Cross Country Report
Saturday 2 August 2025
The Scots College Cross Country, UpJohn Park, Rydalmere
‘Here’s mud in your eye’ were the appropriate well wishes to the Blue Street Boys pre-race last Saturday, certainly metaphorically, as they were in combat on a tough, sodden and muddy UpJohn Park. Thankfully though, the fixture wasn’t cancelled, as despite numerous crashes and tumbles in racing, the boys finished stoically with many huge and well-earned grins! Possibly the photo of the season so far is of Z Roberston post-race covered in mud, a bit of blood, looking totally gladiatorial! Racing also included the annual GPS vs CAS stoush, a much looked-forward-to fixture and an opportunity for each association to flex a little, albeit in a Cross Country ‘spaghetti arm’ manner…
The Juniors surged off on course promptly at 9am, with the GPS and CAS teams quickly surging to the front. Harry Nicholson from the Prep was able to race with us once again which is fabulous, and he looked to be in great shape. He will no doubt be integral to Shore results moving forward as he was a super 13th overall in the Juniors (14s!). Interestingly, there was another Prep runner from Scots ahead of him! Battle lines are being drawn already, bring it on! The hot action up front didn’t daunt George Harvey and Henry Grieve who have been training well together and pushing each other hard in racing. They are a pair to keep an eye on in future years, and they have more kilometres in their legs and will no doubt be established as stalwarts of Shore Cross Country. They secured the fine results of 20th (11th GPS) and 21st (12th) respectively. Z Roberston, whom I’ve mentioned already, got back on the horse quickly after his crashes and secured a fine 29th (16th) and Alexander Baxter one of our ‘grinners’ was a solid 40th (22nd), nice! He completed our team result in the Juniors as they were 3rd amongst the GPS Schools. A big call out to Thomas Coleman who had a super run to be only three positions behind Alex in 43rd (24th). The Junior GPS team were too strong for their CAS combatants as they secured the win the lower cumulative total of GPS 16pts to the CAS 20pts.
The Intermediates soon followed into the abyss… We were represented by James Warren and Toby Ward in the GPS team with Jonty Jagger also getting the call up for representation as the needed first reserve. They took it upon themselves to race with purpose exhibiting fine GPS pride. James surged to the front of the race from the get-go, yet miscalculated the ‘slipperyness’ of a bridge crossing and took a massive hit as he tumbled leading the field across it! He got up quickly and toughed it out getting back into rhythm and as always, kept his teammates and the competition accountable. Sadly, the dodgy photographer missed the opportunity to record the carnage, no doubt talking too much… Toby and Jonty settled into a good pace not far back and worked their way through the field. Toby, having his best run of the season, looking confident, as he placed 9th to be the 2nd GPS Team member to finish, one place ahead of James 10th (3rd) at race end. Jonty was only two positions further adrift in 12th (5th). Hugo Stewart completed our Intermediates team result as he was 23rd. The Intermediate Shore team narrowly triumphing over The King’s School by the narrowest of margins, one point, amongst the GPS Schools in the weekly fixture. Unfortunately, the CAS were convincingly too strong for the GPS boys despite the fine runs from the Shore reps.
The Open GPS vs CAS competition has for many years been hotly contested and is certainly a tick that each association would like to add to their yearly targeted event schedule. Sadly, we didn’t have any Shore reps in the GPS side this year in the Opens, but no doubt our time will come again very soon… Once again it was close, with the CAS narrowly taking the honours in 2025 securing the win with 17 points to the GPS on 19. Alas also, we were unable to field a full team of four runners in Open Event last weekend with injury paying its toll and as we are also suffering from insufficient ‘cattle in the paddock’. James Bestic was his characteristically tenacious, uncharacteristically vocal, self on course and snaffled himself a fine result of 12th (8th). Incidentally, he was ahead of a few of the GPS Team members…Tom Gray was not far behind, pushing himself to record a fine result of 16th (12th). Daniel Becker, our last Opens athlete, finished soon after in 64th (51st), no doubt aware of the fact we weren’t going to record a team result on the day.
Shore Cross Country ‘Machine of the Week’: Toby Ward
We are at Northbridge tomorrow as we host! Call in if you are in the hood and check out the Blue Street Boys in actions against their GPS rivals. Juniors start at 9am with the Intermediates and Opens to follow.
Good running,
Mr Michael Spratt
MIC Cross Country