CROSS COUNTRY
ESAA CROSS COUNTRY CUP
Pocklington School hosted the ESAA Cross Country Cup for the first time on Monday 7th October .
In each race there were 12 schools from around Humberside competing for three places in the Regional Final which takes place on November the 9th . In total 229 runners took to the course making this a highly competitive tactical cross country fixture . Although it had stopped raining for the races the ground was very soft which created an extra challenge for the runners . The course stretched across the main playing fields and around the Rugby pitches at the far end of the campus . It included a water hazard , gravel path , trees and shrubs to negotiate and two mini climbs !
The Junior Girls started the event off with 66 runners the largest number of competitors in any of the four races . Pocklington School impressed as the team qualified for the regional final in style as champions . A special mention to Niamh Clements and Laura Brooks
for strong runs to finish 1st and 2nd . The Junior Boys also ran well but didn ’ t have the strength in depth to gather quite enough points to qualify . They finished 7th overall .
The Intermediate Girls also qualified for a place in the regional final , coming a close second to a strong set of runners from South Hunsley School . A special mention to Erin Redfern who led the race for the first kilometre and then hung on despite suffering from hip pain . Also to Emma Forsyth for her trademark strong last kilometre , picking off competitors at will !
Finally the Intermediate Boys race included some strong athletes from across the region and the 4.5 km course was starting to soften and cut up after three races , so provided an extra challenge . Pocklington ended fifth despite Lucas Walton running out hard to try and break the competition and strong finishes from Henry Rodmell and Thomas McDowell .
The course was well marshalled by both staff and our team of lower sixth sports leaders took advantage of the event to gain experience as well as help complete their course . The course route had been carefully and meticulously marked out with some fabulous work from our grounds staff . The ESAA secretary for the Humberside region remarked “ Pocklington did a great job staging the event giving the athletes an interesting course , well marked and with plenty of folks around the course to make sure everyone went in the right direction . The recorders and number distributor did a brilliant job and didn ’ t buckle under pressure .”
Students finishing the course said although it was a challenge they had lots of fun - but perhaps not when running through water !
It was great to see so many students competing in the races here at Pocklington in a friendly and competitive atmosphere . All runners were supported around the course and applauded over the finishing line demonstrating the fact that fitness can be simple , easy and most importantly fun .
Mr Robin Crewes i / c Cross Country
74 THE POCKLINGTONIAN