CROSS COUNTRY SEASON REVIEW

The first race was early in the calendar, with the team heading to Wimbledon Common in early October to take part in the King’s Cup, held by KCS. Hampton, fielding one of the largest teams of the event, ran strongly, despite the precarious route due to a storm having blown several trees over the night before.

After a short rest from the 8km race, the team made the trip south for the Haskell Relay event in Guildford. Although the A team narrowly missed out on what could have been the first medal of the season, with their fourth runner being overtaken in the final stretch, the Hampton athletes were soon ready to strike again, this time more locally at the Judge Cup, held at Tiffin School. This race was yet again another relay with one runner from each year group allowed to take part in the team. Several medals were collected for both the team position and the individual position (based on time).

Only two days later, it was the Richmond Schools' Cross Country Championships. Here, Hampton dominated. Medals included Marcus Solomon defending his title from last year in the junior category whilst cross country captain Henry Fagan finished second in the senior category.

Several other Hamptonians including a stalwart of Hampton cross country, Daniel Clarke, also qualified for the next round: Middlesex Schools' Championships.

The following week was Hampton’s home fixture: the Parlauf Relay. A race like no other, this comprised a race of teams of four runners who had to run as far as they could in 28 minutes round the School fields, with each runner running as far and often as their teams saw fit.

Be it tactics or superior aerobic capacity, the Hampton A team won, lapping their next competitor, with the B team also winning the B team race. Two days later was the Christmas Handicap, a 1.8 mile time trial around a route devised by Mr Clarke when he first joined Hampton.

This race saw almost everyone beat their personal bests, with the cross country captain moving to second on the all-time Hampton pupil list, only two seconds shy of first place. It was a significant event as it concluded the season for the majority of Hampton’s athletes, and for the Upper Sixth, their last ever race. After some hard training over Christmas and into the New Year, Hampton’s finest took the trip north, all the way to Harrow, for the Middlesex Schools' Cross Country Championships.

Despite the usual brutal course being in play, Hampton came away with two qualifications to the English Schools' Cross Country Championships, the author of this review and Marcus Solomon, who once again defended his title from last year.

The day of the final race of the season was upon us: the nationals. This year held in Nottingham, the furthest the athletes had to travel for a race all year, and the fastest they have had to run. Both Hampton runners raced well and came away satisfied with their season, enjoying the most competitive race for any schoolboy runner against the best in the country.

None of this would have been possible without the encouragement, kindness and enthusiasm of Mr Clarke, who leaves Hampton this year, having transformed Hampton School Cross Country into what it is today.