Our Pocklington School cross country teams sprang back into action this March, achieving fantastic accomplishments and making School history along the way.
Competing at this level is a fantastic achievement
Four of our Lower Sixth students earned the honour of competing at the prestigious English Schools’ Athletic Association (ESAA) National Cross Country Championships; this is a truly remarkable feat. We are immensely proud of Imogen Stevens, Charlotte Ahlers, Olvia Ackermann and Clara Stewart and offer our congratulations to them for their effort.
The ESAA National Cross Country Championships represent the pinnacle of the winter athletics calendar for young athletes across England. This highly competitive event gathers the top runners from all 46 counties. Just qualifying for this event is a testament to the dedication, talent, and hard work of these exceptional young women.
Robin Crewes, the Pocklington School teacher leading cross country, remarked:
The path to the nationals is demanding, requiring consistent performance and resilience. Our four athletes demonstrated these qualities in abundance, securing their places by consistently finishing within the top eight runners at both the East Riding Cross Country Championships and the fiercely competitive Humberside Championships where the muddy conditions were far from ideal.”
The National Final took place at the Ardingly West Sussex showground. The senior girls’ race was an arduous 4,100m, featuring international-level athletes. The individual places and finishing times for our team members were as follows:
Charlotte Ahlers: Finished 298th in the country, with a time of 20 minutes 34 seconds
Olivia Ackermann: Finished 299th in the country, also at 20 minutes 34 seconds
Clara Stewart: Finished 300th in the country, completing the race in 20 minutes 46 seconds
Robin commented:
The course was quite technical, featuring bumpy, undulating terrain with numerous tight turns. Despite the cold weather, the day was beautifully sunny and our runners performed magnificently. Competing at this level is a fantastic achievement and we are so proud of Imogen, Charlotte, Olivia and Clara.”
Meanwhile, our U13 boys’ and girls’ cross country teams not only made history by competing in the prestigious National Prep Schools’ Cross Country Championships for the very first time but also recorded significant achievements in their debut at this level.
Held in the breathtaking grounds of Malvern College, the setting for the meeting was truly spectacular, with the imposing Malvern Hills providing a dramatic backdrop to the challenging 3,200m undulating course. The runners faced a tough start, tackling a 150m climb right from the beginning, testing their stamina and determination from the outset.
The U13 girls’ team delivered an outstanding performance, making history with a fantastic 14th place finish in the country. Individual results were equally impressive:
Anna Nelson followed closely, securing 66th place in 16 minutes and 29 seconds
Emily Rowntree ran a strong race, finishing 72nd in 16 minutes and 41 seconds
Molly Dear completed the team's excellent showing, finishing 91st in 17 minutes and 33 seconds
The U13 boys’ team also rose to the occasion, demonstrating their resilience and commitment. They achieved a commendable 32nd place in the country. Individual results were as follows:
Cameron Coulter, who has led the team with distinction throughout the season, finished in a superb 59th place, with a time of 14 minutes and 3 seconds
Nathan Davis, enjoying a phenomenal first year with the team, finished in 125th place, crossing the line in 15 minutes and 9 seconds
Stanley Hodkin completed the course with great determination, finishing in 153rd place with a time of 18 minutes and 45 seconds
“This was a truly historic day for our school. These athletes are the first to represent Pocklington School at this national level, and they have done so with exceptional skill, sportsmanship, and determination. They have set a new standard for our school's cross country programme and have inspired us all with their dedication.
Huge congratulations go to Kitty, Anna, Emily, Molly, Cameron, Nathan, and Stanley!
You are all history makers, and we are incredibly proud of your achievements.
Well done!”
ROBIN CREWES
- Pocklington School teacher and leader of cross country
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