Nine Team Kennet athletes took part in the Berkshire Cross Country Championships at Dinton Pastures, near Reading. It was a lovely day for XC racing with clear skies, sunshine and perfect temperature.
The course was very interesting, with an inner loop that was very twisty and turney with a few up and down sections over a mound in the middle of the field. The outer loop was much straighter and flatter, allowing a faster pace, with a straight and downhill finish. Conditions were perfect with the course mostly being soft grass, without too much mud or boggy conditions.
The Under-13 Girls (3.2k) had a great day with Ella Larkin finishing in 3rd place (just loosing out on 2nd in the last few meters). This secures Ella a place in the Berkshire team for the Inter-Counties Championship in March.
Tilly Clare finished in 9th place, improving on her performance from last year and securing 1st reserve slot for the Berkshire team. Next, in 11th was Quinn Joyce, also putting in a great performance and securing a reserve slot. Darcy Claridge finished in an excellent 13th place, only a couple of seconds behind Quinn and the 12th place runner.
With the first three athletes home counting as a team, Team Kennet secured a silver medal in the Under-13 Girls competition. Bracknell AC were the winners and Maidenhead AC were in third.
In the Under-13 Boys (3.2km) race, Team Kennet had two athletes competing. In a very strong field, Josh Bailey secured 25th place and Josh Kuijten finished in 28th.
Reuben Kuijten competed in the Under-15 Boys (4.7km) race, which was another strong field, securing a finish in 23rd place.
Finally, in the Masters (9.6km) race, Bart Kuijten finished in an excellent 9th position, with Chris Turner securing a 27th place finish.
Round 2 of the Oxford XC league took place yesterday at a cold and sunny Horspath. The course was much drier than previous years and the weather, sunny and dry.
Our first runners were in the Under 9 girls race and they both did excellently. Annabelle Jones was 4th in her first Oxon XC race and Isabella Dearns was 5th.
Under 11 Girls also had excellent finishes, Matilda Saunders just beaten in to 2nd place and Olivia Kwit 7th
Matthew Jones ran his first race in the league and was 2nd, just behind the winner.
Senior men and ladies were a bit depleted by injuries and illness and a clash with the Berks Champs. Mitch Poustie was 191st, Simon Hockaday 210 and Simon Gale 213rd.
Katie Reynolds was an excellent 67th in the ladies race.
Competition kicked off early in 2026 with the Hampshire County Cross Country Championships on Saturday 3 January at a frosty Fairthorne Manor, Botley.
Matilda Saunders from Team Kennet raced in the U11 girls event which quickly developed into a head to head battle between Matilda and an athlete from Southampton Athletics Club with the lead repeatedly changing hands. Matilda eventually finished in 2nd place securing a County silver medal.
Olivia Bentley also from Team Kennet, raced over 4km in the U15 girls event. Olivia made a solid start but, with some strong running through the wooded section, she progressed through the field to take an excellent 7th place in a tightly packed finish. This result places Olivia in a strong position for Hampshire team consideration.
Team Kennet hosted the rearranged round 1 Basingstoke Cross Country League at Downe Grange in Basingstoke, over a technical and muddy course otherwise conditions were ideal for cross country running, first up was under 9 girls, TK fielded only 4 girls first home was Isabella Chapman in 6th place, next home was Florence Randall-Bird 10th with Bella Dearns 13th and Molly Bell 25th. The under 9 Boys were next and a superb race developed by two TK runners with Chester Bailey coming home 1st and Lenny Wyvill 2nd, Idris Gaye battled well to finish 8th and with William Winter 11th secured a team victory, Archie Pilling was next home in 15th and Rory Ridler 23rd.
The under 11 girls were next to start which saw the clubs biggest turnout, Ella Larkin went off from the gun to control the race to come home in first place, Praiya Foreman ran a superb race to finish in 2nd place, Matilda Saunders was next in 5th place and with Alice Stratford 8th the team scored another victory, Ella Parsons ran a brilliant race to finish 9th, Cecily Wyer was 24th, Ayala Wyvill 33rd, Evelyn Barker 38th and Darcy Scaplehorn 39th. The under 11 boys only saw two from the club due to illness and other sports, Joshua Kuijten was 26th and Gethin Thomas 35th in a field of over 60.
