2014/15 Cross Country Season Review
Thames Valley Harriers have continued to develop a strong group of cross country runners across all ages – the 2014/15 season has seen with many outstanding team and individual performances.
Manuel Da Silva reports:
TVH’s young athletes continued their success from previous years. The stand out team was the U15 girls who dominated their age group by winning the North West London league, Metropolitan league and Middlesex Championships. The U15 girls also claimed bronze medals at the South of England cross country relays and finished 8th at the National cross country relays in October. The Weir twins won their fair share of races but were well backed up throughout the season by many of their U15 team mates to help achieve many team honours. Elsewhere, Charlotte Buckley was another highlight as an U13 girl, Charlotte was a runaway winner in her cross country races at the beginning and at the end of the season, with a slight a blip in between due to illness. In their last year as U17s, Izzy Dye and Eve Goodhard had some promising races as they look for a successful transition to the senior ranks. TVH boys had a fantastic breakthrough year with U15 Lucillo Burrell claiming silver medals in the London Youth Games and Middlesex Championships. Lucillo was narrowly beaten into 3rd place in the London Schools Championship by TVH team mate Karim Mahiddine who had a great run to place 2nd. The 2014/15 season introduced U11’s to the Metropolitan league, with TVH’s Basil Rock and Kate Price both showing a lot of promise with their performances. Kate also helped the U11’s claim the 1st team in the final North West London league match.
Boasting the deepest and most talented squad in recent years, TVH’s women’s cross country team turned heads in 2014/15, exceeding expectations and achieving new heights. TVH’s ladies had one of their most successful seasons in history and have developed into one of the best teams in the South of England and have become a competitive force in the UK. Captained by Siana Jones, the women comfortably maintained their place in the Metropolitan Division 1, but it was in the championship races that the TVH women’s teams excelled. They kept hold of their South of England Cross Country Relays and Middlesex Championship titles, placed 3rd in the South of England Championships and finished 8th team in the English National Championship. It was great to see so many new faces including Kirsty Addy (member of our winning relay team) and Lucy Smith (bronze medallist at the South of England Cross Country championships). Victoria Carter, who was part of the senior women’s South of England bronze medal team, had individual success in the Civil Service Championship and led her team (Diana Kennedy and Kate Nunn) home to win the Middlesex Masters Championship. There were also many other great individual performances including Lisa da Silva’s bronze medal at the Middlesex Championship, Tracy Barlow’s 15th place in the Southern Championships, and Tracy and Lisa’s top three finish in the Wormwood Scrubs Met League. It was also fantastic to see Fiona Thompson return from injury towards the end of the season with a superb 6th place in the Scottish National Championship that led her to represent Scotland in the Home Counties International, where she had her best run of the season to finish 16th against some top class international athletes. There are too many names to mention, but regular outings from club stalwarts Joanna Mobed, Marie Gorman and Siana Jones ensured the teams were always complete and the titles won.
The Men had a mixed season as they just missed out on returning to Division 1 in the Metropolitan League. TVH’s men also excelled at the Championship races with a team bronze at the Liddiard Trophy, winning the U20’s Middlesex Championship and TVH representatives (Chris Smith and Mo Aadan) forming part of the Middlesex team senior men’s team that won bronze medals at the Inter-counties. There were excellent individual performances throughout the season including: Chris Smith (3rd in the London Championship, 18th in the National), Mo Aadan (Middlesex Champion, 6th in the Southern Championship, 16th in the National and first place in the home Metropolitan League fixture) and Toby Clyde (Middlesex U20 men’s Champion, London U20 men’s Champion and team bronze medallist at the English Schools and intercounties).
There has been a great turn out from athletes in all age groups throughout the winter. Thanks to the all the athletes, team managers and supporters, especially: Phil Wetton, Roy Clarridge, Simon Maddison, Siana Jones and Barrie Saunders. Following this incredibly successful cross country season the track, fell and road seasons are looking very bright.
2014/2015 TVH Cross Country Team and Individual Honours
Civil Service Championship 15th October 2014
Senior Women: Victoria Carter 1st
South of England Relay Championship 18th October 2014
U15 Girls Team 3rd
Senior Women Team 1st
Liddiard Trophy 25th October 2014
Senior Men Team 3rd
London Championship/London Youth Games 15th November 2014
U13 Girl: Charlotte Buckley 1st
U15 Boy: Lucillo Burrell 2nd
U20 Men: Toby Clyde 1st
Senior Men: Chris Smith 3rd
Southern Inter Counties 13th December 2014
U13 Girl: Charlotte Buckley 1st
Middlesex County Championship 4th January 2015
U13 Girls Team 3rd
U15 Girls Team 1st
U15 Girl: India Weir 1st
U15 Girl: Kosana Weir 2nd
U15 Girl: Verity Walker 3rd
U15 Boys Team 3rd
U15 Boy: Lucillo Burrell 2nd
Senior Women Team 1st
Senior Women: Lisa da Silva 3rd
U20 Men Team 1st
U20 Men: Toby Clyde 1st
Senior Men: Mohamud Aaden 1st
Leicester Country Championship 4th January 2015
Senior Women: Lucy Smith 3nd
South of England Cross Country Championship 25th January 2015
Senior Women Team 3rd
London Schools Championship 28th January 2015
Inter Girl: India Weir 2nd
Inter Boy: Karim Mahiddine 2nd
Inter Boy: Lucillo Burrell 3rd
Senior Girl: Izzy Dye 2nd
Middlesex Masters Championship 1st March
W35 Team 1st
W35: Victoria Carter 2nd
M40 Team 3rd
North West London League
U15 Girls Team 1st
Metropolitan League
U13 Girls Team 3rd
U15/U17 Girls Team 1st
U17 Men Team 3rd
Howard Williams Trophy (Juniors) 2nd
Senior Women: Tracy Barlow 5th prize overall
TVH Met League Cup (Senior Men): Toby Clyde