It was quite a day for Sherborne Girls at the English Schools Cross-Country Cup Final on Saturday 3 December, resulting in the school’s best ever cross-country team performance. We were firing on all six cylinders with all of our team members drawing big performances from within themselves. With our first four finishers to score, we finished 6th in the country, achieved by packing very tightly. The first Sherborne Girl to finish, Lily, did so in 12 min 14s and within 30 seconds all six Sherborne Girls had crossed the line. It was an outstanding team performance. Indeed, if the results had been based on all six finishers, we would have come in a comfortable second place by a margin of more than 50 points!
Having won the Dorset and South West England cup rounds, we travelled to Leeds with cause for optimism on achieving our best ever result. That optimism proved to be well founded as we managed that by a margin. Apart from times over the finish line, plus team scores, the published results also came with a speed per km for each competitor. It was after having seen these that the girls really grew to appreciate just what they’d achieved, they’d all run within a range 3m35s to 3m43s … and this of course, was achieved off-road on an undulating circuit.
Leeds was our second successive Cup Final appearance, and three of this year’s team – Birdie, Eleanor and Georgia, gained valuable experience last year in Cornwall. Added into the mix for 2022 were Florence (new to the school), Hebe (our most senior runner, and enjoying a running renaissance), plus Lily (who moved up an age-group). The course, the weather and the organisation of this event were all top-notch. The six cylinders analogy implies that these girls are machines, not so, although we aim to run the team as a well-oiled machine. They are all individuals, all bringing something different to party. However, what they all share are big hearts, fabulous commitment, resilience, bravery, and a willingness to work together and spark off each other to improve … it’s a fabulous combination.
This has been one for the ages! However, with five of our six being available for selection for next year’s competition, we’ll be striving to make this upward progress, rather than our high-water mark. English Schools Cross Country Cup Final team 2022 … you were something special!
