Saturday 12th January 2019 at Prospect Park, Reading

The Isle of Wight Athletic Club competitors travelled to Reading to race in round 4 of the League.

Mabel Lewis crossed the gap to the U15 girls’ leader after 1km and stayed with the fast pace, crossing the line 6th in a strong field. Naomi Holdsworth (23rd) and Jessica Heng (31st) ensured the IWAC team finished 3rd in the match, ahead of big mainland clubs.

In the U13 category both Maisey Kent (12th) and Joseph Roberts (9th) had great runs with Maisey picking up two places in the sprint finish.

Dylan Holdsworth was 19th for IWAC in the longer U17 boys’ race & U15 Boys Noah Patey (34th), Jacob Patey (38th) and Jay Spooner (44th) all completed the tough open course. U13 Boys Finley Lax (46th) and Jackson Hill (57th) improved their league standings. Phoebe Heng did well (31st) in one of her first U11 Girls races.

Thanks to Wightlink for Isle of Wight Athletic Club kit sponsorship.

The Championships had nearly 900 runners across different age groups. The course this year took in very large grass field, twisting woodland trails and a rough old campsite – all in the grounds of Fairthorne Manor, Botley. IWAC were really proud of four top 10 finishers including 2019 U17 Champion Henry McLuckie.

The event started with Under 11’s and for the Isle of Wight Athletic Club (IWAC) Archie Pearson was near the front for the whole 2km race to claim a really great 5^th overall. Under 15’s saw some close racing through the woodland sections of the 4.1km route, Campbell Laird staying with the two leaders until the final 400m, but he had done enough for the bronze medal. In the girls race on the same course a strong chasing pack couldn’t catch the two breakaway leaders, but Mabel Lewis worked hard to stay in this group and finished 9^th. In the Under 17 Men’s race Henry McLuckie, current English Schools Champion, left the other athletes in his wake (including the U20’s who started at the same time). The winning margin was the largest of the day and it was a great marker for races later in the season. In the Senior Men’s race Sam Metcalf was really strong for 15^th in a field of over 180, and in the same race Steve Haggerty just missed a medal finishing 4^th in his age category (74^th overall).

IWAC had some other great results on Saturday, notably U17’s Millie Bacon (11^th) & Niall Powell (14^th), U13 Maisey Kent (13^th) & U15 Naomi Holdsworth (19^th).

Other IWAC finishers include:

U11G: Freya Taylor (25^th) Maisey Gibson (27), Evie Longson (30), Amelia Groves (33), Savannah Smith (44), Abigail Fancourt (48).

U11B James Heng (26^th), Finn McMahon (29), Oliver Flood (66), Bertie Adkins (72), Harrison Lane (93) and Stanley Rumsey (100)

U13G Lily Barclay (28^th), Evie Taylor (47), Mia Stillwell (53), Charlotte Fancourt (59) & Bella Matthias (69)

U13B Joseph Roberts (24^th), Arthur Atrill (32), Finley Lax (52) & Jackson Hill (68)

U15 Jessica Heng (28^th), Noah Patey (40), Jacob Patey (42), Jay Spooner (50)

U17 Dylan Holdsworth (24^th)

At Horspath Park, Oxford, 3 young island athletes represented Hampshire at the South of England Inter Counties Cross Championships. Competing against the leading athletes from 18 counties all 3 produced great performances, in windy conditions on a tough course.
First up in the under 13’s girls race was Robyn Fossa. Robyn went the leading pack from the gun and by the halfway point of the race a small group of athletes had built up a sizeable lead. In an exciting finish Robyn sprinted hard and claimed an excellent 2nd place.
Next up in the under 15’s girls race was Mabel Lewis. This was Mabel’s first race at this level and after a difficult start to the race, where she found herself boxed in, near the back of 130 strong field,  she produced a strong run. Working her way systematically through the field Mabel finished 7th Hampshire girl home, 53rd overall.
Campbell Laird was next to race in the under 15’s boys race. This Campbell’s first full season as an athlete and he showed his potential as he produced a fine run in the difficult conditions. He went with the leading pack from the gun. Gaps in the leading group started to form in the technical part of the course in the forest and passing difficult Campbell found himself on the wrong side of the break. He continued to race hard as knew that every place counted in the team event. He finished strongly to finish the 4th Hampshire athlete home and ensure that Hampshire claimed the bronze medal in the team event.

Hampshire League Cross Country – Popham 01/12/18

The third match gave Ryde Harriers and the Isle of Wight Athletic Club (IWAC) a chance to again compete against some of the region’s best athletes.

Maisey Kent (U13) had a brilliant run to finish 13th in the first race of the day, Campbell Laird followed up with 7th in the U15 event. For the Senior races Steve Haggerty (120th) and Justine Bacon (92nd) were the first Islanders home in their events – flying the flag for IWAC.

Ryde Harriers only had a small turn out, in the senior men’s race Ken Beak finished in 208th. In the senior women’s races Natalie Rose finished in 131st.

The second match in the series saw IOW runners from the Isle of Wight Athletic Club (IWAC) compete amongst 1,000 entrants from across the region. The course was across fields and through woodland with short sharp hills and a stream crossing – the torrential rain turned this into quite a challenge.

For IWAC Freya Taylor (11^th) had another really great race, with teammate Abigail Fancourt 47^th and for the boys James Heng (20^th) ran well.

Next up were the U13 girls and IWAC had a complete team with Maisey Kent (31^st) , Lily Barclay (45^th), Evie Taylor (54^th) and Charlotte Fancourt (74^th). For the Boys Finlay Lax (56^th), Fionn Buggy (78^th) and Jackson Hill (81^st) were the IWAC team.

Mabel Lewis ran a fast and even pace to finish 9^th in the U15 Girls event, with Naomi Holdsworth (31^st), Jessica Heng (48^th) and Eden Canning(63^rd) completing the team. Campbell Laird went one better than in match 1 by finishing 3^rd – the result of the day – brothers Jacob and Noah Patey came 45^th and 46^th, with Jay Spooner 61^st.

For the U17’s Dylan Holdsworth and Niall Powell finished 2 seconds apart in 27^th and 28^th – Milly Bacon was 25^th in the Girls event.

The Senior Ladies had the worst of the conditions; Katie Lewis (IWAC) 36^th Vet35 (149^th overall). Steve Haggerty (IWAC) continues to improve and was the first Island Senior Man home (31^st Vet 40 & 140^th Overall). A great day with a lot of mud and rain!