Swimming and Cross Country Reports

Local Schools’ Cross Country Meet, Hervines Park, Saturday 21 January

A misty Hervines Park (Amersham) provided the setting for the third local schools’ cross country meet. The weather was mild but the ground was waterlogged and extremely muddy. The organisers had been on the verge of calling the event off, due to the difficult conditions, on some sections of the run, but decided to cut out one of the loops shortening the run to 1200m. This meant that the races were fast and furious with many runners having to go off quickly to gain a good position before entering the wooded section of the course.

Gateway selected 72 runners, with 65 competing on the day, in 4 different age groups. There were 8 separate races, during the morning, with around 80 runners in each race.

As usual, medals were awarded to the top ten finishers in each race. Team positions are calculated by adding the scores of the top three runners from each school, with medals being awarded to the first four schools.

In the first race of the day, Year 3 boys, Thomas St C-B was the first Gateway runner home in 26th with Savva N in 29th and Kie W in 32nd.

In the girls’ race Josie R powered home in 7th with Beth T finishing in 17th position and Olivia P running well to come 19th. This team won 3rd place medals.

In the Year 4 competition, William SC-B and George C performed strongly coming in 6th and 7th with Henry G (27th) helping his team to achieve 4th place medals. Marea L (5th), Penny D (7th) and Amber O (8th) stormed to gold medal position with another beautifully paced team performance.

The Year 5 boys also performed superbly, gaining silver team medals: Oakley D, (2nd), Oliver L, 6th and Harry N 11th.

In the girls’ race, Jemma T grabbed an individual medal, by coming 10th and Amelia O, Harriet K and Zahraa B tussled for 26th, 27th and 28th positions respectively.

In the Year 6 events, Cormac N (2nd) battled it out, again, with his Wycombe Phoenix team mate in another of their now customary 1-2 sprint finishes. Brandon N-T and Alex P finished well in 16th and 17th place to secure silver medals for the team.

With Daisy S unavailable, it was left to the rest of the squad to see who would be first girl back for Gateway. Georgia M has been in fine form recently but when she slipped over in the muddy conditions it proved difficult to haul herself back into contention. It was a great surprise to Jessica C that she finished 9th, gaining a precious individual medal having complained of feeling ill during the warm up! Eva B was 16th and Georgia M recovered to come in 21st. These girls received 4th place medals. Well done to Rebecca PV and Kimberley G who made their debut for the Year 6 team and completed the course ‘comfortably’.

As always thanks go to all the squad for giving up their Saturday morning to represent the school, especially those who chose to run despite not feeling 100% fit. Thanks also to those parents and siblings that came to support and give encouragement to the team! HJ

Forthcoming Cross Country events

February 3rd - U11 team (Y5 and 6) Wycombe Phoenix Event, Hughenden Valley
February 9th - U11 and U9 teams, Bedford, ISA London North Finals
February 26th - U11 and U9 teams, Queenswood School, Hatfield
March 6th - Years 3-6 Local School Meet, Lowdnes Park, Chesham

Please check the school sports calendar and notice board for further details of team selection nearer the event.

ISA National Swimming Championships, 23 January

In the Autumn term, four of the year 5 and 6 girls performed exceptionally well at the regional ISA Gala giving them a place in last Saturday’s finals held at the prestigious Olympic Pool at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.

Lucy (yr 5) and Jessica (yr 6) both took part in the 50m individual breaststroke, held in the morning session. This was the first time in the finals for both of them, a very daunting feeling in such a magnificent venue. Whilst neither reached a medal position they gave it their very best effort and should be proud of their performances. Jessica also took part in the Year 6 medley relay swimming the breaststroke once again, which she performed admirably under difficult circumstances, having lost her goggles when diving in! She did really well to keep up with the rest of the competitors and still equalling the time of the boys Year 6 London North team.

Abigail H (yr 5) and Hannah M (yr 6) arrived for the afternoon session and after a warm up of 15 minutes had to wait anxiously for their races, both freestyle relay, which were among the last races of the day. They too pushed themselves as much as they could, performing good speed in their leg of the race and narrowing the gap already created. Sadly though for the girls themselves, no medal positions on this occasion.

All the children however, should be very proud to have reached this far and of their efforts on the day against some amazing and experienced swimmers especially from the Northern and Midland regions. They all had to get used to the pool being 50m long. It was noticeable that our pupils are not used to swimming this distance in one go without the help of a push off or two from the wall. All were in contention for medals at the 25m mark but could not sustain the impetus needed to maintain a lead.

We all had a most enjoyable day and went home exhausted.

My congratulations to all of you for your effort and participation, and thanks too to the parents for all their support.

Mrs Hughes