Team Kennet cross country runners made there way to a wet & muddy Horspath on Sunday for round 3 of the Oxon cross country league which incorporated the Oxfordshire Championships.
Luke & Amber Stiles represented TK in the Oxfordshire championships with results to come in the Oxford league, Isaac Mitcham came a credible 22nd in the Under 17 race. On to the senior men and as the mud and weather got worse, David Hamill in 70th and Andy Colling in 87th lead the way. Andy was an excellent 3rd placed V50 overall Mitch Poustie was next in 198th with Rich Bickerton 225th, Simon Gale 260th & Simon Hockaday 261st completing the lineup.
The start of the ladies race started in customary fashion as heavy rain greeted the runners. Susan Francis was first TK lady home in 44th. Katie Reynolds next in 111th, Charlotte Aitken 120th & Emily Copeman 140th. Well done to all our runners on completing a tough course in horrible weather.
Team Kennet had several Athletes take part in the Berkshire Cross Country Championships held at Copas Farm in Cookham near Maidenhead on Sunday, in cold conditions and parts of the course still with snow underfoot.
The under 13 Girls from Team Kennet secured a Bronze Medal as their two teams finished 3rd and 5th places.
Charlotte Bailey was the clubs first runner home in 6th place with a two way battle just behind of Amber Stiles in 11th and Emerald Hill-Sawyer 12th for the scoring A team which was won by WSEH.
Ella Cronk came home in 17th leading the second team home with Chloe O’Riordan just behind in 18th and Lola Mitcham 20th
In the Senior Mens Race, Andy Colling was placed 50th but secured 2nd Vet 55
Ethan Kuijten came 11th in the under 15 boys and Isaac Mitcham also came 11th in the under 17 mens race
Team Kennet were in action in the second round of the Destination Basingstoke Junior Cross Country League held at Rushmoor in Aldershot over a muddy course in woodland on a damp winters day but mild for the Athletes.
The under 9 Girls were first off and they produced another winning team performance, not quite like last match but took the first three places, Maisie McCurtin won her first ever cross country by over 11 seconds from the Stratford Twins, Alice coming home in 2nd place and Orlagh taking third place, Matilda Saunders was 5th place making up the A team, The B team were second on the day, Elodie Burdett leading them in with 7th, Evie Kearney 8th, Megan Jones 9th and Sophia Barnett 13th, Jasmine Hemmings also took part coming 17th.
This win for the girls almost secures now a league overall win to retain their own title.
The under 9 boys did well too, they finished 2nd team on the day to keep them in contention of league title, Joshua Kuijten was clubs first runner home in 5th place, followed by Gethin Thomas 10th then Seb Lauder-Clarke 16th and Jacob Williams 23rd. other runners were Max Burt 24th, Alex Cameron 27th.
The under 11 Girls came 3rd team on the day, Quinn Joyce had a battle to get in to the top 3, but had to settle for 4th place by just one second, with Harriet Saunders 6th, Penelope Lyth 9th and Matilda Clare 11th only 4 points separated top 3 teams. Penelope Gorbold was 30th, Rose Bell 33rd and Ella McDonald 37th other club runners.
The under 11 Boys also had to settle for 3rd place, Harry Smith just got the better of Euan Jones for 10th and 11th places, Luke Stiles was 13th and William Devall 14th for a good packing team, Elliot Bell led the B team home in 15th, Henry Bell 17th, Ben Doherty 28th and Samuel Atkins 38th , the C team was led by Josh Bailey 39th, Lestyn Thomas 45th and Alfie Cronk 50th.
The under 13 Girls managed to claim 2nd place team this match, Amber Stiles was first home for the club in 6th place followed closely by Charlotte Bailey 7th, Emerald Hill-Sawyer was 13th and Chloe O’Reardon 15th, other runners were Iris Bloomfield 16th, Ella Cronk 17th, Lola Mitcham 18th and Mia Kearney 19th for the B team.
The under 13 Boys were placed 4th team led by Aaron Carter 13th, Ben Daley 15th, Noah luader-Clarke 19th and Marlowe Barber 21st, Frank Edward led the B team in 26th, Harry Barnett 29th and Reuben Kuijten 35th.
Alanna Smith came home as 2nd under 17 women and in the under 15 boys Ethan Kuijten was placed 6th.
New Member Andy Colling has broken two club vet 55 records in Road Running over the past two weeks. Andy recently joined the club and benefited from the Monday night Track Reps. Firstly he broke 10k record at Worthing clocking 40.44 and a week later at Windsor Half Marathon clocked 1.36.54.
