Cross Country

There are many wonderful things about Cross Country at Kingswood: the mud; the hills; the gale force winds; the long bus journeys through Dorset; the pain; the victories; the defeats; but the greatest thing is the Cross Country family.

We are a cross section of students from Year 7 to 13 of all genders who share in the misery and cheer each other on towards a donut at the end of the race. This season has been no different in this regard and it has been even more exciting given that we have been free to compete on our regular circuit once again.

Indeed, it has been a very successful year with lots of very talented runners across all age groups. Over the course of 10 races, Kingswood has had 5 individual race winners, and placed people in the top three 16 times. We’ve also had 10 team podium places between 4 teams and have also sent 4 of our runners to nationals, which is a record-breaking number for Kingswood with our Inter Boys and Senior Girls teams particularly strong. Captains Seb Crow and Evie Bradley did a superb job in leading from the front and with excellent support from fellow leavers Jamie Wright, Max Waring, Hiroki Nishimura, Emily Ardus, Grace Ardus and Freddie Baker the team atmosphere was something that everyone was proud to be a part of.

Cross Country is not, however, just the reserve of the select few in the Cross Country team, as the 700 students and staff who ran in the House Cross Country at the end of the Easter term can attest. The hoards of supporters who thronged the middle playing fi eld for the House Relays at the beginning of the Summer term to watch the 130 students battle the hill for their houses will also tell you that it can be a very lively occasion.

Cross Country is alive and well at Kingswood - a perfect antidote to our digital lives.

COLOURS

HALF COLOURS: Jamie Wright FULL COLOURS: Emily Ardus Grace Ardus Evie Bradley Seb Crow