The Oxford cross country league round 4 took place on Sunday at Cotswold Farm Park. Last year the weather was cold, wet & windy but this year sunshine and good underfoot conditions were the order of the day.
In the men’s race representing Team Kennet, Andy Colling again led the way finishing 69th with Mitch the Postie next in 182nd. Simon Hockaday 209th & Simon Gale 212th completed the line up.
The ladies race amazingly started with no sign of the traditional torrential rain that usually greets the runners, Susan Francis was 48th & Katie Reynolds 64th.
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Team Kennet juniors were in full action on Sunday in the Destination Cross Country League, in Basingstoke hosted by the club, over a slightly hilly course with turns and a few straight runs, Team Kennet saw some 50 plus juniors turn out to challenge for top 3 individual and team awards, not only that their own club championship league points were at stake in some close age groups.
The under 9 Girls were last years winners of their own league, the girls were home and dry before todays fixture, but made sure they stayed unbeaten in any event since the pandemic, Ella Larkin led from the gun again and stride by stride she pulled away to win her race and be crowned under 9 champion, she was backed up by Masie McCurtin who earned her 2nd place on the day and to finish second overall, not to miss out Orlagh Stratford came home in 4th place but this was enough for her to move up to 3rd overall. Matilda Saunders was next home in 6th place, Elodie Burdett improving each match came 7th, Evie Kearney 15th, Sophia Barnett 20th and Evelyn Barker 23rd for the B team and Jasmine Hemmings 25th out of a field of 31 girls.
The under 9 Boys had to settle for 3rd team Overall, Gethin Thomas was the clubs first runner home in 7th with Josh Kuijten 8th and new comer Chester Bailey 10th and Jacob Williams 21st for the scoring team, the B team Alex Cameron 22nd, Max Burt 25th and Seb Lauder-Clarke 27th in a field of 38 finishers.
The under 11 Girls as the season went on got stronger and stronger, they secured their 2nd win in a row, and to move them to 1st place overall on count back over Aldershot Farnham & District. Harriet Saunders timed her run amazingly to finish 3rd on the day wit ha strong finish, Quinn Joyce held on to 4th place and to take 3rd place individual overall, Ella McDonald was next home in 7th closely followed chasing her down Matilda clare in 8th, Penelope Lyth came home in 13th with Penelope Gorbold 33rd and Affra Bailey 34th that saw over 50 girls start the race.
The biggest Field of the day was under 11 Boys where 66 started and finished, Oskar Larkin was the clubs first home in 6th place just missing out on top 3 overall, Harry Smith was 11th, Euan Jones 14th and Liam Neil 16th, Luke Stiles led the second team home in 23rd, Ben Doherty 24th, Elliot Bell 25th and Samuel Atkins 26th, the Third Team was led by Malik Gaye 29th, Henry Bell 36th, josh Bailey 47th and Lestyn Thomas 55th, Cameron O’Riordan 61st and Alfie Cronk 66th saw 14 boys from TK take part in this race, The boys came 3rd overall in the league behind Aldershot winners and Basingstoke runners up.
The under 13 girls had almost secured their League, Charlotte Bailey gave it a good go and had to settle for 2nd place on the day, this was good enough to take 2nd place overall, Emerald Hill Sawyer was next home in 8th place, Amber Stiles 9th and Ella Cronk 11th, Lola Mitcham was 13th and Chloe O’Riordan 14th, as the girls came home in 1st place on the day, In a very close team competition with 4 clubs all within 5 points, the win made sure of the under 13 girls taking the league title.
The under 13 Boys Aaron Carter led the A team home in 9th place with Ben Daley hot on his toes in 11th, Noah Lauder-Clarke wasn’t to far behind in 13th and Marlowe Barber 15th for 3rd place on the day, Charlie Adams was 17th, Harry Barnett 18th and Rueben Kuijten 21st
The under 15 Boys Ethan Kuijten came home in 3rd place as per last match to help him take 3rd overall, and Max Adams took another 4th place to move him in to top 6 individual placings.