The under 13 girls saw another winner, this time Harriet Saunders battled through the course to take victory, Olivia Bentley hung in well to come home in 4th followed by Tilly Clare 6th and Ella McDonald just behind in 7th which was good enough for another team victory, Affra Bailey was 13th. The under 13 boys ran well to pack in their race with over 50 taking part, Harry Smith took control of the race after a few minutes to gradually pull away from a small group to win, Samuel Atkins came through the field to finish 12th, with Josh Bailey 14th and Henry Bell 15th saw the team finish 3rd on the day, Elliot Bell was next home in 22nd and Ben Doherty 24th.
The under 15 girls saw Anna Hall finish in 3rd place and Ella Cronk 12th The Under 15 boys Rueben Kuijten came home in 8th place.
On Saturday 1st February Harriet Saunders, Olivia Bentley and Harry Smith represented Berkshire Schools at the South East Inter County Schools Cross Country Championships. With many of the region’s best athletes in attendance the competition was very tough but all three acquitted themselves well.
In the Junior Girls race (school years 8 & 9) Harriet produced an excellent run to finish as the 3rd Berkshire athlete and 25th overall. She was followed by Olivia in a very creditable 66th place and 9th Berkshire runner. Harry then raced in the Junior Boys event battling to a hard fought 79th place and 8th Berkshire runner.
Team Kennet were in full action in the Basingstoke Junior Cross Country League being held at Wellesley Woods in Aldershot over a much boggy and muddy course.
Lovely Spring Sun greeted all the athletes in the afternoons event, first up was the under 9 girls over the 1400m course, Isabella Chapman ran a great race to finish in 7th place, and Bella Dearns wasn’t too far behind in 10th place, the team came 3rd on the day with Gracie Williams 13th and Annabelle Jones in 15th.
The under 9 Boys had already wrapped up the team Trophy, but yet another solid display of team running made sure they took first team on the day to remain unbeaten, this time it was Matthew Jones coming home in 4th place in the Yellow Vest, with Lenny Wyvill 5th, Idris Gaye 7th and Chester Bailey 8th, other runners were Archie Pilling 14thand Rory Ridler 18th, this meant at the presentations Chester Bailey won overall and the boys won the team Trophy.
The under 11 girls were next to start over 2400m, Ella Larkin went off like a rocket to lead all the way round the course to come home as overall winner winning all three races, she also helped the team to win overall with her team mates Praiya Foreman coming home in a brilliant 3rd place to take 2nd overall, Matilda Saunders was 5th and Alice Stratford took 9th place, Olivia Kwit was next in 21stand Evelyn Barker 38th.
The under 11 Boys saw the biggest field of the day with well over 50 runners, Percey Reed was the clubs first runner home in 28th, followed by Joshua Kuijten 31st, Gethin Thomas 42nd and Jacob Williams 44th with Toby Clay 49th
The under 13 Girls again like the u11s, already sealed the team victory, they made sure they kept unbeaten all season, it was Olivia Bentley that took full control to win the race over the second lap to win her first cross country race, Penelope Lyth ran one of her best cross country races to come home in 5th, with Matilda Clare 6th and Ella McDonald 7th this was enough to win, Affra Bailey was next home in 12th and Harriet Saunders 13th, Harriet Saunders took overall individual win and Olivia Bentley taking runners up spot.
The under 13 boys were next to race, Harry Smith kept up his pressure around the course which paid off to come home in 2nd place this was good enough to take 2nd individual overall, Samuel Atkins was 11th, Josh Bailey 13th and Fynn Sanderson 16thtook 4th team on the day, and JJ Mercer came home in 18thout of nearly 40 runners.
The under 15 Boys and Girls run together, in the Girls race Amelie Tayton came home in 8th and Ella Cronk 9th and in the Boys, Rueben Kuijten was 9th. Although Anna Hall didn’t run, she took 2nd place overall in the league.
Team Kennet were in action in the last round of the Basingstoke Junior Cross Country League, with several awards already wrapped up a good turn out at Down Grange in Basingstoke was needed to boost the awards in the individuals.
