Cross Country (1970-71)
CROSS COUNTRY REPORTS 1970-71
By G. S. JOINER, P. J. CAHILL
Senior Team
After the now traditionally slow and unsure start to the season with several defeats in "mob" matches, the Senior team settled down to produce another set of successful results.
As in the past two years the strength in depth of Haberdashers' Aske's proved just too strong for a team which contained three members of the fifth form and a notable lack of reserve strength, but such is the strength of the Cross Country circuit that the numerous seconds and thirds that the team gained can be reckoned considerable achievements.
The highlight of the season was undoubtedly the winning of the Middlesex A.AA. Boys' Championship, against very strong club apposition. To take on the combined talents of the athletics clubs' junior runners and beat them comfortably is very difficult indeed.
The Borough Schools' Championship was won easily in both the Senior (with the first four runners home) and Intermediate sections and other notable achievements were the seconds in the Haskell Trophy, the Kerton Trophy and the Queens Park Harriers' Road Relay.
It is impossible to over-emphasise the fact that these excellent results were achieved through combined team efforts rather than outstanding individual ability (although there was plenty of that as well). To a large extent the tremendous team spirit which existed must be credited to the captain Brian Johnson. Leading by example, he encouraged the team to feats of training unknown and undreamt of before and it was a great pity that his own performances were so often marred by a recurrent knee injury. The success stories of the season were Anthony and Stephen Allen-universally known as "the twins" who improved out of all recognition during the season. Their persistent hard work and refusal to give in were deservedly rewarded with County team places and their performances in the All-England race indicate that they have an impressive future ahead. Beset by his own personal "gremlin" of pre-race nerves, Kevin Harris had what he must regard as a disappointing season and certainly all his efforts and training pointed to a county place. However, he failed to do himself justice in the County race which was very unfortunate as he performed with great reliability for the school team throughout the season. Eric Harvey also enjoyed his best-ever cross country season and when he learns to push himself harder over the first half of a race and to train regularly he will be very good indeed.
All in all a good season and my thanks and congratulations go to a team who provided me with a great deal of pleasure and excitement and who took the continual "gnarling" very well indeed.
G.S.J.
MAJOR RACE RESULTS
Joiner Trophy Race (15 teams) ` 4th
Randall Trophy Relay (15 teams) 2nd
R.G.S High Wycombe Relay (15 teams) 3rd
Haskell Trophy Relay (20 teams) 2nd
Kerton Trophy Relay (17 teams) 2nd
Highgate Harriers Race (20 teams) 3rd
Dr. Challoners G.S. Relay (18 teams) 3rd
Ranelagh Harriers Race (10 teams) 2nd
Goater Trophy Relay (20 teams) 3rd
Borough of Hillingdon Senior Race (7 teams) 1st
Borough of Hillingdon Intermediate Race (10 teams) 1st
1913 Action Championships (12 teams) 3rd
Queens Park Harriers Race (10 teams) 2nd
Alleynes G.S. Relay (26 teams) 4th
Under 15
With much enthusiasm and a considerable effort, the Under-15 team tackled a long and tiring fixture list with considerable success.
In "straight" two-school fixtures they were only beaten once in twelve races, and in the major inter-school races they acquitted themselves well, coming second in the Joiner Trophy in a field of 24 teams; seventh from 18 teams in the Highgate Harriers' Race and sixth of 20 teams in the Haste Hill Trophy. Entered in the senior section of the Borough Cross County League, they ran consistently well and finished third: an excellent achievement against teams consisting mainly of sixth-formers.
Stephen Shellard, as captain, led the team enthusiastically, if a little zanily, and other members of the team who should be a considerable asset to the Seniors next year are Stephen Blackburn, Andrew Jolliffe, Graeme Lowe, Martin Lovely, Christopher Dix and Andrew Torrance. If they continue to train hard and regularly and maintain their interest, competition for Senior Team places should be encouragingly strong next year.
G.S.J.
Third Year
The main objects of running a third-year cross country group are (i) to offer an alternative to rugby and (2) to find from among those who choose this option a nucleus of boys who can eventually represent the School in the Senior School.
The provision of inter-school fixtures ensures that the second of these two objects is attained, although this last season has confirmed what has always been my guess that a cross country league is a meaningless and boring exercise and that the sport just does not lend itself to this particular form of competition.
This year's team were not particularly successful in terms of results, but seemed to enjoy their winter's running a satisfactory end in itself.
As they progress into more senior cross country, however, they must at some time decide what sort of runner they want to be. Cross country without training, can be a pleasant aftemoon's relaxation so long as one is satisfied with a mediocre standard of performance; to be successful, however and my criterion of 'success' is the realisation of one's full potential the runner has got to accept two things right away: (1) That he has got to put in, in hours and miles, far more hard work than he so far realises; (2) that this entails a great deal of inconvenience, pain and exhaustion.
I should like to wish all those who ran this year all success in their future running.
The following boys represented the team in addition to those awarded junior colours, mentioned elsewhere: A Bound, G. Couser, C. Dewar, J. Goodfellow, B. Lewis, G. Lonsdale, J. Morris, and R. Swain.
P.J.C.
Suggested:
Dr. Watson's Retirement
Photos of Staff
Hockey
Junior Common Room (1963)