Amelia did well despite a bad 'spiking'
incident and may well go on to develop in
this sport. Ollie also had a problem or
two but pulled through to 22nd, so has an
incentive to go even better in 2013. The
organisers, including myself, were
exceedingly grateful to our pupil athlete
volunteers who helped to set up, take
down and stage the event. Harry Billing
and Henry Willis were ever present, but
Penny and Oliver Guess, Mike Peek, Ralph
and Dan et alwere a great help.
Henry was also to the fore at the Exmouth
event, leading home the winning team with
its unusual mixture of seniors and juniors,
boys and girls, all counting as one unit,
and all working hard in the last mile to
secure as many of the early places as
possible.
Henry repeated the honours on the very
tough Parliament Hill course at the English
AA Championships, helped in posting a
respectable team score by the doughty
Billing, Peek and Williams, who only seem
to like the really tough events! In the
younger age group, Ollie Fox came 11th
of 360, and the scoring team was
completed by the indefatigable Matt Dobie
who seems to feel that this sport throws
down a challenge worth accepting, even
when it involves charging up long, steep,
muddy hills with 360 other madmen.
Not surprisingly therefore, he was to be
found on the Quantocks for the Relay event.
George Chapman signed off his career by
leading out one of the King's teams - no
fool George, first leg out is also first leg
back and straight into a minibus out of the
cold conditions. Amelia led the girls to a
win and was fastest female runner, whilst
Ollie was the quickest boy, but the team
had to settle for second. They went one
better though at the King's Cup when the
girls and boys created a winning score
behind Ollie's winning run, but he was ably
supported by Billing in third, Oliver Guess
(7th), Amelia (8th) and Dan Mead (10th) -
with several more just behind.
In the delayed Taunton Area Schools event
for the younger age groups, India was
delighted to win the junior girls' event, with
Morgan Tottle in fifth. Oliver Guess was
fourth junior boy home, Annabelle Hall
came third of the inter girls, and Ollie Fox
eased home to a win in the inter boys,
finishing ahead of Henry Willis in fourth,
whilst Charlie Niekirk anchored the team
effort.
All had contributed to their house teams in
the annual steeplechases, with Oliver Fox
(4th form) and Amelia Evans (62) the
quickest individuals. Woodard picked up
the A, B and C boys' team awards and just
about took the overall trophy, but Taylor
(A), Meynell (B) and Meynell (C) won their
categories, then looked on in amazement
as Carpenter picked up the overall award
by just seven seconds (over 18 runners):
a tight squeeze!
The club should record their grateful
thanks to Mr Lee, Mr Round, Miss Fagan,
Mrs Wrobel, Mr Bird, and indeed a fitness
seeking Mr Hamilton, for their help
throughout the winter.
Amelia Evans and Oliver Fox
running in the English Schools'
National Championships held
this year at Ilton, Somerset
Aluredian 83