Nationals Cross Country and our winter handicap mile and 5K races

National Cross Country at Albany, outside Perth. Aug. 23rd.

Our very talented runner and writer, 12 year old Tom Davies has written a report on this race, which says it all....

We set off on Thursday afternoon in a race against traffic to the airport. After a 5 hour flight to Perth, a night there and a 5 hour drive we arrived at Albany pretty tired on Friday to walk the course. I ran into many of my friends who had arrived a few days earlier than me they were a little more rested. . After a good nights rest we were fired up and ready to race. I set off on the U14 boys 3km event. The course was completely flat and funnelled the whole way. With the addition of some mud and bales of hay, this was to be the course of the national cross-country 2014. I started off with a strong start. As the course was funnelled this made it hard to overtake but this didn't stop me. I ran strongly the whole race - the headwind for a km was tough - and finished in a pleasing 32nd place and in 6th from NSW.

16/7 Boys - Daniel Francken 28th, Adam Halmy, pictured above, 48th

13 Girls - Sophie Gocher, pictured above with Tom Davies,18th, Olivia Hogg 48th

Under 20 Girls - Bethany Halmy 25th

Congratulationsare certainly in order to Nicola Hogg for her third place in the 11 year old girls' race Nicola and fellow Strider Maeve Goehner in 9th place were part of the gold medal winning NSW School's team.

The 13 boys before the start

The scene

13 Boys - Tom Davies, pictured above 32nd, Hamish Longworth 62nd

The handicaps were great fun this 'end of winter', and it was good to see so much improvement. 

 The winner of the end of winter mile handicap was Jessica Gocher. The fastest girl was Sophie Gocher in 5.35 and the fastest boy was Luke Gorman in 4.47. Well done to the 21 who ran

Jessica Gocher

The merry band of red eyed zombies - that's what running a mile so fast can do to you!

13 ran in our end of winter 5k handicap (more like mid-winter). The Gocher family enjoyed further success with Emily Gocher crossing the line first in a fantastic time of 20.20. Luke Gorman was the fastest boy in 17.47 while Sophie Gocher was fastest girl in 19.19. Amelia Gorman was happiest Strider in the 5K - paced for a bit by Jack Coates's dad to get a PB and to win a necklace and bath stuff.

Our most improved - Emily Gocher

Our 'lucky' 13

NSW Short Course Cross Country Championships – Rydalmere

On this glorious afternoon at Upjohn Park, in the 100^th running of the event, Maeve Goehner and Nicola Hogg won silver and bronze medals in the under 12 girls 1.5k event, while Daniel Francken picked up an individual bronze in the under 18 boys’ 5k.

Maeve Gorhner and Nicola Hogg with their medals

Daniel Francken

In the team events:

The full strength under 12 girls A won their much anticipated gold, while the B team came 4^th. The under 14 girls with a little help from Nicola Hogg, won another bronze.

The under 12 girls on the start line

What style! Here we can see Ciara Sinclair, Nicola Hogg, Emma Kirkland, Maeve Goehner, and Emily Gocher clearly

A final tussle within the under 12 girls B team between Alexandra Sinclair and Evita Dickson

The under 14 boys won silver while the B team with Cam Gorman and Matthew Hogg running up was pushed into 4^th place by a mixed Sutherland team.

Some of our under 14s on the start line: Hayden Blaskett, Hannah Lovlin, Tom Kirkland and Hamish Longworth

and yet more under 14s: Sophie Gocher, Tom Davies, Benji Wilson, Jack Coates and Hayden Blaskett

and the under 14s are off......

Sophie Gocher, one of our Nationls qualifiers, leading the pack

Jack Coates approaching the finish

Hannah Lovlin almost there.....

Our under 16 boys came second with Jack Mills, Liam Gorman, Will Law and the invincible Harry Prowse!

Here we can see Jack Mills, Liam Gorman and Will Law.

