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ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE
Harriers
By Ewan Gault, Master i/c Harriers
The Harriers started last term with a small
group of pupils and teachers competing at the
Longworth 10k. This multi-terrain race, which
took runners along the banks of the Thames,
was a scenic but challenging introduction to
competitive running for a number of pupils,
not least because of a steep hill in the final
kilometre. Harriers’ captain, Izzy Rayner (
St
George’s, Windsor
), showed good early-season
form and finished first junior female.
As the term progressed we incorporated
hill reps on South Parks, trail running around
the undulating forests of Shotover, speed
sessions in University Parks and long runs
that allowed pupils to explore the towpaths,
bridle ways and meadows of Oxford. Our
next competitive fixture was the Oxford City
Schools cross country event at Horspath.
The Harriers had a successful day out with
Alfie Armitage-Hookes (
Dulwich College
)
finishing second in the senior boys race and
Jeevan Grewal (
Caldicott
) battling to the line
in third place after an exciting sprint finish.
Aaron Gruen (
Munich International
), James
Rhys-Evans (
Summer Fields
) and Tom Lloyd
(
Dragon
) had excellent races and contributed
valuable points to help St Edward’s win the
team prize. The senior girls also won the
team prize with Izzy Rayner finishing first
and Jess Lee (
Swanbourne House
) second.
Elizaveta Skarga (
School 1239, Moscow
)
and Lizzie Dorey (
Cherwell
) were the other
counting runners in what has the potential to
be a formidable quartet this term.
At the Harrow fixture, the Harriers
faced far stiffer competition with some of
the strongest cross country schools in the
country in attendance. On a chilly November
afternoon over 20 pupils ran in the senior
boys’ race. For some, this was to be their
first, and possibly last, competitive race in St
Edward’s colours and it was appropriate that
they had the opportunity to test themselves
over a traditionally muddy and hilly course.
The standout performances were from Izzy
Rayner and Aaron Gruen, both of whom
finished 13th in their respective races.
The season concluded with the Eynsham
10k. Back in September we had put entries
into this flat and fast course anticipating
personal bests, but by the last weekend
of term and with 45 mph winds blowing,
it seemed that good times would be out
of the question. However, those who
attended faced the challenging conditions
in good spirits and enjoyed racing against a
large field of mainly adult runners. Jeevan
and Arun Grewal (
Caldicott
) matched each
other around the course, finishing in times
of 38:34 and 38:47, while Joe Zietman
(
Gayhurst
) narrowly missed running his first
sub-40 minute 10k.
As ever, there were a large number
of Harriers whose progress was not
necessarily charted by improved times,
or by places in races, but by their own
personal fitness goals. All Harriers were
supported by an enthusiastic group of
teachers who cajoled, coaxed and coerced
the runners in their groups into ever
greater efforts.
Izzy Rayner at the Longworth 10k where she was the first junior girl