Team Kennets Harry Smith came 7th in the Junior Great South Run (age 9-11 category) in Portsmouth, he clocked a fast 9.33 in the 2.5km race with over 200 competing in this age group.
Team Kennet Quad kids were back in action for the final round of the League held in Abingdon on Sunday. They ended the season with a squad of 19 and finishing 2nd overall on the day behind Bournemouth. In the final standings Team Kennet Quadkids were 7th overall out of 26 teams.
Match results
1 Bournemouth 1725
2 Team Kennet 1449
3 Slough Juniors 1442
4 Aldershot 1417
5 Waverley Harriers 1278
6 Havant / SETAFA 1135
7 Poole Runners 775
Under 11 boys had a strong squad of 10 finishing 3rd overall with Oscar Larkin scoring 205 points and leaping the furthest for TK with a jump of 3.22m. Elliot Bell was also strong in the long jump with 3.08m. Malik Gaye and Euan Jones were fastest in the 75m sprint both clocking 12.03s.
The under 11 boys had 3 newcomers for the final match, Joshua Bailey, Leslyn Thomas and Samuel Atkins all scoring good points for the team. Thomas threw furthest for TK in the vortex with 27.39m.
Ronny Bowsher was quickest for Team Kennet in the 600m clocking 02:03:05 with Larkin behind with 2:04:9 and Euan Jones 02:07:2.
Other boys taking part were Henry Bell and Rudy Bowsher.
Under 11 girls also had a strong squad with 9 girls finishing 4th overall. Ella Larkin was top scorer for TK with 177 points and threw furthest for TK in the vortex with 19.50m. Isla Ladd’s wasn’t far behind with a throw of 18.78m.
Close behind Larkin, Penelope Lyth scored 172 points leading TK in the 75m sprint clocking 12.46s and leaping the furthest with 3.19m. Harriet Saunders, Ella McDonald and Orlagh Stratford all leaped over 3m. Quinn Joyce had an outstanding 600m to win her race with 2:06:7. Also scoring well in the 600m Larkin was close behind Joyce with 2:08:7. Other girls taking part were Edith Evans and Alice Stratford.
Team Kennet were co hosting in the last Wessex League match of the season held at Abingdon that saw 8 clubs in first time take part in a league match , The club saw a good 60 athletes turn out for the match to finish in third place, the result meant that Team Kennet were 7th out of the 24 clubs in the final league tables, with all the deductions of non officials Team Kennet came out on top supplying most officials all year and this moved them up to 5th overall only 3pts behind League winners New forest Juniors.
Final match score was
Bournemouth 516
Waverley 455.5
Team Kennet 369
Slough 308.5
Aldershot 152
Poole Runners 71
Guests Abingdon and Havant/SETAFA were non scoring
The under 15 girls team came 2nd on the day and finished 3rd overall in their age group league, Clare McGonnell had a superb day with a hattrick of wins firstly winning the 75m hurdles in 12.66, throwing a new personnel best in the Javelin 33.47 moving her to UK ranked 20 and finally winning the 300m in 44.11. There was a brilliant double win in the high Jump from Twin Sisters Neve Wright 1.50 and Mia 1.48, Bethany Maclean backed up McGonnell to win the B string Javelin 21.41, also in the Throws the Discus two second places came from Evie Lewis 20.43 and Suki Humphreys 17.23, Both Teamed up in the Shot matched the placings Lewis 6.92 and Humphreys 6.36, the Long Jump Sophie Moores came 3rd with 4.18 and Maclean 4.10 for 2nd placed B string.
Back on the Track there was also two 2nd places in the 800m Maclean 2.43 and Leilah Gaye 2.55, Gaye came 3rd in her 300m B string, on the shorter sprints the competition was fierce, the 100m Moores came 4th A string 14.3 and Amy Chivers also 4th B string 14.25, the 200m faired better Moores 29.68 and Chivers 29.7 both taking 3rd places.
The 4x100m Relay TK had 2 girls teams the main squad of McGonnell, Chivers, Maclean and Moores were just edged out for 2nd place 56.19 and the Non Scoring Team did really well coming in just behind the A team of TK in 57 seconds.
The under 17 girls also came 2nd in their match, to finish in the top 6 overall Charlotte Absolom won her Long Jump and B string Shot 9.15, Annabel Maclean won the A string Shot 9.26 and her discus 24.8 and Alanna Smith won the Javelin with 29.03 and was 3rd in her 800m 2.48.8.
