County cross country league winners

5th December, 2011

Packwood’s Under 13 boys' cross country team has made a fabulous start to the season. Jack A, Ollie C, Freddie F, Jonty S and Simon W made up Packwood’s first ever team to take part in the Shropshire Young Athletes Cross Country League. There were four races organised by the four main Shropshire Athletics Clubs – Telford AC, Oswestry Olympians, Wenlock Olympians and Bridgnorth AC.

The boys performed very well in the first three races including victory on every occasion for Freddie F. He was closely followed by Jonty and Simon who always finished in the top eight and there were strong and consistent performances from Ollie and Jack who never failed to finish in the top fifteen. All boded well for the last race at Oldbury Wells School last Sunday, 4th December. The course was interesting with a mix of school playing fields and sheep fields. The weather which had been very clement so far, this time provided us with a 'proper cross country' day: rainy, windy and cold! But it didn't dampen our athletes' spirits. At the start, Freddie took the lead and was never caught up, winning his fourth league race in a row. Simon, delighted by the course, finished fifth, his personal best this year, followed by Jack in 11th and Ollie, who had been rather unwell before the race, in 15th. The Packwood team had done it! This last strong performance earned them the Under 13s trophy at their first attempt – a great achievement!

The same boys, with the addition of Guy M, also came out on top in the Under 13 section of Shrewsbury School Prep Schools’ Cross Country Hunt which took place on 9th November. The course was set in and around the school grounds on a lovely sunny autumn day. The boys pulled another superb performance out of the bag. Freddie won the race (and nearly caught up with a very worried hare), Simon finished 4th, Guy in an impressive 9th place, Jack 21st and Ollie 25th (unfortunately Jonty didn’t finish due to injury). A great performance from all on the day, with a strong field, allowed Packwood to bring the Bob Parker Cup back to school.

Well done all and may your success continue in 2012.