Victory for RSSH with individual and team trophies at Cross Country Championships

After the excitement of the KHVIII Relays in Coventry on Wednesday, we sought to continue our strong run of form at the Shropshire Schools’ XC Championships in Oswestry the following Saturday.

Blustery winds and strong showers made for ‘proper’ cross country conditions, and course laid within and around the grounds of Oswestry School is notoriously challenging, with very uneven terrain and one or two steep inclines. As a school, we have a strong record in this event, having dominated the three boys’ age categories – Junior, Intermediate, and Senior for over a decade. We have a strong pedigree in the girls’ events too, especially in the Senior Girls event, which we have won several times in the past few years.

For individual runners, this is a very important event as it serves as a qualifier for the very prestigious English Schools National Final, held in mid-March. The top six finishers in each race are guaranteed a place in what is usually regarded as the pinnacle of schools cross-country running in England.

In the Junior Boys event, we took a depleted and rather makeshift team, due to illness and injury to some of our regulars, but it’s a strong year group and we were hugely indebted to several boys who were willing to step in at short notice, despite signing up for entirely different sports this term! Third formers Miles T (I), Toby S (I), Leon B (Rt), Monty W (S), and Eugene U (I) all made their debuts and performed very well. Alex M (Rb) ran very strongly toward the front of the field, and held on bravely for a bronze medal, defending against a really strong attack in the final straight. Leon managed 6^th, a brilliant effort, with strong support from Miles and Monty not far behind. This was enough to earn us the Junior Boys’ team trophy, having just missed out on it back in 2020.

Further absences among the Junior Girls meant that we weren’t quite able to field a full team, but we took three runners in this category, all of whom are making terrific progress at the moment. Kitty F (MSH, III) had a particularly impressive run to place 7^th, with Polly H (G, III) close on her heels in 8^th. Artemis W (EDH, III) also ran strongly for 10^th, just a few seconds further back.

In the Intermediate Boys’ team, we were – quite remarkably – unimpeded by injury or illness, and so took our full-strength team, albeit that 5^th formers Brad K (R) and Tim S (I) had to run up in the Senior age category. With eleven Hunt runners in all, it was by far the largest team on the day. Harry P-M (I, IV), Jack K (PH, IV) and Hamish G (PH,V) all made very strong starts at the front of the pack in the first lap, but Jack and Hamish slipped back a bit in the second, perhaps feeling the effects of their efforts on Wednesday at Coventry. Harry held on well with a sprint finish to claim the victory though, with Jack and Hamish crossing the line almost together in 5^th and 6^th respectively. Archie T (Rt, V) and Dom W (Rb, IV) both ran sensibly a bit further back but came through the field nicely for 8^th and 9th, meaning we had five finishers all inside the top ten positions, meaning we won the team trophy comfortably. Further back, there were excellent runs from Massimo W (PH, V), Archie P S (Rb, IV), Ben O (PH, IV), Tolly N (PH, IV), Tom E (Rb, IV), and Jeff L (Ch, V).

Ellie L-L (MSH, V) was our only runner in the Intermediate Girls category this year, but she ran bravely for her 8^th place, which might be enough to see her selected for the English Schools. She’s had a fairly meteoric rise to form for the Hunt this year and has become an integral member of our team.

In the Senior Boys’ category, we again had a strong team, despite missing a couple of our star runners. We nevertheless had Harrison C (R, UVI) able to lead the line for us, building an immediate lead ahead of the chasing pack and comfortably out on his own for the duration of the race, showing his form is peaking in time for important national competitions next month. Tim S (I) race probably the best race he’s had all year for a terrific silver medal, a few seconds ahead of Jonny P (I, UVI) in third to make it an all-Hunt podium! Brad K (R) fought off illness to race, and battled through well for 5^th, while Hunt debutant Gus D (O, UVI) ran very solidly for 7^th place ahead of John B (Ch, UVI) in 8^th. Oldhamites George H and Lennart S also ran well, placing 11^th and 16^th respectively. This was the twelfth time in a row that the Hunt had won the Senior Boys’ team trophy.

In the Senior Girls’ race, we took four girls – Sophia U (EDH, LVI), Iris D (G, LVI), Anna B (EDH, LVI) and Mari A (G, LVI). Iris set off very determinedly and led for the whole race, comfortably taking the individual victory. Sophia had a good battle for second but just missed out and came through for a bronze medal, while Anna and Mari finished 7^th and 8^th respectively. This was enough for the team win, retaining the trophy we had won in 2020.

With three individual victories and four team trophies, we considered this a very successful day of racing, and we have a large number who have qualified for the English Schools final, held in Kent on 19^th March. Well done all!

Ian Haworth

Master i/c RSSH