26 January 2012
Abingdon Prep travelled to The Oratory Prep with both an Under 11 and Under 13 squad consisting of five runners per team. We arrived with plenty of time to spare and took the opportunity to walk the course.
Shortly followed by a gentle jog around the 'undulating' Oratory Prep. course. A team warm-up consisting of extended sprints to open up the lungs and kick start their aerobic systems and Abingdon Prep were ready and raring to participate in their respective races.
The U11 boys line up first for a 2km race which consisted of 2 laps of the course.
The race started at a fast pace, but all of the Abingdon team members held good positions towards the front of the race from the 'gun'. Henry Insley and Joseph Richardson were both in the leading group on the first lap while Ben Armstrong, James Moore and Luke Maslen worked their way through the pack and 'picked off' runners as the race progressed.
On the second lap the leading group were more spread. Henry Insley finally finished 2nd only twenty metres behind the eventual winner, while Ben Armstrong made up numerous positions on the final lap to finish 4th. He was closely followed by Joseph Richardson in 5th. James Moore (14th) and Luke Maslen (28th) both picked valuable team points with their determined performances.
The Under 13 boy's race was over 2.6km (3 laps). Again the race started at a phenomenally fast pace, but the Abingdon runners avoided any potential clashes by grouping themselves at the front. John Corran maintained a consistent pace at the front of the group with Tom Craig and Toby Collins close behind. On the final lap Tom Craig found a second wind and worked his way into 2nd place, but fell with only 0.5km to go until the finish. A resurgent John Corran found a sprint at the end to finish just outside the medals in 4th followed by Tom Craig in 5th. Toby Collins passed all expectations with a determined run to finish 8th. Both Archie McChesney 16th and Joseph Delafield 17th worked together to 'pick' their way through a very competitive field and their performances were crucial towards the overall team result.
Both teams swept all before them to secure their respective team competitions by a 'distance'. This was the most comprehensive Cross Country team performance that I have experienced in my teaching career! The support, effort and determination shown at the Oratory Prep Cross Country Championships made us all proud to be part of the Abingdon Preparatory School! Well done indeed to of those boy's involved.
