ISA Cross Country Regional Championships, Brentwood 9th December 2016
Copthill took a team of 12 runners from Years 5 and 6 to represent the school at the ISA Regional Championships. This year the annual event was staged at Trinity School, Brentwood, Essex, and for the first time was held in December to avoid the frequently soggy and cold conditions experienced in February.
It worked! After very early start and a long journey, we were pleased to arrive at Trinity School, bathed in winter sunshine and not a breath of wind. We walked the 2km course, meandering around their parkland grounds, warming up, and mentally preparing for the competition ahead.
For most of our runners the challenge was to be selected for the Copthill team, and then do their very best in the race. For a few of our team, the challenge was set a little higher; finish in the first ten places and be selected to represent East Anglia in the National ISA Finals. To add to the excitement ten chairs were put in a row by the finish line (very X Factor!) ....could we claim one for Copthill..?
At 11.45 the girls; Halle, India, Ivy, Lily, Lucy and Maddy were primed on the start line with 70 other runners. Less than ten minutes later they were flying towards the finish, urged on by Mrs Westwood and myself. First in, India North stormed across the line in a magnificent 9th place to claim a chair! India was closely followed by Halle and Lily, then Ivy, Maddy and Lucy. The exhausted bodies strewn around the finish area was testament to to the maximum effort they had put in. At the time of writing we haven't been given the team result, but I am expecting a good place for the girls - Well Done!
We were just in time to get the girls results over to the boys, waiting on the start line. The perfect encouragement for Charlie, Felix, Oliver, Owen, Raife and Reuben. Again, a very competitive start with 80 boys streaming across the playing fields heading out to the parkland. First back into view was Owen James, hanging on to 10th spot with a three or four runners close on his tail. He gave everything in those final hundred metres, but two very fast finishers edged past him, leaving an understandably disappointed Owen, but still in a very creditable 12th place. Behind Owen came Charlie and Reuben, chasing each other home, with Felix just behind, then Oliver and Raife; all in the top half of the field. Again; tired bodies, tears and smiles...they had all achieved the challenge we set... leave everything out on the course. Well Done! - I look forward to seeing the boys team result.
We came to race, but the day was more than that. We enjoyed a sunny picnic lunch beside a pond, watched the Seniors races, and then sang endless Christmas songs all the way home. Lucky us...
A big thank you to Mrs Westwood, Mr Colman and Mr and Mrs James for their help and support.
Well done to all the runners, but particular congratulations to India who follows a line of illustrious Copthill runners to make the National Finals (and significantly India is the first Year 5 to achieve that feat!) Special mention to Halle who stunned us all with her excellent performance; second in for Copthill and 28th overall. Congratulations to Owen, despite just missing his target we are very proud of his fantastic achievement. Special mention to Charlie, Reuben and Felix who flew in 23, 24 and 28th respectively. If we all stay fit I've got a very good feeling about next year!!
Nick T
It worked! After very early start and a long journey, we were pleased to arrive at Trinity School, bathed in winter sunshine and not a breath of wind. We walked the 2km course, meandering around their parkland grounds, warming up, and mentally preparing for the competition ahead.
For most of our runners the challenge was to be selected for the Copthill team, and then do their very best in the race. For a few of our team, the challenge was set a little higher; finish in the first ten places and be selected to represent East Anglia in the National ISA Finals. To add to the excitement ten chairs were put in a row by the finish line (very X Factor!) ....could we claim one for Copthill..?
At 11.45 the girls; Halle, India, Ivy, Lily, Lucy and Maddy were primed on the start line with 70 other runners. Less than ten minutes later they were flying towards the finish, urged on by Mrs Westwood and myself. First in, India North stormed across the line in a magnificent 9th place to claim a chair! India was closely followed by Halle and Lily, then Ivy, Maddy and Lucy. The exhausted bodies strewn around the finish area was testament to to the maximum effort they had put in. At the time of writing we haven't been given the team result, but I am expecting a good place for the girls - Well Done!
We were just in time to get the girls results over to the boys, waiting on the start line. The perfect encouragement for Charlie, Felix, Oliver, Owen, Raife and Reuben. Again, a very competitive start with 80 boys streaming across the playing fields heading out to the parkland. First back into view was Owen James, hanging on to 10th spot with a three or four runners close on his tail. He gave everything in those final hundred metres, but two very fast finishers edged past him, leaving an understandably disappointed Owen, but still in a very creditable 12th place. Behind Owen came Charlie and Reuben, chasing each other home, with Felix just behind, then Oliver and Raife; all in the top half of the field. Again; tired bodies, tears and smiles...they had all achieved the challenge we set... leave everything out on the course. Well Done! - I look forward to seeing the boys team result.
We came to race, but the day was more than that. We enjoyed a sunny picnic lunch beside a pond, watched the Seniors races, and then sang endless Christmas songs all the way home. Lucky us...
A big thank you to Mrs Westwood, Mr Colman and Mr and Mrs James for their help and support.
Well done to all the runners, but particular congratulations to India who follows a line of illustrious Copthill runners to make the National Finals (and significantly India is the first Year 5 to achieve that feat!) Special mention to Halle who stunned us all with her excellent performance; second in for Copthill and 28th overall. Congratulations to Owen, despite just missing his target we are very proud of his fantastic achievement. Special mention to Charlie, Reuben and Felix who flew in 23, 24 and 28th respectively. If we all stay fit I've got a very good feeling about next year!!
Nick T
walking the course
Getting the "Publicity Shot" out of the way
Underway
India storming to the front
The Ten Chair challenge!
Made it!
Owen tracking his way to the front of the field
Picnic lunch
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