On the day conditions were perfect, no wind or rain and underfoot was soft but very good for running on. The under 9 Girls were up first, not like the last round Praiya Foreman decided to take it on from clubmate Matilda Saunders, she opened up a 10m gap from the first 400m, both worked hard all the way around the course to keep their placings as they came in 1st and 2nd, meaning both Girls had to settle for equal first in the individual League, next home was Cecily Wyer showing great improvement from 2 weeks ago and then for the team win Matilda Hogg, this was enough for the Girls to wrap up the under 9 team League, other runners were Delilah Tippett 14th, Gracie Williams 16th, Evelyn Barker 17th and Evelyn Pedersen 20th.
Next up was the under 9 Boys, they were in the lead in the teams going in to this match, so a win would secure the league, Tk Boys made sure they packed well Chester Bailey running a superb race for 2nd place, Lenny Wyvill improving from last race next home in 5th place, William Moloney 8th and Idris Gaye 9th looked good for a win but Basingstoke just edged the club in to 2nd place, and the boys having to settle for runners up in the league. Next home for the u9 boys were Max Burt 20th , Jacob Williams 21st, Zachary Melvill-Smith 27th and Sebastian Lauder-Clarke 28th
The Under 11 girls were next to start, already secured the Team League, the girls wanted to make it 4 out of 4, they made sure of this with another brilliant win from Ella Larkin to be crowned under 11 champion, Another great run by Penelope Lyth finishing 3rd as she has done in all the other matches secured 3rd overall, Matilda Clare was next home in 7th place, securing 4th overall, then Ella McDonald in 8th place for the team win. As all season the under 11 girls pack in very well, Affra Bailey led a late charge to come home in 15th, Orlagh Stratford 16th, Alice Stratford 17th and Elodie Burdett 18th saw the B team home in 3rd place, other girls were Ella Parsons 20th, Sophia Barnett 31st, Matilda Pedersen 33rd, Ayla Wyvill 38th, Grace Hogg 40th and Megan Jones 41st
The under 11 Boys were chasing individual placing awards, Samuel Atkins decided to go out hard to keep him in the top 3, this he did staying in second place for 2/3 thirds of the race, to be over taken by Malik Gaye who came home in 2nd place and take runners up in the individuals, Sam Atkins came in 3rd taking 3rd place overall with Fynn Sanderson 14th and JJ Mercer 15th the team were placed 3rd on the day. Other runners were Thomas Williams 17th, Toby clay 22nd, Joshua Kuijten 35th, Joshua Bailey 36th and Miles Phoenix 42nd
The under 13 girls made sure of wrapping up the League team title, winning their 3rd match in a row, Harriet Saunders set of at a steady pace then to open out to secure her 4th straight win and take overall individual title, New Comer Oliver Bentley made a great debut run coming home in 5th place, Jessie McCurtin was 6th, Anna Hall 7th and Emerald Hill Sawyer 8th saw the girls take the win on the day, other runners were Ella Cronk 12th
The under 13 Boys Harry Smith pushed hard to finish in 5th place as per last match, Oscar Larkin finished strong to come home in 6th place with Elliot Bell 10th and Henry Bell 12th made sure off the team coming 3rd on the day. Next home was Noah Lauder Clarke 15th, Harry Barnett 17th and Rueben Kuijten 18th.
The under 15 girls, individual placings were wrapped up, Charlotte Bailey wanted to make it 4 wins in a row, which she did, the girls had a team this time with Amelie Tayton making her debut for the club in 9th and Lola Mitcham taking 12th for the girls to take 2nd place overall on the day and in the team standings.
Ethan Kuijten wrapped up two wins in a row to secure the under 15 title in a strong run over the undulating course.
Overall standings for the 5 round series. To feature you need to have run 4 of the 5 races
Under 11 Girls – Ella Parsons 19th
Under 13 Girls – Emerald Hill Sawyer 8th
Under 15 Boys- Ethan Kuijten 6th
Men V40 – Mitch Poustie 31st, Phil Baker 32nd, Tim Smith 46th
Men V50 – Andy Colling 7th, Simon Hockaday 42nd, Simon Gale 44th
Ladies V45 – Sue Francis 4th, Katie Reynolds 14th and Anna Riggall 27th
A big thank you to all the athletes who competed this winter and for Simon Hockaday for sharing the driving duties.
