Following on from their achievements in Belfast a fortnight ago, Jack Hallas, Joe Hargreaves,
Chloe Patchett & Kate Wilson continued their efforts in the UK Cross Challenge, this time seeing
them travel to Blackweir fields in Cardiff ,in the shadow of the Millenium Stadium, a round
journey of 450 miles & 7 hours.
With their regular Coach away in Australia, their coaching has been overseen over the past
month by Jayne Patchett, an experienced coach whose knowledge has helped them keep up their
sterling efforts in preparation for these events. Having arrived early & familiarised themselves
with the course & the conditions underfoot, best described as sticky due to overnight rain & a
number of races having already been run, first athletes to race were Chloe Patchett & Kate
Wilson in the U17 Ladies race. An excellent start by the pair of them, always important in an
event like this so you are not embroilled in the pursuing pack, ensured they were well placed
after lap one. Chloe making good ground through the competition and finishing in 8th place,
Kate coped well with the conditions too, and having also improved her arm action ran a
determined race to cross the line in 18th place, this earned them 21pts & 9pts respectively
leaving Chloe in 5th place overall in the Championship going into the final round.
In the U17 Mens race Jack Hallas & Joe Hargreaves had to endure rain showers as they both made
their way through the field with conditions deteriorating. Jack came home in 14th & Joe,
running half the race with only one shoe, it being a victim to the mud, was still able to
race one of his peers home over the line to finish in 23rd, earning them 15 & 5 points
respectively.
Report by Howard Miller.