In the 5k event, the under 18 boys won gold again while the under 20 boys, well David and Gus with the ever-helpful, and team-spirited Dan Cooper and Becky Rogers, picked up a silver.

Hannah Rasmussen was unfortunately taken ill very soon after the start of the race and had to pull out. In the mean time, Bethany Halmy and Jess Vernon both ran well enough to earn State Selection for Albany. Finally, a big well done to Alice Wensing - who is only 12 – who stepped up to run in the 5k to help the under 20 girls. 

The under 20 boys and girls are off.....

Here we can just about see Gus Wong, Bethany Halmy, Adam Halmy, Daniel Francken, Becky Rogers, David Gardiner and Hannah Rasmussen. 

With the winter season over for the juniors, here are the overall placings:

, here are team placings:

·        The under 12 boys came an excellent third considering most of them are at the young end.

·        The under 12 girls A came a very solid second to the invincible St George team, while the B team was 5^th.

·        The under 14 boys A came second, while the B team fourth, so well done boys!!!

·        The under 14 girls came third. This age group had help from the under 12s throughout the season, especially from Hannah Lovlin, so thank you.

·        The under 16 boys, without the injured Josh Phiilips, came second, which was excellent.

·        The under 16 girls came 7th with their single appearance at the Road Relays.

·        The under 18 boys won their competition by 55 points, winning gold twice. They are undoubtedly the team of the season.

·        The under 18 girls came 4^th with their three appearances.

·        The under 20 boys were always going to struggle with teams given all three of them are in year 12. But with more than a little help, they came second, so well done.

·        Despite a number of mishaps, the under 20 girls came second, with probably the tightest margin - the top three teams were separated by a mere 15 points.

NSW State Road Relays - July 12th 2014

We had 11 juniors teams competing n the NSW State Road Relays - July 12th 2014. A fantastically strong showing by our club despite the many absences. There was a lot of team spirit, with several juniors running twice to make up teams:

 

·        Adam Halmy (1^st leg under 18 boys’ 4k and last leg under 20 boys’ 4k)

·        Fraser McKinley (last leg for under 16 boys’ 2k and 3^rd leg for under 20 boys’ 4k)

·        Kieran Gorman (2^nd leg for under 14 boys’ 2k and 2^nd leg for under 20 boys’ 4k)

·        Arlia Patterson (1^st leg for under 18 girls’ 2k and 3^rd leg for under 20 girls’ 4k)

·        Jess Francis (1^st leg for under 16 girls’ 2K and last leg for under 18 girls’ 2k)

·        Ciara Sinclair (1^st leg for under 12 girls’ and last leg for under 16 girls’ 2k)

·        Finally, an extra special mention for Emily Gocher and Cam Gorman who had just 8 minutes between their two runs. Emily ran 2^nd for the under 12 girls A and last leg for the under 14 boys B while Cam Gorman ran 1^st leg for the under 12 boys and 3^rd leg for the under 14 boys B.

 

Two Lachlans - Lachlan Cooper and Lachlan Francis, made the cover of the Central Coat Advocate after the relays :)

 

The team results were equally fantastic with gold for the under 18 boys, silver for the under 20 girls and under 14 boys A and bronze medals for the under 16 boys, under 14 boys B and under 12 girls A. Admittedly some age groups were more competitive than others.

 

Racing conditions were tougher than the past 2 years with a head wind in the downhill section. The Man of the Match had to be Lachlan Cooper with his 6.10 1^st leg which was the 2^nd fastest 2k time of the day.

 

The start of the 2K relays. I can see Lachlan Cooper and Cam Gorman - there are manly more.

Kara Blackley ran very well indeed for the under 16 girls.

Ciara Sinclair hands over to Emily Gocher in the under 12 girls 2K relay

Tom Stokeld in the under 12 boys

Smallest Junior Strider Olivia Gorman in the under 12 girls B



Hayden Blaskett cannot be accused of not trying for the under 14 boys!