The under 13 girls put in all round great team effort to finish 3rd that saw only 8 pts separate four teams scoring highly. Emerald Hill-Sawyer had another great day as her confidence in the sport is excelling she sat back in her 800m to sprint finish and win in 2.36.7, She had to settle for 3rd place in the A string long jump 3.41 and 15.2 in the 100m was only good enough for 5th in a strong field.
Zoe Dickson won the Discus with 19.38, a double win came in the Javelin Eliska Simpson threw 22.06 and Anna Hall 21.02 both girls getting in the top 40 UK rankings. Ella Cronk cleared 1.20 for 5th A string and New comer Hannah Taylor came 2nd B string 1.15. I the long distance race 1200m Charlotte Bailey came 3rd A string and Hall 4th B string, Cronk was 3rd B string her 800m. Maja Cotton picked up B string points in the 100m 5th place and 200m 4th place.
The under 15 Boys came 3rd on the day Ben Cooper had another good day he came 2nd in his 100m A string 12.05 and James Simmons came 3rd B string, Simmons was 4th in his 200m 27.6, Ivan Checkmozov was in good form as he won his 800m in 2.17 and came 2nd later in the 300m 41.5, Oliver Carroll ran 2.28 for 2nd B string in the 800m Carroll came 3rd in the Long Jump 4.38 and Simmons took a B win with 4.18. James Fenner won his Javelin 39.55 an came 3rd in his 300m, the 4x100m relay team were pipped right on the line and had to take 2nd place in 51.77 (Cooper, Simmons, Fenner and Carroll).
The Under 13 Boys also were 3rd in their match capping a good season, double win came in the javelin Will McDonald throwing 32.79 and Noah Lauder-Clarke 25.43, Turkay Altuntas won the Discus 27.31 to go in to UK number 9 and McDonald taking 2nd place 16.16, in the Shot Altuntas made it another win with 9.90 and Lauder-Clark 3rd B. The long Jump Aiden Fleming came 2nd A string with 4.30 and Harry Fenner won his B string 4.07. Fleming took full control of his 800m race to come home in first place 2.37.1 and Ben Daley coming 4th B string. In the sprints Fenner and Lauder-Clarke and Josh Ladds picked up good points. The Relay team came 3rd consisting of Mcdonald, Lauder-Clarke, Fenner and Ladds
The under 17 men came 4th in their match Double wins came in the Shot Seb Simpson10.76 and Brandon Carter 7.48, Simpson won his discus 35.24 and another double win came in the Javelin Brandon Carter 41.16 and Simpson 20.35.
Ben has had an amazing throwing season this year, following a difficult couple of years during the pandemic.
At the beginning of this season, Ben was throwing about 61m – not a bad achievement, number 2 in the UK. He continued to improve his distances with every competition and was selected to compete at the UK Senior Championships in Manchester in June 2022. Here, he had the competition of his life and finished 2nd with a massive personal best throw of 73.49m – only 50cm behind the winner!
Ben then overcame two injuries to qualify for the U20 World Championships in Cali, Colombia, in August 2022 where he represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He had an amazing experience and learnt a lot – but unfortunately finished outside the top 12.
Ben has now been selected to represent England in the upcoming ETC Throws Fest in Northampton in September 2022 – the first time he’ll wear an England vest. It will be run in the same format as the World Championships as there will be qualifying the day before the actual competition. This is a new format to Ben, but he is hoping he will gain more experience ahead of future competitions.
Throughout these competitions, Luke Angell has been by his side, guiding and supporting Ben. He was unable to go to Cali but managed to speak regularly, despite the 6 hour time difference.
Ben is off to Loughborough University in September but hopes to continue his javelin training and competitions and to have Luke as his coach. Who knows what’s round the corner for him!
Ben has a new website: beneastjavelin.co.uk where he regularly posts Instagram updates of his training, performanceand achievements. There is also the possibility to sponsor him and watch some videos there.
Several Team Kennet athletes took part in the Mid Week Basingstoke Open on Wednesday.
In the under 13 age group Emerald Hill-Sawyer earned herself a personnel best alongside Amber Stiles in the 800m clocking 2.44.21 and 2.44.81 respectively. Emerald also claimed another P.B in the 100m first time she achieved under 15secs with a time of 14.94. Amber cleared 1.30 in the High Jump.
Eliska Simpson took part in the Shot throwing 7.47 and Discus 21.03.
Seb Simpson took part in the under 17 age group throwing the Shot 10.81 and Discus 32.75, in the older age groups Jonathon Simpson clocked 13.09 in the 100m in the M45 group. Charlotte Booker took part in the Discus as a Senior throwing 22.84 and Harry Booker threw 36.52 in the u20 Discus.
