Some of the Team Kennet juniors were in action on Sunday at the Green Park Challenge. The Green Park Challenge is a 3km finishing in the Select Leasing Stadium, home of Reading Football Club. This year’s event saw 684 runners take part, first over the line was Elliot Bell in 18th position with a time of 11.29s to finish 17th overall, and 5th in his age category M12. Brother Henry Bell 41st, 12.18s finished 9th in his age category M12. Ben Doherty also taking part for the boys finished in 28th, 6th in the M12 category. Penelope Lyth finished in 25th position, 3rd female overall 11.51s and 1st in her category F11.
Harriet and Matilda Saunders started the summer season with the Bristol Track Club 3km road race on Saturday 13 April and the Winchester Open Meet on Sunday 14 April.
Both girls recorded personal bests over the 3km course with Harriet (11:49) taking 6th place in a closely fought U13 girls event and Matilda (13:14) taking 3rd in the U11s.
Several Team Kennet athletes took part in the Radley AC Open Meet on Saturday 13th April in first of the warmer weather!
Emerald Hill Sawyer was back in action after the Basingstoke open the week before clocking 2:41.27 in the 800m to finish 5th in her heat, 1.30m 3rd in the High Jump and 5th in the long jump 4.02m.
Ella Cronk U15 girls finished 2nd in the long jump 4.31m, 6th High Jump 1.25m and 3rd in her heat for the 800m with 2.42.52.
Also from the U15 girls Zoe Dickson 14th in the Hammer throw with 23.12 m and 4th for Discus 19.16m.
Evie Lewis 4th in the Hammer 26.07m and 6th Discus 31.39m.
Alfie Cronk, U13 boys 15th in the Shot Put 3.79m.
Luke Angell finished in 1st place in the Javelin throw 58.06m.
During the Easter Break Emerald Hill Sawyer returned to the track to participate in the Basingstoke & Mid Hants Young Athletes Open on April 6th.
Clocking a time of 2:45:56 she managed to secure 4th place in 800m event. In the field also taking 4th position in the long jump leaping 4m and 2nd place in the high jump with 1.25m.
Team Kennet had 14 young athletes take part at the Bracknell Open on 31st March.
Elodie Burdett U11 Girls scored personal bests in all 3 of her events, 75m, 150m and 600m. In the 600m she finished 4th clocking 02:08:41. In the U13 group there were 4 athletes taking part. Euan Jones in the Javelin finishing in 1st position throwing 26.90m. Josh Bailey entered the 1200m finishing in 10th. Ella McDonald competed in 150m, long jump and made her debut with the Javelin finishing in 4th with 10.44m. Penelope Lyth also in the long jump, 75m and 600m clocked a new PB 1:45:76 to finish in 4th. In the U15 group Anna Hall was next with the 1500m with a time of 5:52:90. Ella Cronk entered high jump finishing 3rd with a new PB 1.30m , long jump another PB 4.24m and 800m 2:41:46. Charlotte Bailey finished in 3rd with a new PB in the 1500m 5:13:70. Noah Lauder-Clarke finished in 5th in the Javelin throwing 26.87m and Will McDonald 3rd 32.33m. McDonald also entered the Discuss finishing 6th with a throw of 19.98m. Zoe Dickson finished in 9th place in the Discuss throw 17.60m and 5th in the Hammer 16.77m. For the U17’s Evie Lewis finished 3rd in the Hammer with 30.59m and 5th in Discuss 26.83m. Bethany MacLean entered 300m and 800m clocking personal bests in both events. James Simmons entered 100m , 200m and finish 5th in the long jump.
Each March the club holds its annual Winter presentation of awards for outstanding achievement representing and working with the club during the winter season including Cross Country, Indoor Athletics and Indoor Sportshall.
This season Team Kennet had huge team success with Cross Country, with Under 9, Under 11 and Under 13 girls all winning the Basingstoke Cross Country League. Under 9 and Under 13 boys both finishing 2nd and U11 Boys 3rd.
Well Done to all and several athletes received TK Stars for competing in all 4 matches.
In the league for the individual performances U9G Praiya Foreman finished in 1st Place and Matilda Saunders 2nd. U9B Chester Bailey 2nd, William Moloney 5th and Idris Gaye 6th.
U11G Ella Larkin 1st, Penelope Lyth 3rd and Matilda Clare 4th. U11B Malik Gaye and 2nd, Samuel Atkins 3rd.