Team Kennet saw over 70 youngsters compete for the club this season, which was a record number.
Team Kennet had several athletes compete for Berkshire in the Inter Counties Cross Country at Prestwold Hall in Loughborough.
In the under 13 Girls Charlotte Baileys Training has been paying of as she finished 134th out of over 300 girls on a muddy and undulating tough course. She helped the Berkshire team finish 7th overall out of 46 Counties.
Isaac Mitcham took part in the under 17 race finishing 255th and Ethan Kuijten took part in the Under 15 Boys race finishing 268th.
Team Kennet Stuart Bladon came 3rd in the Patriot Indoor Track & Field Championships taking part in the Heptathlon at the Annapolis MN indoor Arena in America Recently.
Stuart broke 6 Club Records on his way hitting 5098 points to rank him 16th in the UK Rankings for Indoor Heptathlon in Senior Ranks, But top 5 in the u23 age group.
He Clocked 8.58 in the 60m hurdles, throwing 11.81 in the Shot, Jumping 6.69m in the Long Jump then clearing 4.10 in the Pole Vault as well as sprinting 7.32 in the 60m sprint all setting new club records, he jumped 1.88 in the High Jump and then clocked 2.45.99 in the last event of the day 1000m.
Team Kennet had many athletes participate at the Andover Triathlon at the weekend. A great event for first timers and experienced triathletes alike. Triathlon is set in the Hampshire countryside of Test Valley.
There were 12 seniors from Team Kennet racing – dominating the top 10 with a 4th, 5th, 6th, and 9th position. George Andrew Westall had the fastest bike split of the day, 4th place overall and 3rd in Age Group 20-39, Mel McKernan 19th. Simon Whatson 2nd fastest run split, 5th overall and 1st in AG 40-49. Bart Kuijten 2nd in AG 40-49, 4th fastest run and 6th overall, Colin Abraham 10th and Sean Bird 13th. Neil Atherton 9th overall and 2nd in AG 50-59, Philip Cowhig 6th and Emiliano Espinar 9th. Richard Dunbabin 1st in AG 60-69; Chris Treacher 3rd, Dean Makar 7th.
In the juniors, Charlotte Bailey finished 5th in the girl’s category TS3 and 14th overall. Siblings Ella and Oskar made their debut with Ella finishing 1st in the TS1 category and Oskar realised he had a puncture halfway through his cycle but pushed through and came in as No 11 in the TS2 category. Ben Daley finished in 18th in the TS2 category and The Kuijten brothers Josh 17th TS1 , Reuben 16th TS2 and Ethan 1st TS3. Frank Edwards competing in the TS3 finished in 16th.
Team Kennet were in action in their last Wessex YA League match of the season at Swindon on Sunday, in a tough match with two teams battling it out for the League title and another one place above the West Berkshire Yellow/Blue Vests it was going to be a great match, end of the day Team Kennet Juniors had to settle for fourth place, there were some outstanding performances.
The under 15 girls has a slight change finishing in the top 3 overall, if they won on the day but had to settle for third place in a very tight match, good points came in the field Eliska Simpson coming 2nd in the discus 23.40, which was matched by team mate Evie Lewis 19.44, in the Shot Simpson won the B string 7.04, a welcome return from Bethany MaClean came third A string 23.12 in gusty winds.
The long Jump saw Emelia Lunn leap 4.55 for 3rd place while her team mate Sophie Moores came 2nd B 4.21, the High Jump another athlete making a return was Amber Stiles clearing 1.36 this was only good enough for 4th place.
On the track New Comer Isla Clare ran a great 1500m having to settle for 2nd place but in a quick 5.16.9, the shorter 800m races Maclean came 2nd in 2.33 with Ellie Ross taking 5th. Lunn ran a seasons best in the 300m to come 2nd place and Ross straight after her 800m came home in 3rd place.
The sprints were fast straight in to a head win Moores came 3rd in the A string 14.4 and Ava Brade coming 2nd B 14.3, the 200m Moores came 5th 29.7 and Maclean 3rd B 29.3, Zoe Dickson best event was her Javelin coming 4th b string.
