On a bright and breezy afternoon last Wednesday, ESM hosted the annual Ealing High Schools cross country relays in honour of former club members Del Hebbes and Mike Barratt.
The event comprises five legs of c.1500m around the perimeter of Perivale Park. Teams consist of one runner from each of years 7, 8, 9 and 10 and one from year 11 or above, and schools can submit more than one team. Girls teams compete for the Derek Hebbes Trophy and boys’ teams for the Mike Barratt trophy.
Six schools were represented: Twyford (five teams), Notting Hill & Ealing (four teams), Ellen Wilkinson and Elthorne Park and (two teams each), St Augustine’s Priory and William Perkins (one team apiece), and there was plenty of ESM talent on display.
Maxi with his fastest leg medal
The winning boys’ team was Twyford A, where Jeremiah Harford-Charles ran the fastest leg for Year 7. Twyford B were the second-placed team, featuring Isuru Lawrence running in Year 9. Elthorne took third place, featuring Jonah Mezey on leg three (Year 9), Maxi Steel on leg four (Year 9) and Marcus West on the final leg (Year 10). Maxi ran the fastest time among the Year 9 competitors while Marcus was the fastest in Year 10.
The winning girls’ team was Notting Hill, with Cameron Thomas bringing the team home on leg five and winning the medal for fastest in her year. St Augustine’s took second place in the team competition, featuring Mia de Vivenot in Year 7 and Millie Vadon in Year 9. Josie Booker and Lucy Henson (both Year 9) were part of third-placed Elthorne. Lucy ran the fastest Year 9 time of the day and was actually the second-fastest girl overall.
Lucy was also selected for the recent Schools’ Cross Country Championships, along with Elias Ahmed, Mohamed Ali, Seweryn Czapka, Angel Grimes McTavish and Lucy O’Brien.
Lucy after the recent Schools Cross Country Champs in Leeds
Well done to all the athletes and their teachers for getting them there. Thanks are due to organisers Jo Valks of Active Ealing and Jean King of ESM, and to the many officials and volunteers who made it happen.
Click here for full results.