National Prep Schools' Cross Country Championships - 2010

Parents, teachers and top sports performers cheered home hundreds of youngsters taking part in the 18^th National Prep School Cross Country Championships hosted by Malvern College on Sunday. Nick Goolab, the reigning European Cross Country Silver Medalist, presented the prizes and signed autographs, giving extra inspiration to all the 9-13 year olds taking part.

The traditional course for this annual event, over the Malvern Common and through the College grounds, also proved to be a winner in this beautiful part of Worcestershire. The course, while wet under foot, provided an exciting cross-country experience for pupils travelling from as far afield as Kent, Norfolk, Cumbria and Cornwall.

Stephen Winter, Master in Charge of Cross Country at The Beacon School in Amersham, Buckinghamshire said,

'The boys performed admirably on a fantastic cross country course. We had a great day and to achieve 2nd and 3rd place in the boys U11 event was brilliant - we are already looking forward to next year'.

Millfield Prep School also had a very successful day with Lydia Lavallin and Amy Cooper winning the U11 and U13 Girls’ individual events and team victories in the U13 Boys’ and U13 Girls’ events.

John Etherington, teacher in charge of cross country at Millfield Prep School was understandably very pleased with his pupils’ efforts.

'The course is always tough but it is a true cross country test. The success today was down to the hard work of the children - they are all so keen and enthusiastic and have trained hard but always have fun. We will be back again next year are really looking forward to it'.

Athletics champion, Nick Goolab, who had successfully retained his own U20 National Cross Country title the day before, was equally impressed with the venue and the level of competition.

‘The running today was of such a high standard. Races were tight with everyone finishing close together. There was a great atmosphere and it was good to see the parents and spectators getting so involved. The facilities at Malvern College are top-class, there is no other way to describe it!', said Nick after the presentations.

It was not just about the winning however. All participants received a goodie bag and commemorative t-shirt, ensuring that every youngster taking part was rewarded for the effort they had made. “This is so important for encouraging sport for young people of all abilities” said Christina Boxer, Director of Girls’ Sport and Director of Sports Development at Malvern, “ Competing is about self improvement and was summed up wonderfully by a junior pupil who finished a little further down the field and who exclaimed "Sir! I've improved 5 places on last year!" - he was 139^thon the day”.

Malvern College Headmaster, Antony Clark was very enthusiastic about the spirit in which the races had taken place. “Malvern College hosted over 45 schools and a thousand people on our magnificent campus. All the runners seemed to have enjoyed the day and were a credit to their prep schools”.

Results 2010

The preliminary results are available below in pdf format. The full results will replace them as they are prepared.

Race Reports

U11 Girls’ Race report

The first race of the afternoon involving the U11 Girls’ was keenly contested race over 1.7km in which there were 131 finishers. After just over 1km of Common land, four runners started to break away - Catherine Longe (Beeston Hall), Isabella Shuldham (Leweston Prep School), Lydia Lavallin (Millfield Prep School) and Molly D’Arcy Rice (Beaudesert Park). As they approached the last downhill part of the Common Lydia started to make her push for home with Isabella in close pursuit. In the final 100metres through the College grounds and onto the fast flat finish Lydia pulled further ahead to win in a time of 8mins 04secs with Isabella in second place (8.07). Catherine and Molly both shared the same finishing time of 8.13 but Catherine just crossed the line first to secure third place. Abigail Saker from Bromsgrove Prep and Elizabeth Neal from Kent College Junior School Canterbury finished in 5^th and 6^th place. The top 6 to finish were presented with a plaque by Junior International Cross Country star Nick Goolab.

Beaudesert Park won the overall team race and Abberley Hall won the popular ‘Small Schools’ Trophy’.

U11 Boys’ Race report

This race was over 2.6km and involved more than 150 runners. A large group of boys set a fast pace for the first half of the course. The two tough hills in this section then started to affect some as they faded in the latter stages and the pace picked up again on the downhill and flat stretches. With just under a kilometer to go Archie Cleverly (Maidwell Hall) and the two Beacon School runners Angus Dennison-Smith and Ed Mundy were looking like favourites for the top three places. Archie entered the College grounds with a small lead and then surged ahead on the Senior Turf finishing 4 seconds ahead in 10mins 05secs, with Angus in 2^nd place (10.09) and Ed in 3^rd (10.12). The next three runners all started to increase their pace towards the tape, guaranteeing their places in the top six presentations. Benjamin Hooper (Lambrook), Henry Davies (Cheam Prep) and Saul Fairman (Polwhele House School) finished in 4^th (10.15) 5^th (10.16) and 6^th place (10.17).

Beacon School Amersham was the convincing winners of the main team competition with 53 points. Abberley Hall, who also won the ‘Small Schools’ Trophy’ were second and Cheam Prep were third.

U13 Girls’ Race report (2.6km)

Amy Cooper from Millfield Prep School was the very impressive winner of the U13 Girls’ race winning the 2.6km race by 7 seconds and finishing in a time of 10mins 23secs. Amy said ‘I came 7^th last year and I am really pleased to win today’. Poppy Jones of Winterfold House used her strength and stamina to secure second place in 10mins 30ecs. The top 6 girls all finished inside 11 minutes with Hanna Lidbetter from Danes Hill showing a good turn of pace in 3^rd place (10.34), well ahead of Storm Sunderland (Winchester House), Amy Dunstan (Beaudesert Park) and Olivia Allin (Millfield Prep School) in 4^th(10.41) 5^th(10.50) and 6^th place (10.52).

Millfield Prep School took the team trophy with 40 points ahead of Danes Hill (62 points) and Winchester House (98 points). Abberley Hall collected their third ‘Small Schools’ Trophy’ of the afternoon benefiting no doubt from training over the hills near the village of Abberley in Worcestershire.

U13 Boys’ Race report (3.2km)

The last race of the afternoon included a tough additional loop taking the U13 boys up to the very top of the Malvern Common. 129 boys completed the 3.2km course within 20 minutes with the top 23 finishing in under 15 minutes indicating good strength and depth. Unsurprisingly the field began to stretch out, especially after the long climb to the top and five boys started to look the favourites for the top places with about half a kilometer to go. The eventual winner Joshua Cara of Spratton Hall finished very strongly, 11 seconds ahead of the rest of the field in a time of 13.40. Charlie Martin (Millfield Prep School) in 2^nd place (13.51) ten seconds ahead of Harry Spawforth (Danes Hill) in third in a time of 14.01. There was a close battle for 4^th (14.04) and 5^th places (14.05) with Will Roud (Dulwich Prep Cranbrook) just finishing ahead of Harry Leleu (Seaford). 6^th place went to Benjamin Horgan from Lambrook.

Millfield Prep School won the team event, with Spratton Hall in second and Parkside School in 3^rd place. Maidwell Hall, winners of the Small Schools Trophy, finished 4^th in the overall competition.

Event Pictures

Click the image to view the slideshow.