The Relay quartet of Maclean, Moores, Lunn and Brade ran a excellent race just to lose in the last 40m clocking 56.6 for 3rd place.
The Under 17 men had a good turn out, Ivan Moditha had a good high jump to finish 2nd with 1.60, Joe Hoaen matched this in the Discus with a 25.03 throw, but had to settle for 3rd in the Javelin and the Shot. Oliver Carroll had to settle for 4th places in the 400m and 800m, I the Sprints Caden Thomas came 5th in the 100m 13.3, and in the 200m 5th 25.3 A strings and in the 200m B string Moditha clocked 25.9 for 4th place.
The four teamed up in the 4 x 100m to come 4th in 52.8
The under 13 Boys also had a big squad a Double win came in the Javelin with Noah Lauder-Clark 31.27 and Josh Ladds 24.47, Josh Ladds came 2nd in the Shot 6.36 and Lauder-Clark won the B string 6.07.
Luke Stiles came 5th in the high Jump 1.15 and in the long Jump Josh Brian came 3rd 3.77 and Euan Jones 4th B 3.08 on the Track William Devall made his debut in the 1500m coming home in 2nd place wit h 5.23.3, Jones ran in the 800m coming 3rd 2.53 which was matched by Lauder-Clark 2.45, In the sprints points were hard Brian coming 4th A in the 100m 15.1 and 5th in the 200m 31.5, Lestyn Thomas took to the B strings in the 100m 4th and 200m 5th. Ladds took part in the 75m Hurdles coming 3rd in 15.9 and the Relay team of Brian, Thomas, Jones and Ladds came 4th.
The under 13 girls saw only 5 club athletes turn out, Emerald Hill-Sawyer was on form again as she dominated her 800m race to win in 2.34.3, she also took part in her usual 100m and 200m races coming 3rd in both 14.4 and 29.4.
Ella Cronk came 2nd in her A string high jump with 1.25 and matched the 2nd in the B string 800m 2.47 and coming 4th in the long Jump 3.58.
Jessie McCurtin came 2nd in her high Jump 1.15 and 3rd in the Long Jump 3.28, Mabel Robinson made her debut for the club in the 1500m B string coming a fine 3rd place and 5th in the 200m.
Amelia Ross was the clubs only under 17 women due to holiday commitments, she came 5th in all her events 100m 16.8 the 200m 34.1 and Long Jump 3.13.
The under 15 Boys saw another Debutant Kenechi Akosa, who reached the English Schools, he clocked a fast 200m 24.3 for 2nd place and in the 100m 12.1 for 3rd place, James Simmons took part in the B strings finishing 2nd in the 100m 13.1 and 2nd in the 200m 26.4, Aiden Hunter 5th and Will McDonald took part in the 800m races coming 5th and 4th in their strings. Simmons 4.63 3rd A and McDonald 3.85 3rd B in their long jump Strings and McDonald had to settle for 5th in the Javelin 27.94.
Photo: Julia Hoaen Photo: Julia Hoaen Photo: Julia Hoaen
Team Kennet Quad kids went into the final match of the Wessex League at Swindon with their eyes on a top 3 finish and didn’t disappoint.
Team Kennet 1599
Bournemouth 1602
Swindon 1636
Marlborough 893
Salisbury 1014
Abingdon 1118
Oxford City 1472
With the torrential rain coming down, The U11 Boys went out first on the day with 8 taking part in a very wet Vortex throw. Some superb throws with Jenson Nichols throwing a huge 30.77m and Malik Gaye close behind with 27.30m. Gaye stole the show in the long jump with a leap of 3.46m, with Nichols close behind him with 3.38m and Flynn Sanderson and Samuel Atkins both leaping 3.10m. In the sprints, Nichols was quickest clocking 12s closely followed by Gaye with 12.2s and Samuel Atkins 12.5s. In the 600m Atkins was quickest clocking 1:59 and Gaye 1:59:6. Other boys taking part Brodie Sanderson, Miles Phoenix, Henry Kaxe, Cedric Roberson. On the day, the boys finished 4th place with 799points.
