English Schools Cross Country Championships

Eight of Woodford's young athletes represented the Essex Schools' team at Saturday’s English Schools Championships at Walton upon Trent in Derbyshire over yet another of this winter's wet and muddy courses. Jessica Burgess probably had the result of the day with her 15th place in the Inter Girls race; she did not get a good start, being several places back in the narrow starting pen but she gradually worked her way through the field as the race progressed. She was followed not far behind by Amelia Barrett who finshed a fine 36^th (having finished 36th at the Inter-Counties the week before) and both girls were rewarded with a gold team medal as the Essex team closed with 6 in 36 and a total score that was 154 points ahead of second placed Surrey. There were also good performances from Isabella Hoy (29^th), Jodi Ratcliff (73^rd) and Rose Poole (75^th) in the Junior Girls where their Essex team picked up the Stedman Trophy for the team with highest 8th counter (not including the first team); some compensation for the team finishing in 4th and just outside the team medals. 

Perry Rowan made light of the conditions and placed well for 29^th in the Inter Boys' race whilst James Stockings crossed the line in 64^th, fading somewhat after holding a top twenty place in the first half of the Senior Boys' race. Canaan Solomon's bid for medals unfortunately ground to a halt during the last lap of his Junior Boys's event as he had to stop with stomach cramp and feeling as though he had run out of steam. 

Results