Local Schools’ Cross Country Meet - Saturday 12 March

Ley Hill and Little Kingshill hosted the last in a series of 4 local cross country events at Lowndes Park, Chesham. Conditions were ideal for running: dry and warm. The junior course (Years 3 and 4) was set at 1400m and 1750m for the seniors (5 and 6). This race started with a challenging uphill climb, for all the runners.

Medals were awarded to the top ten finishers and team positions are calculated by adding the scores of the top three runners from each school. Medals are awarded to the first four schools.
Illness played its part in the day, cutting down a very strong squad, by a third, and despite being instructed to stay at home, several children still turned up to run; knowing it was their last chance to compete this season; for the Y6s it was their last run for Gateway, after 3 years of representing the school.
In the Y3 race, Savva N came 20th, Daniel M 23rd and Jack A (49th). In the girls’ race only Penelope L finished (38th) as Josie R, recovering from a cold, had to pull out ill.
In the Year 4 race, William St C-B and George C strongly in finish 4th and 5th place, respectively, with Henry G in 37th. This team received 3rd place medals. Year 4 girls also ran very well with Penny D 13th, Jasmine W 18th and Millie G 21st. They matched the boys, by gaining bronze team medals.
In the year 5 boys’ competition, Oakley D led the race virtually from start to finish, storming up the hill and extending his lead, gradually, to open up a 25m gap. Oliver L showed his progress by snatching 2nd place, in a sprint finish, to record his best run to date. Harry N also ran strongly to gain an individual medal in 9th place and helped secure Gold for Gateway! There were some solid performances in the girls’ race, Jemma T finished 11th with Abigail H in 16th and Lucy A in 19th; this team gained 4th place medals.
In the Year 6 category, Cormac N, recovering from illness, was eager to finish his Gateway career on a high and he certainly didn’t disappoint, powering his way into 2nd place; Brandon N-T also grabbed an individual medal with a superb run in 8th place and Guy J gave another gutsy performance to finish 11th. These boys were rewarded with Silver team medals. The girls also gave their best with Georgia M coming 9th; Jessica C was close on her heels in 11th and Daisy S continues to regain form, coming 14th. This team were awarded Bronze medals.
This heralded the end of another great season for Gateway’s runners and the Year 6 squad can be proud to hand over the ’baton’ to the younger years knowing they haved helped to develop and inspire this ‘Next Generation’ of runners. We hope that more Gateway children will compete for places, within the squad, by staying active and training regularly over the summer months.