After more downpours causing a delay, first up for the girls was the long jump with Matilda Clare leaping the furthest with 3.59m followed by Penelope Lyth 3.28m. Isla Ladds, Ella McDonald and Alice Stratford all jumping over 3m. Next up the 75m sprints Clare sprinted to the finish line in 11.7s with Orlagh Stratford close behind with 11.9s. The sun shone down for the 600m and it was a strong event for the U11 girls with Clare clocking 1:59:2, Lyth 2:06:9 and Elizabeth Wilson 2:07:3. Finally in the Vortex Clare threw furthest with 31.18m, A Stratford 26.92m. Other girls taking part in the Squad of 10 Evie Kearney, Maisie McCurtin and newcomer Sophia Mahoney. The girls team finishing first on the day with 800 points.
Congratulations to Under 11 Girls winning their age group and winning the Girls Quad kids League out of 26 teams. Not only this combined with the u11 boys they scored 1599 points to come third today but secured enough points to finish 3rd overall in the Quadkids League out of 26 teams. Matilda Clare has been crowned u11 girls quad kids champion in Wessex YA League with 241pts. Clare is our 2nd girl to win Wessex Quad kids individual and this will be the 2nd time girls have won u11 girls quad kids league.
Team Kennet were back out in action for the 2nd match of the Oxford League on Sunday at Banbury. Weather conditions slightly different from last year seeing much cooler temperatures.
In the Under 17 women Neve Wright broke the Team Kennet Club record with 1.63m in the high jump, sister Mia 1.45m in the B String. In the shot Annabel MacLean came 1st 8.89m and 1st in the discus 25.97m. Mia Wright was also in action in the U17 women 300m finishing 4th 49.7s and in the 200m Annabel MacLean 1st for the B string 29.5s. Under 15 girls Bethany MacLean 1st in the javelin 23.26m and Zoe Dickson B string 14.40m finishing 3rd. Evie Lewis was 2nd in the discus 22.59 and B string Dickson 2nd 17.91m. Lewis and Dickson also 2nd in the shot. Leilah Gaye finished 2nd in the high jump 1.40m and in the long jump Sophie Moore was 3rd 4.26m and Emelia Lunn, B string 4.17m to take 1st place. In the 800m Bethany MacLean finished 1st 2:41:4 and Chloe O’Riordan 1st for the B string 3:01:6. The 300m saw Emelia Lunn get 3rd place with 47.7 and B string O’Riordan 1st with 48s. Bethany MacLean was back out for the 200m finishing 4th with 28.9s. In the 100m Lunn finished 7th with 14.6s and Moore taking 2nd place B String with 13.9.
In the under 13s Ella Cronk took 3rd place in the high jump 1.15m and Elenana Wilkinson 1st place B string 1.05m. Cronk finished 5th in the long jump 3.23m and Wilkinson 4th for the B string 2.67m. Wilkinson was out for the 1500m finishing 4th with 6.37.5. In the 800m Cronk claimed 1st place with 2:43:3.
For the boys, in the under 13s Josh Brian came 5th in the 100m 14.6 and Lestyn Thomas 6th B String 16.6. Both boys back out again for the 200m with Brian 30.6s and Thomas for the B string 35.8s. In the 800m Noah Lauder-Clare finished 5th 2:51:2 and B string Oskar Larkin finished 3rd 2:44:6. Harry Smith came 3rd in the 1500m clocking 5:25:6 and B string William Devall 1st 5:33.2. In the 4x100m relay Brian, Ladds, Lauder Clarke and Larkin finished 3rd with 60.9s. Josh Ladd’s finished 5th in the Long jump 3.73m and Luke Stiles 4th in the high jump 1.20m, Oskar Larkin 3rd for the B string with 1.15m. Rueben Kuijten finished 1st in the shot 6.65m and Ladds 1st for the B string 6.51m. Kuijten also finished 1st in the discus 19.69m and Lauder-Clarke 2nd for the B string 11.98m. In the Javelin Lauder-Clarke was 1st with 32.44m and Ladd’s 1st B string 24.69m.
