Words by Nina Cameron
Acklam Grange School, Middlesbrough
When you Google the location of an unfamiliar cross-country fixture and the following review pops up on your phone:
“Children throw water bottles at each other and I’ve seen students throw rocks!”(sic)
there is a worry that this is going to be a challenging fixture in ways that you hadn’t even considered previously. Not since Northerns at Knowsley Safari Park, have I had such a pre-race premonition of potential dangerous running situations. Maybe there would be a new slant on cross country – a sort of duathlon where you run a lap and then throw rocks (or water bottles) at a target. It might even catch on.
The other fear I have when there is a school venue for a cross country fixture is a boring playing fields sort of course, however the course proved to be an enjoyable one beyond the school boundaries. It had sufficient twists and turns, mud and undulations to make for an interesting and testing race. It’s good to branch out a bit and try something different
George should be congratulated as gold medallist in the V75 category -well done, George. Helena and I represented Heaton for the women. We all had a good day out. Thanks to Helena for the transport and George for the cake.
Happily, the kids seemed to have been throwing rocks elsewhere that day, but I did notice a large number of water bottles lying around the playing fields…….