Arlia Patterson with Evita Dickson behind.

 

Arlia Patterson hands over to Hannah Rasmussen in the under 18 girls

Here we have a selection of 2K relay runners - most wearing medals proudly :)

 

The bronze medal winning under 12 girls - Jessica Gocher, Ciara Sincliar, Emily Gocher and Hannah Lovelin finding a new use for Striders cheerleading pom poms.

 

The under20 and under 18 boys start their 4K relay.

 

David Gardiner and Adam Halmy looking good

 

Harlan Mulherin, Ben Jagger, Adam Halmy and Daniel Francken - under 18 boys gold medal winners.

 

The last race, 4 X 4K at 2:30pm., saw the Dad’s 45+ team manage a credible 6^th out of 10, behind the silver medal winning under 20 girls and just in front of the silver medal winning 45+ women’s team involving Fiona McKinley and Caroline.

 

Jessica Vernon, Bethany Halmy, Arlia Patterson and Amelia Gorman - silver medal winners in the under 20 girls.

 

That's us on the right - silver medalists in the 45+

State Cross Country Championships at the beautiful Nowra - 21st June 2014

Nowra is such a wonderful setting for the state cross country championships, and every year more and more juniors make the 3 hour each way trip down there.

What a setting eh?? (Photo taken by Julie Steele)

It was a great day of racing for most of the teams, despite a number of late withdrawals, with podium finishes for the under 14 boys, under 14 girls, under 16 boys and under 18 boys.  Special mentions go to young Hannah Lovlin who ran up in the under 14s and to Dan Cooper and Tom Davies who toed the start line of the under 18 boys 6k within 10 minutes of finishing their own race. Dan went on to to out sprint Tom to claim the fourth spot in the team, earning his second team medal of the day. David Gardiner, Becky Rogers, Amelia Gorman and Bethany Halmy all ran very well as individuals with no team.

Tom Davies and Sophie Gocher, both under 14s booked their spots in the NSW team for the National Cross Country Championships next month with their silver and bronze medal performances yesterday. They became only the 3^rd and 4^th Sydney Striders Juniors to win individual medals after former NSW Cross Country Champion Josh Phillips from 2 years ago and Lachlan Francis who won silver last year.

The photos here capture the scene.....

Start of the under 12 girls race

Ciara Sinclair ahead of Emily Gocher in the under 12 girls 2K race.

One of the steeper hills. Emily Gocher is just ahead of Emma Kirkland

Emma Kirland, Alexander Sinclair, Gemima Davies, Emily Gocher and Ciara Sinclair - the under 12 girls





JackStokeld takes an early lead in the under 12 boys 2K







Matthew Hogg in the under 12 boys 2K








Oscar Blackley and Tom Stokeld in the under 12 boys



A sea of under 14 boys on the start line for their 3K race.

Hamish Longworth in the under 14 boys 3K. Look at that scenery! This hill is near the end and everyone in every race has to run up it at least once.

Sopie Gocher, Nicola Hogg, Hannah Lovlin and Olivia Hogg with their medal for the under 14 girls

Under 16 boys Lachlan Cooper, Fraser McKinlay and Nick Corel with their team medals. Josh Phillips had gone home.

Adam Halmy, Harlan Mulherin, Daniel Francken and Dan Cooper - the under 18 boys with their medals. After this race they were top of the ANSW ladder for the winter season

Becky Rogers in the under 18 girls 4k race



David Gardiner in the under 20 boys 8K race.

Green Pom poms are now official junior Striders race-going material

Look how inspired Dan Cooper and Tom Davies are by the cheering and the pom poms

A typical scene around the whiteboard. Dan Cooper, Jack Coates, Tom Davies, Olivia Hogg, Nicola Hogg, Gemima Davies and Emily Gocher showing the multiple uses of Striders pom poms, and family love: Kieran and Amelia Gorman