Under 15 boys James Simmons finished 6th in the 100m 12.7s and in the 200m Kenechi Akosa finished 1st with 23.3, Simmons 1st in the B string 26s. Akosa was back out for the 300m breaking the club record finishing 1st 38.4s. In the long jump Simmons was 2nd with 4.85m and Will McDonalds 3.92 for the B string. McDonald came 1st in the discus 16.71m and 2nd in the javelin 30.82m.
Euan Avery was non-scoring on the day competing in the 100m 12.1s and 200m 23.7 for the U20M. Also NS was Liam Neil in the 1500m 5:48:2.
Team Kennet had a great turnout for the Quad Kids match with 4 under 9 boys, 4 under 9 girls, 12 under 11 girls, and 8 under 11 boys. First up for the under 9 girls was the sprints with Praiya Foreman clocking a time of 12.3 to record the fastest under 9 sprint on the day for the girls. In the long jump Foreman stole the show again for Team Kennet with a leap of 2.44m. In the Vortex throw Darcey Scaplehorn threw 19m to throw the furthest of the U9 girls and finally Foreman stormed to the finish line with a new Team Kennet Club record of 2:11:7 for her 600m and with her solid performances she secured a 1st place finish on the day overall. Other girls taking part Isla Cooke and Evelyn Barker.
For the under 9 boys William Moloney was quickest for TK also with a sprint of 12.3s but it was Gethin Thomas with the biggest jump of 2.49m. In the vortex throw Max Burt threw furthest for TK with 21.7m with Sebastian Lauder-Clarke close behind with 20m. In the 600m it was close between the boys but Moloney finished quickest for TK with 2:17:7. It was Moloney’s debut for the club and finished in the top 3 overall. Both the under 9 teams managed to secure 1st place overall on the day.
For the under 11 girls it was close in the sprints with Matilda Clare and Ella Larkin both clocking 11.6s followed by Penelope Lyth and Elizabeth Wilson 11.8s. In the long jump Clare leaped furthest for TK 3.69m with Lyth 3.60m and Isla Ladds 3.51m. For the Vortex, Clare maintained her form with 28.05m, Alice Stratford 26.05m and Lyth 25.65m. Also throwing over 20m was Larkin, Wilson, Ladds and Ella McDonald. In the 600m it was close for the squad of 12 with Larkin finishing quickest 1:57:8, Quinn Joyce 2:02:3, Clare 2:03:7 and Lyth 2:04:6. On the day overall Clare finished 1st with Lyth finishing 2nd. Also in the top 5 was Ella Larkin, 4th and Isla Ladds, 5th. The under 11 girls finished 1st on the day overall.
At the end of the day Team Kennet Quad kids entered 3 relay teams after proving popular back in April and managed to break the U11 record in the Oxford League with a time of 64.6seconds. Well done to the team, Clare, Larkin, Ladds and Lyth!
Under 11 boys had some quick times in the 75m sprint with Jenson Nichols clocking 11.7s, Malik Gaye and Connor O’Riordan 11.8s and Samuel Atkins 12s. In the long jump Gaye leapt furthest for TK with 3.51m, close behind Nichols with 3.43m. In the vortex Nichols threw furthest with 28.5m again with Gaye close behind 24.64m and Joshua Kuijten 24.2m. Atkins was quickest in the 600m with 2:00:2, Gaye 2:08:0. Other boys taking part Brodie Sanderson, Flynn Sanderson and Henry Kaxe. The team finished 4th overall on the day.
Team Kennet started the Junior Cross Country Season of with awesome individual and team performances in the first round of the Basingstoke Destination Cross Country League held at Wellesey Park in Aldershot, over a undulating park course with a wooded finish, that saw 5 individual victories from 8 races and 3 team wins, the best ever in team kennet at a cross country event.
