7 February 2019

On a bitterly cold January afternoon a large squad of Abingdon runners made the short trip to Radley to compete in the County Championships to try and earn the title of County Champions and a place in the Oxfordshire team that will compete at the National Cross-Country Championship in Leeds on 16 March. 

The Juniors took to the course first and set the standard with a total of 5 boys securing a place in the 8 man Oxfordshire team. Johnny James and Will d'Arcy obliterated the field and crossed the line together in equal first. Special mention must also go to Alexander Darbishire who finished in 7th place despite still only being in the Second Year. His sights must surely be on the individual win next year. 

Johnny James – 1st – Q
Will d'Arcy – 1st – Q
Henry Channon – 4th – Q
Alexander Darbishire – 7th – Q
Louis Trotter – 8th – Q
Ben MacLennan – 13th
Thomas Mennie – 23rd
Matthew Rolfe – 52nd
Fergus Chettleburgh – 76th

The intermediate runners followed suit with Rory Mitchell and Rowan Miell-Ingram securing automatic places, and Kipp Mainstone taking a reserve placing. 

Rory Mitchell – 4th – Q
Rowan Miell-Ingram – 6th – Q
Kipp Mainstone – 12th – Res
Luis Vasconcelos – 19th
Thomas Rolfe – 20th
Alex Oldham – 26th
Cameron Butcher – 39th
Dashiell Hathaway – 60th 

The seniors raced last, in a strong field of individual runners. David Bunn and Alexander Pennington, now seasoned athletes at the English Schools Final, finished in 3rd and 5th respectively, earning them the right to pull on the Oxfordshire vest once more. Matthew Kunov, James Coode and Oliver Elly also ran well and will all act as reserve runners for the event. 

David Bunn – 3rd – Q
Alex Pennington – 5th – Q
Matthew Kunov – 8th – Res
James Coode – 9th – Res
Oliver Elly – 11th – Res
Tom Batchelor – 12th
James Ashby – 16th

Overall Abingdon took a clean sweep in the team standings and were crowned County Champions in all three age groups. Well done to all those that took part and contributed to such an amazing team score. 

Senior Boys

1st: Abingdon (25 pts)
2nd: Magdalen College School (50 pts)
3rd: Radley College (84 pts)
4th: Europa School (110 pts)

Intermediate Boys

1st: Abingdon (41 pts)
2nd: Blessed George Napier (71 pts)
3rd: Lord Williams's (113 pts)
4th: Marlborough (127 pts)

Junior Boys

1st: Abingdon (17 pts)
2nd: Magdalen College School (48 pts)
3rd: Radley College (82 pts)
4th: Blessed George Napier (96 pts)

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