U13G Harriet Saunders 1st, U15G Charlotte Bailey 1st and Ethan Kuijten U15B 1st
In the Club Championships U9G Praiya and Matilda hold the joint 1st position with Matilda Hogg finishing 3rd. U9B Chester Bailey 1st, Idris Gaye 2nd and William Moloney 3rd. U11G had 16 girls compete this year with Ella Larkin finishing 1st, Penelope Lyth 2nd and Matilda Clare 3rd. U11B Samuel Atkins 1st, Malik Gaye 2nd and Thomas Williams 3rd. U13G Harriet Saunders 1st, Anna Hall 2nd, Emerald Hill-Sawyer and Ella Cronk in joint 3rd. U13B Harry Smith 1st, Elliot Bell 2nd and Oskar Larkin 3rd. U15G Charlotte Bailey 1st and Lola Mitcham 2nd. U15B Ethan Kuijten 1st and Max Adams 2nd.
The Senior Athletes participated in the Oxfordshire Cross Country League and in the Club Championships for the Senior Women in 1st place Katie Reynolds, 2nd Anna Riggall and 3rd Georgina McCabe. Senior Men, 1st Andy Colling, 2nd Mitch Poustie and3rd Phil Baker.
To round up the Cross Country Awards there were two most improved athletes, in the male category JJ Mercer and female, Orlagh Stratford.
2023 saw Team Kennet return to Indoor Sportshall with several athletes taking part in the Berkshire Trials in November and December. Congratulations to those athletes who were selected and received TK Stars; Ella Larkin, Isla Ladds, Ella McDonald, Matilda Clare, Malik Gaye, Jenson Nichols, Samuel Atkins and Emerald Hill-Sawyer. At the Sportshall South East Regional Final the U11G Berkshire team finished in 2nd, U11B Berkshire Team 4th and U13G Berkshire Team 3rd.
For the Sportshall awards in the U11Gs the winner was Matilda Clare and runner up Isla Ladds. U11B winner Malik Gaye, U13 winner Emerald Hill-Sawyer and runner up Ben Daley. This seasons Sportshall Queen was awarded to Penelope Lyth. In the Berkshire Sportshall Championships held in January 2024, where Team Kennet U11Gs were crowned Champions, Penelope was the best overall performer as she was the only athlete to finish in 2nd or 3rd in all the events she competed in. We look forward to returning to Sportshall after the success this season. Special thanks to all at the club who made it happen, especially Sarah Dickon and daughter Amiee for their support pre/post event, nominations and presentation for the awards.
The final award of the evenings is the Champions Champion and this seasons winner is Malik Gaye.
If anyone from juniors to seniors would like to join the club please get in touch with us.
Team kennet saw athletes compete in two major cross country championships over the last two weekends.
Last week was the CAU Inter Counties at Wollaton Park, in the under 15 age group in the girls Charlotte Bailey ran a good race to come home 4th scorer for Berkshire in 126th place, while in the boys race
Ex member Rory Barclay-Watt due to school changes finished in an excellent 4th place representing Devon with TK club athlete Ethan Kuijten 180th
This Weekend saw the English Schools Championships at Pontefract Racecourse, with conditions really boggy, Charlotte Bailey in the Intermediate girls ran a superb race to finish 3rd Berkshire girl by only a few seconds to come home in 61st place only 1 minute behind a medal. In the Intermediate Boys Rory Barclay-Watt couldn’t master last weekends results had to finish with 21st, Ethan Kuijten ran well in 271st place.
Team Kennet hosted the Annual West Berkshire & 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 1576 children finishing from over 50 Primary schools.
All Four races saw record numbers with 773 girls and 803 boys finishing.
Race 1 the Year 3 / 4 girls saw 373 finishers with a break away group of 3 girls well clear of the field, it was Tinx Goad from Thorngrove school that came across the line in first place, not far behind was Matilda Saunders from St. Gabriels and last years winner Praiya Foreman from Chieveley taking third spot.
Race 2 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 taking third place from Falkland school William Hale.
Race 3 the Year 5/ 6 girls saw 400 finishers first time this total have finished in any races, Ella Larkin from Falkland who has won both younger year races broke away with a huge lead to be crowned champion for third successive year, Penelope Lyth from Fir Tree school was next home timing her run to perfection for second place and taking third from Thorngrove school was Alice Hargreaves.
Race 4 the Year 5 / 6 boys saw a record field finish of 406 boys, Ronny Bowsher from Thatcham Park ran a brilliant race to be well clear over the field to come home as the winner, Alex Crosse from Falkland took second place and Malik Gaye from Spurcroft taking third.
The Major Awards saw Streatley defend their Small Schools Trophy over Basildon runners up and St. Martins in third.
