Cross-Country 12 (1969-70)

In a season when the weather attempted to destroy both the major races held at St. Nicholas, a young and fairly inexperienced team more than held its own in the highly competitive Cross Country circuit.

Although the long-coveted "Ivanhoe Shield" was lost to Stationers' after only a year, the team won three major races, and were second in three others.

At the Walton A.C. Road Relay it was fine performances by Johnson and Lovett that brought success, but it was generally the collective team effort that was most impressive: the R.G.S. High Wycombe relay was won from the first 'leg' and in winning the Borough of Hillingdon Senior Race the team took the first four individual places, led in by Johnson. Similarly it was team effort that secured second place against very strong competition in both the Haskell Relay and the Highgate Harriers' Race.

There were, however, disappointments: far too often the fourth or fifth place should have been a second or third, and in one case the 'Ivanhoe Shield' Race the second place should have been first. There are many reasons for this apparent lack of consistency: there are probably too many fixtures spread out over too long a period.

it is impractical to expect peak fitness for nearly six months; the team lacked strong reserves and was relatively inexperienced, but undoubtedly the most important factor was the lack of regular hard training. This was made very obvious when the conditions were bad - the 'Ivanhoe Shield' Race was run in a blizzard - and was more pronounced after Christmas. There were exceptions to this, but until the whole team is prepared to train regularly, at least twice a week, consistent success will escape them. As a start, it is hoped to organise a summer training camp in Wales, and by the time this report is published it is hoped that the benefits of this will be apparent.

Team spirit was clearly the keynote of the season, and Knowles as captain did a great deal to encourage this he also had his best season 'over the country' and is to be commended on this. For sheer consistency and hard work, Johnson was unrivalled - his strong running on the first leg of a relay was often an inspiration to the rest of the team, and his selection for the Middlesex Junior Schools' Team was an honour which he thoroughly deserved. Early in the season it seemed as though Lovett might be heading for County team honours, but after Christmas he never managed to recapture the form that broke the school record for the 'middle' course twice in a fortnight, a loss of form largely due to a lack of training. Arkey similarly suffered from a dislike of training, but nevertheless had an impressive season regularly improving his performance — if a little training could be added to his undoubted courage and determination, he would indeed be difficult to beat. For most of the season, the remaining two places were filled by two members of the Under-15 team: Harris and Manners. Their attitude to training and their determination were considerable assets to the team and they should both be the strength of future teams.

Old Colours: Johnson

New Colours: Arkey, Knowles, Lovett.

MAJOR RACES

Walton A.C. Road Relay (14 teams) 1st
John Lyon School Relay (11 teams) 6th
Randall Trophy (15 teams) 3rd
Haskell Trophy (28 teams) 2nd
Kerton Trophy (15 teams) 4th
Highgate Harriers Schools Race (24 teams) 2nd
Ranelagh Harriers Schools' Race (12 teams) 5th
Goater Trophy (23 teams) 4th
R.G.S. High Wycombe Relay (10 leams) 1st
Borough of Hillingdon Championships (8 teams) 1st
Oxford Tortoises Road Relay (14 teams) 6th
Ivanhoe Shield Race (14 teams) 2nd
Dr. Challoner's G.S. Relay (23 teams) 4th
Alleynes G.S. Stevenage, Relay (21 teams) 4th