 3 Amiya Kumar Mallick (Ind) 21.33
800m: 1 Cylof Jonas (RSA) 1:50.72, 2 Daniel Lagamang (Bot) 1:51.28, 3 David Mutinda (Ken) 1:52.22
5000m: 1 Moses Kibet (Uga) 14:10.86, 2 Dickson Huru (Uga) 14:11.06, 3 Japhet Korir (Ken) 14:11.39
High Jump: 1 Wayne Voight (RSA) 2.11, 2 Nikhil Chittarasu (Ind) 2.09, 3 Derek Drouin (Can) 2.09
Long Jump: 1 Stefan Brits (RSA) 7.38, 2 Rayan Rositto Andrews (Ind) 7.24, 3 Azarudeen Buhari (Ind) 7.14
Javelin Throw: 1 Nandkrishan Tripathi (Ind) 71.52 (GR), 2 Rohit Kumar (Ind) 67.60, 3 Luke Bissett (Aus) 65.64
4x400 Relay: 1 India 3:13.32 (GR), 2 South Africa 3:14.01, 3 New Zealand 3:14.26
Women
200: 1 Shaunna Thompson (Eng) 23.42 (GR), Racheal Nachula (Zam) 23.86, 3 Lauren O'Sullivan (Aus) 24.14
800: 1 Caster Semenya (RSA) 2:04.23 (GR), 2 Rachel Stringer (Eng) 2:05.71, 3 Sharp Lynsey (Sco) 2:06.77
3000m: 1 Mercy Cherono (Ken) 9:06.01 (GR), 2 Doreen Chesano (Uga) 9:35.71, 3 Mary Xwaymay (Tan) 9:36.63
Triple Jump: 1 Shradha Ghule (Ind) 13.11 (GR), 2 Gayathri Govindharaj (Ind) 12.89, 3 Ainsley Ackerman (Aus) 12.72
Discus Throw: 1 Lolo Lamataimi (Aus) 50.49 (GR), 2 Margaret Satupai (Sam) 48.43, 3 Shaunagh Brown (Eng) 42.96
4x400 Relay: 1 India 3:42.02 (GR), 2 Canada 3:45.46, 3 Australia 3:46.10

www.cygpune2008.com/

2008 Commonwealth Youth Games

Pune, India

Wednesday 15th October 2008

SOPHIE HITCHON claimed gold for Team England and broke the Hammer record on the second day of the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games athletics programme in Pune, India, with a distance of 58.43m.

The Blackburn Harrier, who travelled with the Norwich Union GB&NI team to the IAAF World Junior Championships in July, won the competition with a throw more than seven metres ahead of her nearest rival.

Abigail Irozuru won the Women’s Long Jump in fine form. The Sale Harrier produced a winning effort of 5.92m (+0.9).

Hannah Lewis claimed the first athletics silver for Northern Ireland with a leap of 5.85m (+0.3).

Birchfield’s Jordan McGrath secured a bronze medal in the final of the Men’s 400m final just months after helping to secure silver in the 4 x400m relay at the World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Leading Results:
Men
400m: 1 James Kirani (Grn) 46.66 (GR), 2 Elvis Ukale (Nig) 47.16, 3 Jordan McGrath (Eng) 47.26
1500m: 1 Jonathan Ndiku (Ken) 3:45.96 (GR), 2 Alex Cherop (Uga) 3:48.41, 3 Cylof Jonas (RSA) 3:48.41
110m Hurdles: 1 Sam Baines (Aus) 13.77 (GR), 2 Edwin Fredericks (RSA) 13.99, 3 Jared Bezuidenhout (Aus) 14.08
Pole Vault: 1 Blake Lucas (Aus) 5.25 (GR), 2 Cheyne Rahme (RSA) 5.20, 3 Edward Mourbey (NIR) 4.70
Discus Throw: 1 Julian Wruck (Aus) 60.88 (GR), 2 Curtis Griffith-Parker (Eng) 55.35, 3 Arjun Kumar (Ind) 52.02
4 x 100 Relay: 1 Sri Lanka 40.85 (GR), 2 Australia 41.08, 3 Canada 41.31
Women
400m: 1. Racheal Nachula (Zam) 52.97 (GR), 2 M. R. Poovamma (Ind) 55.17, 3 Rebecca Nachula (Zam) 55.20
1500m: 1 Stacy Ndiwa (Ken) 4:20.16 (GR), 2 Anne Parry (Can) 4:20.59, 3 Clara Mageean (Ire) 4:22.53
High Jump: 1 Elizabeth Lamb (Nzl) 1.79, 2 Molly Grant (Aus) 1.74, 3 Norliyana Binti Kamaruddin (Mas) 1.71
Long Jump: 1 Abigail Irozuru (Eng) 5.92, 2 Hannah Lewis (Ire) 5.85, 3 Mariah Ririnui (Nzl) 5.82
Shot Put: 1 Julia Labonte (Can) 15.02, 2 Lolo Lamataimi (Aus) 14.73, 3 Margaret Satupai (Sam) 14.24
Hammer: 1 Sophie Hitchon (Eng) 58.43 (GR), 2 Mariezett Badenhorst (RSA) 50.92, 3 Ashleigh Mumberson (Aus) 50.87
4x100m Relay: 1 India 46.27 (GR), 2 Australia 46.74, 3 Canada 46.83

www.cygpune2008.com/

2008 Commonwealth Youth Games

Pune, India

Tuesday 14th October 2008

TEAM ENGLAND's Shaunna Thompson won the Commonwealth Youth Games 100 metres gold medal with a championship record of 11.46 seconds in Pune.

The 16-year-old rising star is now looking forward to completing a sprint double after surpassing her expectations at the Indian venue.

