It was extremely cold on top of Wigmore Hill as the wind whistled across the park that sits next to the airport. Many participants would undoubtedly have been hoping to be on the flights taking travellers off to warmer climes. However, this didn't stop the best turn-out for a cross-country in many years and possibly ever!

Over fifty runners from our club made the short trip down the motorway to one of the flatter venues on the calendar. There were some excellent performances on the day, but as ever LBAC has achieved fantastic success by getting everyone out and giving fantastic support to each other throughout the event.

More than ever The Clays (particularly Nick and Mandy) should be thanked and congratulated. At every cross-country they are the first there, – before 11 o'clock – bring the gazebo and set it up, coach, cajole and support every single small child and whimpering adult as Nick waits over three hours to run himself and then they are the last to leave having taken the gazebo down at the end. They do this because they are hugely committed to the club and the sport, but it should never be taken for granted, particularly on a day like this one, when the wind froze fingers and toes across Bedfordshire.

There were thirteen U11's who came along for the first two races of the day. The outstanding performance of these came from Ellie Rabbits who finished 20^th out of 89 runners having started very fast indeed and getting into the top few at the first corner. The rest of the team were all involved in good battles with lots of other runners and put in some great performances in their debut season. Melissa Chapman (68^th), Chloe May (77^th), Millie and Jess Hawes (81^st and 82^nd) and Danielle Taylor (88^th) all added hugely to the team spirit and devlopment amongst the youngsters, the final three all making their first club appearances.

The U11 boys were full of sons of senior members, with only one out of seven not having that cross to bear! Dominic Grimshaw led the team home for the fourth time this season with a strong run in 46th place. On his debut, Harry Bell just held off a spirited challenge from Harrison Philpott as they finished 57^th and 60^th. Max Rose (65^th) and Scott Towell (66^th) ran all the way together, ahead of Joe Inchley (72^nd)on debut and Joe Bidlake-Hull (79^th).

In the U13's there were two runners in each of the two races. In the boys Kieran Philpott continued a remarkable season where he has finished 41^st, 40^th, 40^th and 39^th in his four races and just pipped the Henry Mead who was 44^th. Both lads have been the only two runners and ever present so far this season, which is testament to their efforts. In the girls race Sarah Plummer had a superb run to gain her best result of the season so far in 14^th place, while the equally ever present Penny Grimshaw gave great support to come home 63^rd. In the U15 girls, despite the withdrawl of Becca Mead during the run, Izzy Bidlake-Hull continued on to earn points for the team in 55^th, while in the boys Patrick Clay came 52^nd as the only representative.

All four of the U17's who came out for the race were rewarded with their highest placings of the season. Tom Boozer closed out the team of four in 24^th place and just 24 seconds behind Joe McGarry in 22^nd. Charlie Mead was a further 22 seconds ahead in 19^th place as Jordan Clay was first home for the boys with a great run to finish 10^th on the day. This earned them 6th place as a team, ahead of Harrow, Oxford and Windsor.

We had an absolutely fantastic turn-out of eight senior ladies, despite Amy Inchley deciding that spectating was the sensible option. The first four ladies all had their best positions of the season and this was reflected in the team result of 7^th place on the day out of the fourteen teams in division one.

Making a return to running after a few months out Lynn Boddy was fifth home in 55^th place, while Fiona Towell put in her strongest performance to date by taking 63^rd in a sprint finish. Anna Mead and Lorraine Holloway-McLean once again ran the course together and took lots of points from all the finishers behind in 70^th and 71^st respectively. All these extra runners take points away from other teams who finish behind, so are vital to the cause.

Both Gail Duckworth and Jo Breslin sneaked in their best performances this season to be first and second back in 17^th and 27^th, but Jane Sauer ran a superb race as she ran lap one with Amelia and then worked strongly through the field to overtake the best part of 20 people. Jane's 31^st, combined with a brilliantly paced run by Amelia to finish 40^th made a huge difference to the team.

It has to be said though, that team performance of the day must go to the senior men. We have the smallest senior section of any club in division one and back at Wing last year we finished a magnificent sixth on the day. On this day in Luton our men took third (yes 3^rd!) place. Chiltern, Tring, Luton, Bedford, Aylesbury and Oxford were all blown away by a swathe of purple and yellow with only the table topping Milton Keynes and Harrow able to beat us.

There were some strong runs on the day from lots of people, but the success was down to having everyone at the venue, earning points and taking points off other teams. With twenty men out competing, there would be a lot to write here about each of them and it would take some time, but mention must be made of Billy Mead who led the team home for the first time with a fantastic run in 35^th place. Closing the team out in 95 was what really made the difference for us though as only Milton Keynes did better, despite all bar Silson getting their first runner in before us.

So, as we stand our senior men are in 9^th place overall after four fixtures, but are withing striking distance of both Tring and Chiltern Harriers, so 7^th is within reach. The ladies are 10^th, but a good performance at Wing could make 9^th or even 8^th. As a club we sit in 9th place overall going into the final fixture, 200 points behind Headington, who are our next targets.

With all that in mind please make sure that Saturday 9^th February is heavily marked in big capital letters in your diary as this is our home fixture and in addition to runners, we also need as many helpers as we can get to marshal on the day so nag anyone you can think of to help out.

All in all, a huge well done to everyone who contributed on Saturday. Full results from this fixture and many previous seasons are available here; http://www.chilternccl.co.uk/results.htm.