T
he cross-country club
experienced one of its more
successful seasons in recent
years, with the small band of
muddied brothers (and
sisters) in arms winning team
events and securing a high level of county
representation.
The older (near veteran) runners of the 6th form
were virtually unbeaten, with Charlie Maclean,
Tom Lawson, Tom Smith and Harry Marshall
responding to the encouragement, sarcasm and
waspishness of their captain, Mhairi Hall. They
picked up team wins at the Exmouth Cliff Race,
the Quantock Relays, the King's Cup and the
Wellington Trophy, coming 2nd at Clatworthy.
Tom Smith prepared for his Royal Marines test
by doing incredibly well at Exmouth (3rd) and on
the Quantocks, and showed incredible spirit at
all times - the epitome of a supposed jogger
who pushed on and found that he was rather
good. Harry Marshall did likewise and was
startled to find himself high up in races and at
the county trials. They both supported the frontrunning
Maclean and Lawson, who seemed to
take it in turns to appear, with Tom running his
best when winning by two minutes at Exmouth
and when coming 7th at the South West
Championships. Charlie ran the third-best time
ever on the Quantocks (slower only than times
set many years ago by two senior internationals),
besides running away from his opponents in the
Area, County and South West Championships,
and at the King's Cup and Wellington Trophy.
These were run on a variety of ground
conditions, but usually wet, cold and muddy -
as in the horrific Wellington Trophy: bodies all
over the place. Mhairi Hall contributed to the
team scoring, since we are a genuine mixed-sex
team, being prominent particularly at the
County Championships (2nd) and South West
Championships (11th): she really delivered on
her earlier athletic promise and qualified yet
again to run for Somerset at the English
Schools, in conjunction with Messrs Maclean
and Lawson - the former doing his usual crosscountry
national performance of about 10th out
of 350 competitors: he warmed up nicely for
the track events to follow.
The other side of this success was the junior
section of the club, far younger but equally
enthusiastic. Harry Billing enjoys longer
events, and led the team home at Clatworthy
against senior pupils, besides doing very well in
the King's Cup and Quantock Relays, whilst
Michael Peek warmed up for his rugby with a
fine performance on the Quantocks, helping the
senior team to its win. Penny Guess quietly
ploughs her own furrow in a no-nonsense
manner and did well in the areas event,
becoming a reserve for the county team at the
South West Championships. She provided
ample competition for Henry Willis and Blaine
Tottle, with Henry doing very well in the
Wellington Trophy and Blaine being the first
reserve for the county team and the quickest
junior overall at the Quantock Relays.
All in all, a very successful season, and very
many thanks to team captain, organiser and
general efficiency manager Mhairi Hall, and to
Mr Lee, Mr Round, Miss Fagan, Mrs Wrobel and
Mrs Lavender for their assistance at all events.
Aluredian
82
Cross-country
by Richard Llewellyn-Eaton
Harry Marshall at the
Somerset Schools Crosscountry
Championships