Cross Country Report for the Academic Year 2008-9

Cross Country continued to gain favour with pupils last academic year. The Steepo race is the biggest sporting event on the calendar and the race was blessed with perfect weather conditions. The start of the season was marked in style as the majority of pupils, plus a significant number of staff members, took part. Winners from each age group were as follows:

The Cross Country Club also had an excellent season. Following our fine performance, in finishing 10th in the prestigious Knole Run, we attended the Sussex Schools' Championships, which resulted in eleven of our runners gaining selection for Sussex.

At the Ardingly Relays our boys' team finished a close second to Harrow – our best placing for many years – winning the South Saxon Shield; while our girls ran strongly to be placed third. Our teams also competed in the races at Coulsdon organised by South London Harriers. The Intermediate Boys came second in the team event, with Will Durkin passing Alan Taffinder on the line, to claim second and third places respectively.
Our Senior Boys won their race, with all four runners finishing in the top ten. Sam Wade was the runaway winner, adding to his list of wins during the season.

At the end of the season, we had two runners – Beth Kidger and Sam Wade – representing Sussex at the England Schools Championships in Leicestershire. Each race attracts nearly 400 runners from over 40 counties. In the Intermediate Girls' race, Beth was the fourth Sussex girl home, in 77th place, and her team were placed 6th. Sam ran for the Senior Boys and came 70th in a Sussex team that finished 4th: fine performances from them both.

Thanks must go to all our regular runners for their support, and in particular Tom Parker, Alan Taffinder, Angus Wilson, Will Durkin, Ben Thatcher, Tess Russell, Jennie Sloane, Beth and Megan Kidger and Rachael Bartlett.

		William Durkin (Year 10) was selected to run for Sussex in the National Inter Counties Cross Country Championships in Birmingham on 13th March and he also represented Sussex Schools at the English Schools National Cross Country Championships in Manchester on Saturday 20th March where he came 17th out of 300. Sam Wade (U6) , Beth Kidger and Megan Kidger (5thf) are through to the National Clubs Championships in Birmingham on the 26th and 27th March and the Kidger twins are also through to National Schools Championships in Manchester on 19th and 20th March. Schools in Manchester  19/20th March Clubs in Birmingham  26/27th March