Author: Emily Copeman

Several TK Athletes from all age groups attended the Berkshire Schools Cross Country Championships at Newbury Showground on Saturday 18th January 2025.

Full results can be found below, congratulations to all who took part!

Several Team Kennet athletes travelled to Lee Valley Athletics Centre to participate in the South of England Indoor Track and Field Championships at the weekend. Theo Nightingale for the Under 17 boys finished 4^th in the high jump with a leap of 1.70m.  Isabel Payne for the Under 15 girls finished 11^th in the long jump with 4.17m.  Turkay Altuntas Under 17 boys was 5^th in the shot throwing 12.84m.   Berkay Altuntas for the Under 15 boys was 9^th in the shot  8.08m Ella  Larkin and Elodie Burdett represented the Under 13 girls entering the 800m.  Ella Larkin went on to the final finishing in 4^th with  2:36:31.

On Saturday Team Kennet athletes competed at the Hampshire Cross Country Championships held at Fairthorne Manor near Southampton.

The day started with the U11 girls racing in sub-zero temperatures. Matilda Saunders joined the leading group from the start and fought hard to finish a very creditable 4th in her first year in the age group. She was followed by Elodie Burdett in 13th, producing a gutsy performance despite being unwell over the Christmas and New Year period.

In the U13 race Harriet Saunders settled into the breakaway group and, with a display of strong running, finished just outside the medals in 4th. Olivia Bentley took a while to settle into the race but battled throughout and, with a fast finish, secured 14th place.

Harriet’s performance secures automatic selection for the Hampshire team however there is no county team for U11.

Team Kennet had several athletes take part at the annual Berkshire Cross Country Championships held at Hungerford Rugby Club.  The annual event is a qualifying race for the 2025 CAU UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championship with those finishing in the top 8 a guaranteed place.

First up to tackle the course was the Masters Men 9.3km race.  Andy Colling finishing 13^th and Chris Turner 22^nd. 

Under 13 boys course was 3km, Harry Smith 14^th, Samuel Atkins 19^th, Henry Bell 20^t,  Elliot Bell 21^st and Josh Bailey 25^th.  Team Kennet finishing in 5^th place as a team.

For the under 13 girls all 3 making their debut at the event Penelope Lyth finishing 8^th, Matilda Clare 11^th and Affra Bailey 17^th.  This placed the team in 4^th place.

Under 15 boys 4km Arthur Patterson finishing in 14^th and Under 15 girls Anna Hall 13^th, Emerald Hill-Sawyer 14^th and Ella Cronk 17^th, team also finishing in 4^th. 

Full results below.

Cirencester Park hosted round 2 of the Oxon XC league. Rain & mud were the order of the day, with the ladies race getting some particularly heavy rain half way through.

In the under 11 girls race, Matilda Saunders was an excellent 3rd and Ella Parsons worked hard for 16th in the mud

Harriet Saunders ran excellently for 2nd place in the under 13 girls race.

Harry Smith was 10th in the under 13 boys, an excellent result.

Anna Hall kept up her good from for 8th in the under 15 girls race.

Senior men saw Hefin Jones in 27th and 1st in the V50 category, 94th was Richard Saunders in his first Oxon league race, Andy Colling was 119th and 3rd in the V60 category.

Other places

190 Phil Baker

224 Mitch Poustie

258 Simon Hockaday

275 Simon Gale

279 Rob Parsons

Our lone lady runner, Katie Reynolds came in 86th, another excellent run in the heavy rain.

On Saturday 9 November four Team Kennet athletes travelled to Cardiff to compete in the first round of the UK Cross Challenge Series – a Gold Label event on the World Athletics Cross Country Tour and incorporating the European Trials at the next round.

First to race was Matilda Saunders in the Under 11 Girls event. Matilda ran hard from the start to stay in medal contention for two thirds of the race but couldn’t quite stay with the leaders in the closing stages eventually finishing 6th. Matilda remains in the same age group next year.

Harriet Saunders then took part in the Under 13 Girls event over a longer course. An extremely strong field had assembled for this race with athletes travelling from across the UK, including the National Record holder over the mile for this age group. Harriet fought hard throughout the race to finish a very respectable 13th.

Josh Bailey then raced the same course in the Under 13 Boys event, his first time in this age group. In one of the most exciting races of the day there was little to separate the top three as they sprinted to the finish but the high quality racing extended further down the field with Josh pacing his run well to finish in an excellent 19th place.

Last to race, over a yet longer distance, was Anna Hall in the Under 15 Girls event. In another very competitive race, Anna continued her impressive start to the cross country season by settling into the race well and producing a very strong second half to finish 27th. Anna remains in the same age group next year.

The Oxford xc league began at Cornbury Estate on Sunday.  Weather conditions were good for the races on what was a very tough course. First Team Kennet runner to tackle the challenge was Ella Parsons who came 12th in the girls under 11 race.  Anna Hall was our other junior, finishing an excellent 7th in the girls U15 category.  The men’s and ladies’ races took place over an undulating 8.2k course and In the men’s race Hefin Jones led the way in 30th and a 2nd place in the V50 category.   Andy Colling was next in 128th and 2nd in the V60 category Our other finishers were 184 Phil Baker, 219 Dave Smith, 236 Mitch Poustie, 268 Simon Hockaday,299 Simon Gale and 305 Rob Parsons.  Katie Reynolds flew the flag for the senior ladies finishing in 99th position.