The conditions on the day were perfect and also underfoot, Team Kennet had registered over 80 athletes in the league, and a strong turnout would set good results early on in the season, first up was the under 9 girls who hold the team title, Praiya Forman meant business from the gun as she set of to take the lead, Matilda Saunders followed in pursuit, these two led the field in to the woods where Foreman was just the slightly stronger to come out and take the win, with Saunders second, Matilda Hogg made a good debut coming home in 9th and with Evelyn Pedersen 10th this brought the A team home as team winners, Evelyn Barker was 11th and Isla Cooke 12th
The under 9 Boys were out in force, and made sure they also won their team race, Chester Bailey was the first clubs runner home in 3rd place pushing himself through the woods , William Moloney ran a good race for 5th place with Toby Hartley 7th and Idris Gaye 8th they were certain to take the win on the day, Seb Lauder-Clarke was next home in 13th, Jacob Williams 14th and Max Burt 17th the other club runners.
The under 11 Girls just had the clubs biggest turnout of 13 runners, last years team winners, the girls wanted to retain this, after the summer season, Ella Larkin made sure she was going to win as she stormed off to take the lead, a big clutch of team kennet girls followed in the second pack of a field of well over 40, Larkin came out of the woods with a 20 second gap to win the race, with Penelope Lyth charging down the home straight to take a brilliant 3rd place, Maisie McCurtin was next in 6th working hard through the woods to gain several places, with Matilda Clare in 11th the girls took team victory.
The B team was led by Alice Stratford 12th, Affra Bailey 13th, Ella Parsons 26th and Gracie Cooke 27th secured a top 5 team placing, The C team was led by Penelope Gorbold 29th, Matilda Pedersen 31st, Grace Hogg 35th and Orlagh Stratford 37th.
The under 11 Boys race is always tough with Aldershot and Basingstoke in the league, Malik Gaye ran a superb race taking over 6 athletes in the hilly woods section to come out to finish in 2nd place, another surprise was Samuel Atkins who ran his best race ever to take 3rd place in a field of over 50, Flynn Sanderson was 21st and Joshua Bailey 31st saw the team finish in 4th place, Joshua Kuijten came home in 34th, Connor O’Riordan 38th, Miles Phoenix 41st and Toby Clay 43rd saw a top 12 team finish for the B team.
The under 13 Girls were also last years team winners, getting stronger as the season went on, this looks like it will be same again, as team came 2nd on the day missing a few key runners, this didn’t stop Harriet Saunders as she settled in the race in third place and as the race went on she moved through to storm through the woods to come out in the lead and take another girls race victory, Anna Hall had a great run to finish 5th and with Ella Cronk in 7th secured that team second.
The under 13 Boys saw the biggest field of the day with well over 50 runners, 12 coming from Team Kennet, Oskar Larkin was the clubs first in, with 12th place, hot on his hills was Harry smith 13th, Elliot Bell 17th and good debut run from Arthur Patterson 18th saw the team home in 3rd place. The B team were led by Charlie Adams 24th, Henry Bell 25th, Josh Brian 27th and Ben Doherty 28th for top 6 team finish, the C team Frank Edwards 29th, Harry Barnett 33rd, Noah Lauder-Clarke 34th and Rueben Kuijten 38th saw their team home in top 12
The under 15 Girls race saw Charlotte Bailey have no pressure with all TK girls winning, so she set of with a fast pace taking the lead to pull further away over the 3 lap course, ensuring all the TK girls won all four races, Chloe O’Riordan came home in 14th and Lola Mitcham 15th for 2nd placed team.
The under 15 Boys saw only two runners from TK, Ethan Kuijten ran a complete mature race, as he stalked two runners who took the early lead, on the second lap he pulled up with them, and halfway around the last lap, one of the athletes tried to pull away with a change of pace, Ethan stayed within 5 metres until he changed his pace going in to the woods where his strength showed and pulled clear to win the race and team kennets 5th victory of the day, Max Adams also ran well in 7th place.
