Thanet Athletics Club

The third and final Thanet Primary Schools Cross-Country League meeting of the 2009/10 school year took place at Hartsdown Leisure Centre on Saturday.  Numbers were slightly lower than expected, because of other events on the day and the weather conditions, with the cold winds and at times driving rain more like November than mid-June.

The Year 3 Girls were first away, and the race quickly developed a familiar pattern.  The first three were the same three that had dominated both races previously and Maisie Macartney of Minster always looked comfortable as she led the field around the 1k course to win in 4 mins 5 secs ahead of Beth Williams of Dame Janet and Mia Hillyard of Palm Bay.

The same three girls took the championship trophies in the same order, with Maisie winning by one point.

The Year 3 Boys was a much more open contest, with several boys in contention at the start and the St Nicholas-at-Wade pair Henry Mileham and Cameron Macrae taking an early but not unexpected lead.  Billy Miles of Wellesley House was also in the mix, but as the race unfolded it was Jack Seery of Preston who came through to win in a very fast time of 3:44.

Henry Mileham’s third place on the day was enough for the championship trophy ahead of Billy Miles and Cameron Macrae.

It would have been a major upset if anybody other than Laura Parrish or Katie Burton of Upton had won the Year 4 Girls, but the race went to plan as the two outstanding Upton athletes led from start to finish with Laura winning in 3:53 and completing a hat-trick of victories this year ahead of Katie in second.  Drapers Mills twins Summer and Chelsea Whiting showed a massive improvement from last time to finish third and fourth respectively ahead of a strong and experienced trio from St Nicholas-at-Wade.

The result saw Laura Parrish crowned Year 4 Girls Champion ahead of Katie Burton.  Leah Henniker pipped St Nicholas-at-Wade team-mate Cara Payne for third.

Alex Kavanagh of Dame Janet was quietly confident as he lined up for the Year 4 Boys race after winning at Newington and Palm Bay earlier this season.  Harry Lutz of St Saviour’s also fancied his chances and the two boys set off in the lead.  As the race settled down it looked like those two plus one from Henry Swandale of Preston and Joseph Griffiths of St Lawrence College for the medals; but as they rounded the final bend it was Brad Jackson of Dame Janet who stormed through the field to win on the line ahead of team-mate Alex Kavanagh.  Both boys were given the same time of 3:45.

Alex took the championship trophy ahead of Harry Lutz and Joseph Griffiths.

Hannah Denny of Upton needed a top six finish to secure the Year 5 Girls title and she made no mistakes on the day.  The lead changed hands several times over the 1.5k distance, but Hannah was always there, she always looked comfortable and when she made her move there was only going to be one winner – it was Hannah in 6:16.

The biggest smile of the day, however, came from Laura Crome of St Peter.  Improving with every race, she out-sprinted Lily Whitehead of Upton to take second place ahead of a very strong field.  Laura didn’t notice the rain lashing down as she hugged her mother and proudly showed off her medal!

Hannah Denny took the championship trophy, as expected, ahead of Georgia Debling who finished fifth on the day.  Lily Whitehead of Upton and Ailsa Macrae of St Nicholas-at-Wade were equal third.

Caine Moir of Garlinge was the favourite ahead of the Year 5 Boys race, but he had to fight hard for his victory.  Several boys were in contention before Caine and Josh Richards started to pull away from the field.  The pair started their sprint for home from a long way out and Caine was the strongest, winning in 5:35 just one second ahead of Josh.  Matthew Bouldin of St Saviour’s was third.

Caine Moir was crowned Year 5 Boys champion ahead of Matthew Bouldin and Joshua Oliver of Haddon Dene who was eighth on the day.

Kelsey Fuss of Upton waved goodbye to the competition with another outstanding victory in the Year 6 Girls race.  Like so many times before, Kelsey led from start to finish and stormed round the course to win in 5:26.  Upton team-mate Alice Fox, an exceptional athlete herself, was almost 30 seconds back in second place and just held off Abigail Piper of Haddon Dene on the line.

Kelsey’s three victories this year gave her the Year 6 Girls trophy with maximum points.  Alice Fox was second, with Abigail Piper of Haddon Dene and Tanya Bailey of Palm Bay equal third.

Just as predictable was Alasdair Kinloch of Upton winning the Year 6 Boys race.  Like Kelsey, he led from start to finish to win in 5:21 ahead of Upton team-mate Billy Munday and William Bath of Palm Bay.

Alasdair claimed the championship trophy with maximum points, with Billy Munday second and Lewis Parrett of Haddon Dene third.

Alasdair Kinloch deserves a special mention because he is the first athlete to become Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 champion.  Alasdair won 11 out of 12 races since his first appearance in the competition in 2006 and was beaten only by Jordan Brett of Upton at Palm Bay in February 2009.  Alasdair won the Kent primary schools cross-country in Year 5 and Year 6 and must surely be one of the best young athletes in England.

Medals and trophies were presented by Kara Gibbs, Kent and Southern Counties pole vaulter and 2009 Thanet Sportswoman of the Year.

Almost 1000 children from 28 schools competed in the Thanet Primary Schools Cross-Country League this year, which is something that all those involved – organisers Thanet Athletics Club and Thanet Roadrunners AC, teachers and other school staff, and sponsors Thanet District Council, Kent County Council and the Thanet School Sport Partnership – should be immensely proud.

The full results of each race are attached below.