Cross Country Report
Barker Invitation, St Ives Showground | 22 June
Excuse me as I unpack some of my thoughts from sitting in the car on the way back to the Inner West last Saturday following the Barker Invitation at St Ives Showground. Firstly, how awful is the Saturday morning traffic in the rain? Secondly, I was trying to think if I could remember a wetter season of Cross Country, Schoolboy sport in general for that matter, since 1996… Nope, I couldn’t. Thirdly, I was also contemplating how proud of those young Blue Street Boys who showed up and raced in absolute crazy conditions and raced well, taking it to our brother Schools in typical tenacious Shore fashion. Lastly, I’m so pleased that Barker and Riverview chose to continue with the competition as they hosted. In this new age of ultra-conservatism and compliance, Schools are so quick to cancel, but to what end? Saving a patch of grass for next week. Avoiding danger and litigation? I don’t know, but what I do know is that I’m a massive fan of the old Latin phrase (shocking some of you, no doubt) Quod non te occidit, fortior te facit, (What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger) and surely that is what we need to be challenging our young men with, safely of course, as they develop the character that we are then so quick to laud! I’m very proud!
The Juniors were first to strut their stuff in the rain and mud, again! George Harvey surged to the front of the race, pleasingly backing himself on the back of some good form. He continued to push hard for the duration and secured an awesome result of 8th overall, to be 6th amongst the GPS. I feel a little Abrahamesque as I prophesied that Tom Roxburgh would surge toward the pointy end of competition last week as he smashed out a fine run to be 16th, 11th GPS. Archie Watson, regaining form from a bout of the lurgy, ran tenaciously to be 26th, 18th GPS and Leon Field was our 4th runner home, securing our team result of 3rd amongst the GPS Schools as he was 35th, 25th! We are so pleased with the depth that is developing in the Juniors, as it is the nursery for future success and our aspirations!
The Inters were once again led out by the surging Will Bestic, who is showing signs of really turning into a runner! Mind you 95% of that is actually believing you are a runner. I think he is starting to work that out! He scorched around the muddy and wet track to finish in the awesome position of 4th overall, 3rd GPS. Hugo Stewart also found his mojo last Saturday, seeming determined to finish closer to the pointy of the race as he slid into the Top Ten in 9th, 5th GPS. Jonty Jagger ran well as always as he was 17th, 12th, with James Warren having a blinder to close on Jonty, only 1 position adrift as he sealed a very pleasing team result of 3rd overall, 2nd amongst the GPS Schools. This kept us 1pt ahead of King’s in the season long tally – the silverware in the Inters is still within reach…
Our Opens were once again missing El Captain Lachy Brown, who is having a shocker of a season suffering blows weekly as the lurgy seems to have a real grip on him, and we need him! That being said, his right-hand man Ryan Gilmour led the Open Team well and surged into his best result of the season so far to be 2nd Overall. He was tenacious in the mud and ran superbly! Isaac Lanham also ran well and managed to hold James Bestic at bay as the finish line approached, finished virtually together in 5th and 6th, respectively. James did provide the humour last Saturday, there wasn’t a lot of laughing matter on offer after I called out to run wide and avoid the deep mud on a bend near the finish, which he ignored, and then I felt I should add – ‘you’re a clown Bestic!’ His response ‘I know Spratty!’ The Shore supporters gathered, loving it! As Lachy was crook, Tom Gray filled that all important anchor role and did extremely well. He had a fine run to be 13th, just out of the GPS Top Ten in 11th. We were a very creditable 2nd again to the very strong Scots team. It does appear season end honours have slipped out of our grasp in the Opens. Though we should be proud of how hard we have worked to maintain contact with Scots, who look set, deservedly, to hoist the Trophy at the GPS Championships. There is certainly no shame in trying hard and failing; not trying at all would certainly not be character-building. After all, isn’t that what Schoolboy Sport is actually all about?
Shore Cross Country ‘Machine of the Week’: The Cross Country brains trust put forward three contenders for ‘Machine’ honours from last Saturday. Hugo Stewart and James Warren in the Inters, and Tom Gray in the Opens. After much discussion, it was decided that James should be anointed as the ‘Machine of the Week’ last Saturday, based on his tenacious run. We are loving we have so many options, as it’s a great problem to have!
The Trinity Relays, Ewen Park, Hurlstone Park | 27 July
Choreographers seem to be at the forefront of many minds following the Opening Ceremony for the Olympic Games on Friday, some were pleased with their efforts, others not so. Well, let me just say, I am NOT pleased with the weather choreographers in Sydney this winter season of GPS Sport! It hadn’t rained for a month, yet walking to Ewen Park in the rain last Saturday for the 24th Trinity Relays was very disappointing! That being said, the Blue Street Boys shrugged off most of their chagrin and once again stepped up to the task at hand and made a good account of themselves.
As is the case with the Cross Country Relay format, all age groups started at the same time, which made for some chaos until the field strung out, thankfully. Ryan Gilmour was our anointed speedster and lead-out man for our fancied Open Team. He surged the team into contention with a blistering first lap to be not far adrift of the lead, certainly in touch, as he handed over to Isaac Lanham. He too motored around the course, and we were looking good. The gathered Shore Cross Country aficionados, Mr Friend et al, were pleased with this fast team mid-race, commenting how the 4 x 2.6km format seemed to really suit us. I didn’t notice any teams really getting the better of us by any great margin as Isaac then handed onto James Bestic and then onto El Capitan Lachy Brown. Lachy crossed the line for our premier Open Team, landing themselves a very pleasing 2nd in the Opens, narrowly, indicating how close we really are to the season’s front runners Scots.
The Intermediates Ben Frantz, James Warren, Hugo Stewart and Jonty Jagger were also setting a cracking pace alongside the Opens and did well to place a commendable 8th amongst the teams from both associations in their age group. Our Juniors too had a fine run. Toby Ward smashed out a stellar first lap. He was then followed by Henry Grieve, Archie Watson and George Harvey, all running very well also, as they fine 5th place in the teams from 30 teams. Solid!
We head to Northbridge tomorrow as we host there for the first time! If you happen to be in the hood, pop in and check out what all the fuss is about at Cross Country!
Top image: ‘Intermediates – splashing start!’
Good running,
Mr M Spratt
MIC Cross Country
