BSOC 2014 took place over the weekend on Temple Newsam Park, near Leeds with almost 700 competitors. Over 20 Chasers juniors attended, representing their individual schools.
Temple Newsam was fast & furious, with mistakes being costly. There was also a long uphill drag to the finish that claimed a number of casualties.
There were some great performances, with 2 podium places, both representing Walton High School; Megan Colclough (2nd in Year 8 girls) and Matt Hartland (3rd in Year 11 boys).
Other top 10 performances came from Henry Webb (4th), Gemma Cairns-Smith and Holly Hughes (6th) and Heather and Holly Craig (8th). A special mention to Joe Holland who was heading comfortably for a top 10 finish at the last control, but was a little “unwell” on the run-in, coming in to finish 11th.
Henry Webb, Adam Mardling and Ethan Evans took silver in the Year 7 boys, while Holly Stodgell and the pairs of Rebecca Fitzjohn & Amelie Rutter-Bitton and Maia Till & Holly Rhodes took 3rd in the Year 7 girls.
The full results are on the BSOA website. Photos courtesy of Wendles, Ray Barnes, Mary Robertson.
The previous day was the World Schools Qualification Race with Meg Colclough, Holly Hughes, Heather Craig, Gemma Cairns-Smith and Matt Hartland all competing for a place in the England team to travel to Turkey next year. Matt had the best performance of the group on the day, finishing in 2nd place and (fingers crossed, subject to confirmation) sealing his place in the team.