Mancunian Thompson said: "My plan was to go for gold in the 200m and get a medal in the 100m, so I'm absolutely delighted to win the 100m, said Thompson.

"To break the Games record in the process and run a personal best is a massive bonus for me and I hope I can take this form into the 200m on Thursday.

"The Commonwealth Youth Games has given me real hunger to take on the best in the world and really push myself for success in 2012."

Thompson previously hit the headlines when she faced a panel of five millionaires on the ITV show 'Fortune: Million Pound Giveaway' and managed to persuade them to part with £30,000 to aid her training.

Her name was put forward as a potential recipient for the money by her schoolteacher, and she battled past hundreds of contenders to land a generous deal of £6,000 a year until the London Olympics.

Thompson, a great prospect for 2012 and who was this year's England Under-17 champion, said the money had been a huge help in covering kit, physiotherapy and travel costs.

In the Pole Vault Team England collected two medals with Jade Ive taking gold in a Games record of 4.05m which was also a personal best. Abigail Heywood secured bronze for her vault of 3.80m.

In the Men’s Shot Curtis Griffith-Parker also collected a gold medal and Games record with his putt of 18.56m, another personal best.

Peter Smith won the Men’s Hammer with a distance of 68.38m and Ben Williams completed the day’s medal haul with a leap of 15.41m to take silver in the Triple Jump.
Leading Results:
Men
100m: 1 Shehan Ambepitiya (Sri) 10.43 (GR), 2 Suwaibou Sanneh (Gam) 10.51, 3 Jason Rogers (Skn) 10.52
Triple Jump: 1 Dheeraj Mishra (Ind) 15.42, 2 Benjamin Williams (Eng) 15.41, 3 Boipelo Mothlahlego (RSA) 15.20
Shot Put: 1 Curtis Griffith-Parker (Eng) 18.56 (GR), 2 Stephan Brink (RSA) 18.41, 3 Jasdeep Singh (Ind) 18.10
Hammer: 1 Peter Smith (Eng) 68.38, 2 Chandrodaya Narayan (Ind) 67.38, 3 Ejaz Ahmed (Ind) 64.97.
Women
100m: 1 Shaunna Thompson (Eng) 11.45 (GR), 2 Eloise Graf (Aus) 11.80s, 3 Lauren O'Sullivan (Aus) 11.81
100m Hurdles: 1 Kierre Beckles (Bar) 13.88, 2 Gayathri Govindaraj (Ind) 14.00, 3 Brianna Beahan (Aus) 14.08
Pole Vault: 1 Jade Ive (Eng) 4.05 (GR), 2 Ariane Beaumont (Can) 3.90, 3 Abigail Haywood (Eng) 3.80
Javelin: 1 Bianca Maurer (Aus) 49.87, 2 Philippa Charlesworth (NZ) 46.14, 3 Poonam Rani (Ind) 44.25

www.cygpune2008.com/

Wednesday 15th October 2008

THE second round of the 2008/09 Leicestershire & Rutland Secondary Schools Cross-Country League was held at the Longfield High School, Melton Mowbray on Saturday 11th October - the full results are now available on the results page.

www.athletics-leics.com/results.html
The Leicestershire & Rutland Secondary Schools Cross Country Relays take place on Saturday 13th December at Shepshed High School - first race 10.30am www.beaconhillstriders.co.uk/

Tuesday 14th October 2008

LUCY CROOKES combined with team mates Amy Griffiths and Sam Elliott clinched repeat successes for Leicester Coritanians at Sutton Coldfield in the second West Midlands Cross-Country League meeting of the season.

A large selection of the Coritanian athletes had competed the previous day in the Leicestershire & Rutland Secondary Schools Cross Country League at Melton but still showed their form ahead of 2008 Nike National AAA 3-Stage Road Relays at Birmingham's Sutton Park that take place on Sunday 19th October.

Over a fast course with a challenging up-hill finish, Loughborough High School's Lucy Crookes built up a commanding lead to win in style. She was supported by team-mates Louisa Monk (7th), Catherine Robertson (10th) and Amy Danaher (15th) as the Coritanians competing at Under-17 level for the first time in several years, took an overall advantage in the league with a total of 585 points edging ahead of Tipton Harriers(579).

Amy Griffiths won at Under-13 level by 26 seconds from Halesowen runner-up Nicole Bailey.

With Livvy Tansey eighth and support from Rachel Borrows (30th), Nettie Burd (36th), Becky Saunders (57th) and Catherine Jones (142th), Coritanians stand joint-second overall with Royal Sutton Coldfield on 875, just behind Halesowen (911).

Sam Elliott won the Under-11 Boys race after breaking clear with 600 metres left, and was backed up by team-mates Ben Crookes (21st) and Reece Thomas (47th).

Eleanor Long performance guided Coritanians Under-11 Girls to fourth place and was followed by Shannon Anderson (11th), Bronya Bird (15th), Niamh Kirk (19th), Lucy Whitehead (35th), Chloe Cotterill (55th), Molly McCallister (56th), Olivia Bramley (59th), Katie Saunders (66th), Lucy Perry (74th) and Sarah Jones (81st).

Coritanians stand second overall on 921 points, trailing Sutton Coldfield by 20 points.

Freya Vincent secured second spot at Under-15 level, ahead of Megan Fairbrother (8th), April Beeby (17th), Bethan Elliott (45th) and Jasmine Mellor (56th). Coritanians are fourth overall on 877 points.

Xander Tansey finished runner-up in the Under-13 Boys race ahead of Zak Anderson (38th) and Jed Halpine-Mecabe (75th).

In the Under-15 Boys: 33 Jonathan Monk finished 33rd, whilst, Liam Phelan finished 11th in the Under-17 Men.