Sport Results Cross Country
Ashdown hosted the inaugural Grim Challenge – a cross country event crossed with an obstacle course. The event saw a team of three runners having to negotiate monkey-bars, carry a car tyre, scamper off a wooden wall and leopard crawl under cargo-nets. Another twist to the race was that each team consisted of three participants and the team could only finish the race when all three of the runners crossed the line – they had to hold on to a piece of rope and run holding it together. The last obstacle, the cargo-net, was particularly challenging (and entertaining for the spectators) as the ground was very muddy.
The 3s’ event was a 1000m course and we came third (Will, Dom and Cameron), fourth (Oli, Ed and Luke) and fifth (Alexandra, Grace and Ellie). The second race of the day was the 2s (1500m) – we were more competitive in this event and came second, fourth (Lily St John, Lily Innes and Katie) and fifth (Nikko, William Payne and William Womersley). Ivo, Jeehoon and Gus were part of that “winning” team and must be complimented on their positive attitude and enthusiasm. The final race was a 2000m race run by the 1s. Ollie Line led the pack for most of the race but his team (Ollie, Simon and Oscar) were passed on the finishing straight by Hilden Grange. The remaining Ashdown teams came fourth (Leah, Lara and Nurshat) and fifth (Rory, Archie and James). Congratulations on a great event and for all trying as hard as you did! RS
We took a team of 21 runners to the annual Great Walstead cross country meeting. Before the races began the runners were walked around their respective courses for the U9, U11 and U13 events. With Ardingly, Brambletye, Brighton College, Windlesham House, the hosts and ourselves in attendance, the races were expected to be keenly contested. The first race was for the Under 9 girls. Ashdown did very well, with Scarlett Fox running superbly to come second. Hatty Innes and Emily Bland both ran particularly well to come 15th and 16th respectively in a field of about 30 runners. In the Under 9 boys’ race, Marcus Prest continued his good form with an excellent third place. Freddy Floyd, Morten Tilley and Charles Harrison all ran well, being placed in the twenties. In the Under 11 boys’ race, Will Brockman flew home in second place after a superb run. Aaron di Comberti-Black and Charlie Naylor both put in gutsy performances in a quality field. In the Under 11 girls’ race, Helena St John was our top finisher in 19th place after a solid run. Grace Chattey, Alexandra Mathison and Georgie O’Brien all put in creditable performances. In the Under 13 girls’ event, Nurshat Izbassar, Lara Murray and Victoria Watson all ran well in a high quality race, although none were placed highly. Similarly, in the Under 13 boys’ race, Ollie Line, Rory Craig, Oscar Lindsay and William Douglas came up against some very good runners. Ollie put in a terrific run to come 10th. This was a very well organised event and our three medal-winners did Ashdown proud. MH
Bracken Cup Meeting at Yardley Court
On Thursday we took a squad of 16 runners to the annual Bracken Cup cross country meeting at Yardley Court School in Tonbridge. Heavy rain had forced the cancellation of this event for the past two years, so it was good for the organisers to be able to go ahead this time. There were U9, U11 and U13 races with the first six finishers for each school counting towards their team score. The U9s ran first and two excellent runners (from Dulwich Prep and Vinehall) were clear of the field when they emerged over the brow of the hill and raced towards the finish line after about nine minutes of running around the very picturesque course in Somerhill park. There was a brief pause while the crowd waited for the third runner to come into view and … lo and behold… there was Marcus Prest from Ashdown going like the clappers! He had a chasing pack with Yardley Court boys in fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth, but Marcus was in no mood to surrender the bronze medal and powered over the finish line in a superb performance. He came third out of 62 runners. Dominic Yorke was 26th and Freddy Floyd 50th. Hugh Innes slipped and took a tumble, but despite a cut to his leg, he showed great determination in completing the course.
The U11s had a slightly longer course and the Ashdown runners once again put in some fine performances in a field of 90 runners. Will Brockman ran superbly to come 4th, Edward Garner also showed fine form with his 16th place and Luke Berry looked to be running with excellent rhythm as he came home in 36th place. Charlie Naylor, James Bradley and Georgie O’Brien were further back in the field, but all gave maximum effort.
Our U13 runners (Ollie Line, William Payne, Ivo Kleinwort, Leah Mellor, Lily St John and Nurshat Izbassar) all put in plenty of effort. Ollie was our best finisher in 48th place, which was a solid effort in a strong field.
Yardley Court won the U9s and U11s and came second in the U13s and their overall performance earned them the Bracken Cup.
While not denying we could certainly do more cross country at school, we gave a very good account of ourselves at this popular and well-contested event. Two top-four individual finishes here was outstanding. MH
