12 Jun 2008 - Cross-Country Team Hanham Series Victories
Nail-biting final race in Hanham Cross-Country Series
The Christ Church Cross-country Team kept hearts pounding today, when they took part in the final leg of the Hanham Primary School's Cross-country Series.
Points were finely balanced as the athletes lined up for the two races. First the girls had to dig deep under intense pressure and a punishing hilly course. Vicky, despite tired legs, dug deep and held off a challenger at the tail end of the pack and Abi and Faye showed true pluck as they crossed the line. At the front of the pack it was a close run thing, but would Chloe's 7th be enough to keep her in the top three series finishers?
The boys race was brutal! Year 6 athletes from neighbouring schools took on our plucky Year 5 team. 400m in and it seemed all over for Christ Church, as Callum and William slipped down the pack against larger opponents. But Hanham had misjudged Christ Church resolve! With 100m to go William gritted his teeth and pushed forward, surprising the leaders and sprinting for the line. Callum took note and called upon his reserves to scramble for the finish, at one point being pulled back by another runner - it was 1st and 3rd for Christ Church!
And so our athletes waited as the final series points were tallied up. Once Mr Botten had got the computer working, results showed the Girls Team had finished a respectable 5th and the Boys an impressive 2nd! As for the individual Hanham honours... Chloe had done enough and was awarded 3rd. But what of William? The judges scatched their heads as he was tied at the top with a Beacon Rise runner. In the end it came down to highest placings and William's 1st at the Longwell Green leg had tipped him into 1st place.
So once again a Christ Church student was crowned fastest in Hanham, and, with youth on Christ Church's side - next year surely promises more honours!
A huge well done to the whole team - your determination, grit and sense of fair play set the example for other's to follow!