Chaytors take cross-country crown…again! - 16/3/10

With light drizzle giving way to spring sunshine, Newnham Park was the perfect setting for the whole school cross-country event. 

New for Plymouth College, the course was a mix of open field
and woodland trails, with a few hills thrown in for good measure.  Pupils ran either 2.3 km (Years 7 and 8), 3 km (Years 9 and 10)
or 4.6 km (Year 11 and Sixth Form).

Chaytors (blue) stepped up to the mark and claimed the highly-coveted Lang Cup for the second year running.  Improving on their fourth place finish last year, Sargents (green) were the runners-up with Dales (yellow) in third and Palmers (red) in fourth.

In the seniors' 4.6 km race, Tom Turner (Year 11) was first home in a time of 17.15 narrowly beating Henry Turpin (Upper Sixth) into second place (17.16). Poppy Le Marechal (Lower Sixth) clocked 19.59 to be the first girl home.  Ben Jackson was the first Lower Sixth boy (17.40) and Susannah Kellagher was the first Upper Sixth girl (20.16).  Anneliese Noakes took the Year 11 girls' title finishing in 24.18. 

At intermediate level, Dominic Day (Year 9) took the top spot in the 3 km race finishing in 14.32.   Emily Dinnis (Year 9) was the first girl in a time of 15.56.  Ollie Clenaghan (14.45) and Alice Rogers (17.17) took the Year 10 titles.

The juniors covered 2.3 km, which saw Steven Rogers (Year 7) first past the post in 8.33.   Harriet Mitchell (Year 7) was the winning girl in a time of 9.30.  Sahila (9.14) and Annabel Norris (11.53) were the first boy and first girl home for Year 8.

Retired teacher, Graham Lang, who coached the school cross-country team for many years, presented the individual medals and the Lang Cup.  The event was organized by Deputy Head, Sarah Dunn.

"Newnham Park is a spectacular setting and I'm delighted with how the race went", said Sarah.   "The weather was kind to us, which was a huge relief, and it was fantastic to see the enthusiasm and energy of everyone coming together for a whole school event."