The Record 2014

Harriers

Ewan Gault, Master i/c Harriers

The Harriers’ season started positively with a number of excellent individual and team

performances across the muddy fields and paths around Harrow. Strong runs from

second-placed Alfie Armitage-Hookes and fourth-placed Aaron Gruen helped St Edward’s

win the intermediate boys’ race, ahead of teams from Harrow, Brighton and Coopers

Coburn. In the senior boys’ event, George Henry, the school steeplechase champion, used

his hill running prowess to power through the field in the final lap, achieving an impressive

third place.

Having trained hard throughout the harsh winter months, the intermediate boys’ team

started the Spring Term by winning the inaugural Oxford City Schools Cross-Country.

At the Radley relays, a quartet consisting of Jeevan Grewal, Aaron Gruen, Henry Bray

and Chad Moss finished in first place ahead of teams from 11 other schools including

Abingdon, who they narrowly beat in an excitingly close finish. Aaron Gruen demonstrated

the progress that he had made by finishing ninth out of 123 finishers at the highly

competitive South East Schools Championship. It was again the intermediate boys who

were prominent in the St Edward’s team that competed at the prestigious King Henry VIII

relays. The young team were ably led by Horatio Holloway, whose unflagging enthusiasm

and array of knitted headbands made him an excellent captain. Despite being depleted by

injury and illness, they managed a creditable 36th with Fourth Former Will Kelley

competing admirably against much older boys.

The term concluded with St Edward’s hosting a cross-country relay competition for prep

schools followed by a match the next day against other senior schools. A very impressive

Abingdon team won the senior boys’ race, while in the girls’ race St Edward’s Storm

Sunderland was the standout performer with the fastest leg of the day. Running on a mild

March afternoon proved popular and there are plans to extend these events and hold them

again next year. During the two terms in which the Harriers train, the indefatigability of

the pupils and the positivity of their coaches helped runners of all abilities to achieve their

own personal goals.