The Hampshire Cup went to last years winners again Thorngrove with Woolton Hill second and St Martins third
The League Division 1 Cup went to Falkland with runners up Francis Baily and St. Nicolas third
The League Division 2 Cup went to St. Andrews with John Rankin runners up and Hermitage in third.
The League Division 3 Cup went to Springfield with Parsons Down in runners up and Basildon in third place.
The B team Trophy went to St Andrews and runners up were Falkland
The Overall Winners of all the leagues combined were
1st St. Andrews
2nd Falkland
3rd Francis Baily
4th St. Nicolas
5th John Rankin
Special thanks to event sponsors Newbury 4X4 and Leon Greenwood.
Team Kennet Juniors were back in action in the third round of the Basingstoke Cross Country League, held at Hartley Wintley near Hook.
The conditions were very damp underfoot, which were ideal for cross country running, the rain held of till the last race.
The girls section of the club won all four races with 5 team victories also on the day
The under 9 girls were first up and Matilda Saunders and Praiya Foreman took on the lead to battle it out together over the course, Saunders coming in as the winner, with Foreman taking second, it was then down to the next two girls to see if they won the team, next home was Matilda Hogg in 11th and Evelyn Pedersen brought the team home in 14th which was just good enough to secure the team win, Newcomer Gracie Williams was next home in 18th and Iris Evans was 20th.
The Under 9 Boys saw a record turnout in the race, made up of 10 of the Tk runners, a good group of 4 TK runners settled in the top 10 to battle it out together, this would see the Yellow vest certainly secure a team win, Chester Bailey was 2nd his best run of the season, just behind in 6th was Lenny Wyvill another newcomer, close behind was Idris Gaye in 7th and the team was made up of William Moloney in 9th, The second team was made up of Gethin Thomas 12th, Toby Hartley 16th, Alexander Cameron 22nd and Jacob Williams 23rd, also taking part were Max Burt 28th and Joshua Phoenix 30th.
The under 11 Girls wrapped up the league with a brilliant team win, this was matched again in the individual placings with Ella Larkin striding to her third victory of the year, Penelope Lyth made it another 3rd place so she kept her campaign to finish in top 3 overall, Matilda Clare was 6th and Ella McDonald 7th.
The second team was led in by new Comer Ayla Wyvill in 10th place, just behind was a large group of TK girls Orlagh Stratford 12th, Affra Bailey 15th, Elodie Burdett 16th and Alice Stratford 17th which was good enough to take 3rd team on the day, next home was Ella parsons 22nd, Matilda Pedersen 35th, Grace Hogg 41st and Sophie Barnett 44th.
The under 11 Boys were up next, in a tough age group this year, this race was certainly a strong field, as Samuel Atkins could only finish 12th, Thomas Williams was 15th, Connor O’Riordan 23rd and JJ Mercer 24th to take 4th team, Fynn Sanderson was next home in 25th, then Joshua Kuijten 40th, Toby Clay 41st and Miles Phoenix 48th
The under 13 girls rose to the pressure again having to win the last two matches, Harriet Saunders took the first lap steady then put her foot down over the last two laps to secure her third win and securing the league title with one match to go, good packing from the TK girls saw Emerald Hill Sawyer 5th having her best run of the season, Anna Hall 6th and Jessie McCurtin 7th to secure the team win, Ella Cronk was next home in 11th
The under 13 boys were next, averaging 14 runners per match, they were down to just 7 to other commitments, Harry Smith was the clubs first runner home in 5th place, Elliot Bell was 10th, Henry Bell 12th and Frank Edwards 15th secured third team on the day, Charlie Adams was next home in 17th, Harry Barnett 18th and Rueben Kuijten 20th.
The under 15 Girls and Boys race together, Charlotte Bailey made sure she secured her third victory of the season and secured her individua league title wit ha superb race, and Ethan Kuijten was in a 3 way battle for most of the race, but had to settle for a very good 2nd place in the end.
Going in to the last match of the year, Team Kennet look good in taking a lot of silverware home, they cannot be beat in the individual girls races and are secured of several top 3 individual awards as well, in the team placings the under 9 girls and under 11 girls are now secured, with under 13 girls, under 9 boys and under 13 boys could also get top 3 team placings.
Several Team Kennet athletes travelled to Burgess Hill to compete for Berkshire in the Sportshall South East Regional Final.
Some performance highlights from the day, Ella McDonald , (U11G) – 3rd in target throw, Matilda Clare (U11G) – 2nd in Javelin, Malik Gaye (U11B) – 1st in Target throw and Samuel Atkins (U11B) – 4th Balance Test.
Well Done to Everyone who took part. Results below.
