Girls Cross Country Report February 2009


March 7, 2009

It has been an excellent season for the girls cross county this year. The under 13 girls have won 3 team medals this season – bronze for the Cross Country Relays, Gold at Preston Park Phoenix Run and Silver in the League Competition. It has been fabulous to see so many girls out representing the club at cross country – and all appearing to be enjoying the experience! Well done to all our runners. Our thanks to our John, Peter, Sam and Toni for their enthusiastic coaching.

Cross Country Championships at Stanmer Park – 3rd January

The cross country championships saw a fantastic run by our under 13s. At the finish line there was a constant stream of red vests as our 6 girls all finished together separated by just 24 seconds!

16th Holly Turner, 17th Laura Smith, 18th Ella Faulkner, 19th Ella Spurgeon, 20th Beth Faulkner and 21st Esther Lutz Davies. An amazing achievement out of a field of 43 runners, with all girls finishing in the top half of the race.

Due to injury and illness there were no under 15s, while in the under 17s Emma Palmer ran an excellent race to finish 11th in her first run for the club.

Cross Country League Race 3 at Bexhill – 10th January

Despite freezing conditions seven girls took part in the under 13s race, which was the last league race this season for this age group. An excellent run by all the girls

Under 13s results 11th Laura Smith, 14th Ella Spurgeon, 15th Holly Turner, 16th Ella Faulkner, 23rd Beth Faulkner, 24th Steffi Parskevas, 27th Esther Lutz Davies

The overall team positions in the league were 2nd for Brighton A team and 6th for Brighton B team. Holly Turner, Laura Smith and Ella Spurgeon have been the top scorers in all the races and were presented with their silver medals, all looking noticeably very smart in their bright red club hoodies.

In the under 15s Rachel Titheradge was 17th and Ellie Woolcott 19th

In the under 17s Emma Palmer was 12th

Brighton Schools Race at Waterhall – 14th January

Brighton and Hove Athletic Club was well represented in the Brighton and Hove Schools Race with our girls featuring in the top positions (two firsts, two seconds and a third)

Year 7 race 1st Ella Faulkner, 3rd Steffi Paraskevas, 4th Beth Faulkner and 6th Ester Lutz Davies

Year 8 and 9 race 1st Holly Turner, 2nd Ella Spurgeon

Year 10 and 11 race 2nd Rachel Titheradge

While in the Burgess Hill Area race Laura Smith came 1st in the Year 7 race.

Sussex Schools Race at Stanmer Park 31st January

Juniors (Year 8 and 9) 15th Ella Spurgeon and 19th Holly Turner

Intermediates (Year 10 and 11) 16th Rachel Titheradge and 24th Emma Palmer

Seniors (Year 12 and 13) 4th Grace Geillinger, 7th Nicola Silsby and 9th Laura Lambourne.

The girls in the top 20 were all selected to run for Sussex Schools in an inter counties matches which regrettably had to be cancelled due to the snow.

South of England Championships at Hillingdon – 24th January

Three girls travelled to Hillingdon to compete in the South of England Championship. In the most appalling muddy conditions they all had a great run and from field of about 220 finishers Laura Smith came 108th and Ester Lutz Davies 113th in under 13s and Rachel Titheradge 175th in under 15s.

National Championships at Parliament Hill 21st February

Three girls represented the club at the Nationals in fantastic sunny conditions

In under 13s from a field of 350 Esther Lutz Davies 240th and Laura Smith 262nd

In under 15s Rachel Titheradge 265th

League Race 4 at Lancing 28th February

Due a clash with Year 7 and 8 Schools inter counties match most of the girls were in Bexley and just 3 girls competed in this race.

In the under 13s Laura Smith came in 1st and in the under 15s Rachel Titheradge 16th and Ellie Woolcott 18th.

Well done girls for a fantastic season, we look forward to seeing you all running cross country again next year.

Ann Titheradge and Judith Woolcott

Girls Team Managers