Sydney Striders Juniors Party Extravaganza! Sept 7th 2013

What a wonderful party! We always have good parties, but this one has to be up there with the best. We had a great venue (The Hogg's house), fantastic sunny weather, good food and lots of entertainment, competitions and, of course prizes!! 

Entertainment: Rachel Underwood came along to teach everyone exercises to prevent injuries using thera bands and foam rollers, there was an ongoing slide show with music, heated pool, table tennis, football game, gorgeous singing from Jemima Davies and Nicola Hogg, election special comedy from Gus Wong, Kyle Wong and mum (playing the old peasant woman), and a celebrity interview with Josh Phillips.

Competition: a keenly fought trivia competition won by our intellectual giants - the girls only team, which beat the boys and the parents. We also had a hula hooping contest won by Jemima Davies, with Emily Gocher second. The party finished with pinata bashing.

Prizes: Trophies for the teams which made the top 3 in the state in the ANSW winter season, Breakthrough trophies, club record certificates, choccy prizes for all activities, an hour's massage, an hour of bio-mechanical gait analysis and spot prizes GALORE.

Some of the trophies glistening in the sunlight

Tony Wong giving out the 

breakthrough awards and
club record certificates

Tessa Constantine receives her breakthrough award for the 400m hurdles

Samuel Greenland, Benji Wilson, Tom Stockeld and Lachlan Francis - the under 12 boys team, get trophies for coming 2nd in the winter premiership.

Ben Sinclair and Wally Phillips - top helpers, as identified by the juniors themselves.

The under 12 girls celebrating in the pool - Alexandra Sincliar, Emma Kirkland, Jemima Davies, Nicola Hogg, Emily Gocher and Ciara Sinclair.

Caroline Yarnell conducts the celebrity interview with Josh Phillips

Kyle Wong, Gus Wong and Caroline Yarnell in a Monty Python skit - the election day special. Kyle followed this with a solo performance from 'The dictater'.

Fraser McKinlay, Josh Phillips, Lachlan Cooper, Jack Mills and Dan Cooper drag themselves from the pool to watch the performances.

Kyle Wong - 'Where can a young couple go, hungry and in search of a frog and peach?'

Jemima Davies and Nicola Hogg singing Price Tag beautifully and word perfect

Some of the crowd watching the interview and performances

Tony Wong organises the hula hoop contest

Tom Davies hulas

Jemima Davies hulas

Pinata bashing.

A bit of bonding amongst the under 18s - Joe Burgess and Gus Wong versus Hannah Gibson and Bethany Halmy

Age groups mingle :) Daniel Francken and Paul Loader take on Tom Davies and Lachlan Francis

The 'Nationals 9' at the Australian Cross Country Championships - Sat. August 31st 2014

We had a record 9 Junior Striders at the National Cross Country championships this year, which were held in Tasmania. These were: Lachlan Francis, Sophie Gocher, Tom Davies, Josh Phillips, Adam Halmy, Daniel Francken, David Gardiner, Amelia Gorman and Bethany Halmy. Lachlan Francis did the best, coming 7th, however most of our juniors were in the top half of the (muddy) field.

 

Results can be found at:

 

 

http://www.nswathletics.info/liveresults/2013/aa_cc/

Here are comments and photos from some of our runners - we are very proud of them!! Thanks to Naomi Davies and Roslyn Halmy for all the photos :)

Thomas (Tom Davies, pictured below) - My first Nationals,  being the 1st 12year old in the race was a great achievment  for me.  I had a great time loved the muddy, wet  track and  it was amazing to run with the 13 year olds , they are huge. I enjoyed catching up with other striders when I was not running......

Looks like a bog - Tom Davies

The start line

Tom Davies

Josh (Josh Phillips) - Nationals cross country was an amazing experience this year. Being the younger one out of the two age groups made it very difficult but I am very pleased on finishing 31^st overall. The mud was very challenging but on the other hand very fun.

 

A great picture of Josh Phillips showing the depth of the field

Josh Phillips digging in.



Josh fixing his hair after a hard race

An illustration of how muddy the course was! Josh Phillips from the rear.

 

Bethany (Bethany Halmy) - I had an awesome experience staying with the NSW Schools team! I am very happy with my run coming 21st overall in the U20's, 6th in the schools competition and came home with two silver medals from the cross country and relay schools team events!!! Definitely made up for missing two days of school when I am in year 12.

Bethany Halmy

Bethany Halmy - top right

Adam (Adam Halmy) - This is my first national cross country since 2007 and with the experienced gained from running against bigger boys I hope to next year do even better.

Adam Halmy on the muddy course

Adam Halmy giving his all

Below are pictures of Lachlan Francis, who came 7th, and Sophie Gocher who came 18th.

Lachlan Francis, no. 65

Sophie Gocher