Looking forward to next year, any senior men or ladies who would like to join us, we have a tent, a flag and hot drinks and snacks for after the races and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere
If you sign up as a senior, we would be willing for you to enter your son or daughter in the junior races.
Team Kennet Cross country team made the trip to Cirencester on Sunday for round 2 of the Oxford Cross Country league After icy conditions in the week leading up to the event, runners were faced with persistent drizzle/rain and lots of mud Cirencester is a tough course but it was great to see over 700 athletes take part in the days races. For TK in preliminary results Ella Parson 23rd in the U11 girls Emerald Hill-Sawyer 9th in the under 13 girls. Harry Smith 14th in the U13 boys Great effort by the juniors in some horrible weather.
In the Senior Mens race Andy Colling continued his fine form finishing 92nd and 1st in the Male 60 category Mitch Poustie was next in 178th, Tim Smith 208th, Simon Hockaday 235th and Simon Gale 245th.
The ladies faced a tricky race as the course was really cut up for their run. Katie Reynolds was first home for TK in 80th and 6th in her age catergory. Georgina McCabe was just behind in 93rd and Anna Riggall next in 129th.
Big thanks to all for making the journey and supporting TK cross country Big thanks also to Joe Gale for “volunteering” to marshal and standing in the rain for a few hour hours.
Team Kennet Juniors were in action in Force in the third round of the Destination Cross Country League at a new venue in Hartney Witney, over a fast, twisting and slight inclines with glorious sun shine for all.
The Under 9 Girls went first with 9 Team Kennet girls setting of, Ella Larkin led from the gun to take full control of the race to win by 100m, she now tops the individual points, another great run from Maisie McCurtin came in 2nd place to put her second overall, then some fantastic packing from Matilda Saunders 6th and Orlagh Stratford 7th saw the A team home in 1st place and are now guaranteed overall Team Victory retaining their own title, the B team was led by Alice Stratford 8th, not far behind was Elodie Burdett 10th then a gap to Evie Kearney 20th and Evelyn Barker 21st bringing the team home in 3rd place, Sophie Barnett was 23rd
Next race was u9 boys Gethin Thomas was first home in 12th place, with Joshua Kuijten 15th, Max Burt 17th and Seb Lauder-Clarke 19th bringing team home in 4th place, Alex Cameron was 23rd and Jacob Williams 27th
The Under 11 Girls took a fantastic Team Win, Quinn Joyce ran her socks of to finish in 2nd place, a Good pack of TK Girls then followed led by Harriet Saunders 5th, Ella McDonald 6th and Matilda Clare 7th for the scoring Team, Penelope Lyth led the second team home in 8th place with Penelope Gorbold 23rd.
The under 11 Boys saw 13 TK runners, they managed 3rd team on the day, Oskar Larkin put in an impressive race to come home in 3rd place, with Euan Jones not far behind in 6th, Harry Smith was next home in 13th and new comer Liam Neil 16th. The clutch of other TK boys were Elliot Bell 19th, Luke Stiles 20th, Malik Gaye 22nd, Henry Bell 23rd, Samuel Atkins 24th, Ben Doherty 27th, Joshua Bailey 44th, Lestyn Thomas 53rd and Alfie Cronk 58th.
The under 13 girls team also took the team win. Amber Stiles and Charlotte Bailey led the race for three quarters the way round to finish 2nd and 3rd respectively on a tight finish only 10 metres separating the girls, Emerald Hill-Sawyer 11th and Chloe O’Reardon 12th for the scoring team, Ella Cronk came 14th.
The under 13 Boys team were 4th, Aaron Carter was clubs first runner home in 13th closely followed by Ben Daley 14th and Marlowe Barber 16th and Charlie Adams 21st making up the team, Harry Barnett 22nd led the second team home with Frank Edwards 23rd and Rueben Kuijten 34th making up the team.
The under 15 boys was a great race, Ethan Kuijten battled with top two to keep in contention but had to settle for 3rd place, Max Adams worked his way through the field for 4th place and Elliot Murphy came 5th to help the team home in 2nd place.
