Cookham Running Club training squad members crowned county champions

William Hapgood

--

Four members of the same Cookham Running Club-based training squad were crowned county champions over the weekend, while the medal rush for the club continued with one more silver and two bronze medal finishes.

The successful junior athletes are all part of the PB Racing Squad, coached by Cookham-based Paddy McGrath, a former Ireland international runner and Peta Bee, who ran for Wales.

All compete for Cookham Running Club as well as Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow Athletics Club (WSEH).

At the Buckinghamshire championships, held in conjunction with the Oxfordshire championships in Horspath, William Hapgood stormed to victory in the u13s boys 800m in a new personal best if 2.14.04, a result which elevates him to the top of his age group in the UK rankings.

In the u17s men's race, Henry Johnston broke the two-minute barrier for the first time with 1.59.17 to add the Bucks’ 800m title to the 3,000m title he won a few weeks ago.

Jemima Ridley was victorious in the u20s women’s 3,000m title at the Berkshire championships in Bracknell where Frank McGrath controlled the race from the front to win the u20s men’s 1,500m Berkshire title. There was another strong performance from Quinn Bookless who finished third in the u13s girls 600m and Jacqueline Heller and Eva Bartlett, who came second and third respectively in the u17s women's 1,500m. Both Jacqueline and Eva were clocked at 4.49, an impressive eight-second personal best for Eva.