Young athletes from Herne Hill Harriers represented their county schools teams in the huge English Schools Cross Country Championship held in Ilton, Somerset on 17th March. Competing for their county team can be a life-changing experience for children. For some, it is a stepping stone to future glory. For many, it will be the pinnacle of achievement. For 18 year old Katie Snowden it was all about building her endurance leading up to the faster racing to be done over much shorter distances on the track this summer.
Katie was the highest placed of the HHH youngsters on parade, placing a fine 26th in a very strong field of 307 Senior Girls finishers in what was her last English Schools cross country race. The very narrow nature of the course made it difficult for the HHH athletes. Both Breagha Campbell, 38th in the Junior Girls race and Paul Burgess, 94th Junior Boy, will have hoped for higher positions, but were affected by the course.
Other HHH club members who did superbly well to make their county teams and acquitted themselves very well in such large fields were Kate Brown, 106th and Skye O’Shaughnessy 117th Junior Girls and also Lascelles Hussey 148th, Amin Jisow 232nd and Idris Ali 244th, all in the Intermediate Boys race.
Geoff Jerwood.