News From Your Club (February 2025)
Dear Parents, Athletes and Supporters,
I hope this first newsletter of 2025 finds you all well. As your new chairman, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our outgoing chairman, Richard Claessens, for his dedicated service. We are fortunate that Richard will continue to support the club as Vice Chairman.
Winter Review
Winter is a bustling season for many of our athletes, especially those in endurance disciplines who focus on cross-country events during these months. Our club has actively participated in various competitions, notably the Chiltern League Cross Country, the Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Cross Country Championships, the South of England Cross Country Championships, and the National Championships.
Our athletes have represented the club admirably, achieving numerous medals and personal bests. At the Buckinghamshire County Cross Country Championships in December, held on the challenging course at Campbell Park, Milton Keynes, we celebrated several team and individual successes. The Under-13 Girls’ Team secured bronze medals, with commendable performances from Izzy Webster, Emily Norris, and Maisie Brown. The Under-15 Boys’ Team clinched gold, thanks to the efforts of Finn Hayward, Dylan Leigh, Leo Bray, and Louis Bouzidi. Additionally, Finn earned an individual silver, and Dylan took home individual bronze.
In the senior categories, Natasha Taylor won an individual silver in the Senior Women’s race. In the Senior Men’s race, Myles Caddell was our top finisher, placing fifth. The Senior Men’s team achieved a remarkable silver in the team event, comprising Myles, Rob Wright, Thomas Starck, Derek Lloyd, Jordan Brown, David Bray, and James Hayward.
Our club was also represented at the Oxfordshire Cross Country County Championship, where Zara Tate continued to excel, winning the Under-13 Girls’ race at Horspath in Oxford.
The Chiltern League, encompassing clubs from Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, and beyond, is one of the UK’s most competitive cross-country leagues. This season, our Under-15 Boys’ Team earned the silver team prize. Individually, Finn secured silver, Dylan earned bronze in the Under-15 Boys’ category, and Zara won silver in the Under-13 Girls’ category.
It’s heartening to see so many young athletes representing the club in the Chiltern League; this year, 33 dedicated athletes participated. Notably, the following athletes competed in all five races:
| Charlie Rozelaar | Dylan Leigh | Emily Norris | Finn Hayward | Ivy Uhart |
| Leo Bray | Molly Hayward | Primrose Burrard-Lucas | Reuben Penney | Rory Crichton |
| Sam Feeney | Samuel Evans | Sebastian Bullock | William Norris | William Penney |
| Zara Tate | Eilidh Wilson |
Our senior endurance athletes also excelled throughout the five Chiltern League races. The Men’s Senior Team secured first place overall in Division One—a possible first for the club. The Veteran Men’s Team achieved second place, with Derek Lloyd winning individual gold in the V50 category. Overall, our senior men and women placed second in Division One, narrowly trailing Bedford and County AC.
Beyond the cross-country terrain, our sprint groups have been diligently training. Coach Nigel Sanderson notes that while winter is traditionally quieter for sprinters, it’s a crucial period for building foundations for summer competitions. The focus has recently shifted from general conditioning to specific phases, emphasizing technical aspects such as starts, acceleration mechanics, and maximum velocity. Weekend sessions at Hughenden Park include hill sprints and longer intervals to build strength for the summer. Ten group members have competed indoors at Brunel University and Lee Valley, achieving numerous personal bests, which bodes well for the upcoming season.
Coaches Leanne Wellings and Ed Morris have also guided their group of sprinters, middle-distance, and multi-event athletes to notable winter achievements. Aoife McAuley and Florence Lee Rubis showcased fine form, finishing fourth and fifth respectively in the South of England Under-20 Indoor Combined Events Championships at Lee Valley late last year. Florence, in her first year as an Under-20 athlete, set a new 60m hurdles personal best of 9.79 seconds, becoming the club’s Under-20 record holder. Aoife surpassed her own club pentathlon record, amassing an impressive 2,824 points.
Sprinter Cristina Poulsen has been in exceptional form, repeatedly breaking her 60m and 200m indoor personal bests. She reached the semi-finals of the South of England Senior Indoor Championships in early February at Lee Valley, improving her 60m PB to 7.77 seconds (down from 8.06 seconds at the season’s start) and her 200m indoor PB by over a second to a remarkable 25.33 seconds (from 26.42 seconds). Cristina also set a new Swansea University indoor 200m record with this performance.
Additionally, Under-17 athletes Sara, Keely, Jack, and Dawid, along with Under-15 athlete Harriet, have collectively achieved 11 personal bests in indoor 60m races, demonstrating superb form as they prepare for the outdoor season.
While coaching her sprints group, Leanne also found time to win two silver medals at the Scottish Masters Championships in early February in the W50 category over 60m and 200m.
National Cross-Country Championships
As of this writing, many athletes across various age groups are preparing to compete in the prestigious English National Cross-Country Championships at Parliament Hill, London, on 22nd February 2025. Parliament Hill is often referred to as “the spiritual home of cross country,” having hosted the national championships on numerous occasions. The course presents challenges for athletes but offers spectators spectacular views across London.
We extend our best wishes to all athletes representing the club in this esteemed event.
Little Marlow Track Update
Our recently refurbished track facility still requires several equipment issues to be addressed by the County Council and Serco before we can obtain a full TrackMark certificate and, subsequently, a licence to host competitions. Securing this certification is essential for us to host league meetings, an opportunity we eagerly anticipate.
We have been selected to host a Youth Development League (YDL) match for the lower age group on 29th June, which is exciting news.
Key members of the club’s committee will meet with Serco in February to finalise plans for completing the remaining work at the track. We are confident that Serco will complete all tasks promptly, enabling the Little Marlow track to host its first fixture in several years.
We need your help!
As many of you know, the club operates entirely through the dedication of volunteers, from committee members to coaches and event officials. We are always seeking additional volunteers to support the club. You don’t need an athletics background to contribute; we encourage parents and carers to assist coaches during club nights. Support at events is also invaluable, whether it’s marshalling, raking a sandpit in the summer, or helping with results. If you’re interested in volunteering, please speak to a coach or me—we would be delighted to have you join us! Alternatively, please get in touch via: https://wycombephoenix.org/contact/
Kit
If you wish to purchase any Club kit, including vests (which you will need for competitions), they can be ordered online via the Club Shop run by Hawkinsport of Bourne End. https://wycombephoenix.org/kit/.
Up-coming Important Dates:
22nd – 23rd February – British Masters Indoor Championships
22nd February – English National Cross-Country Championships
8th March – UKA Inter Counties Cross Country Championships
15th March – English Schools Cross Country Championships
30th March – South of England 12/6 stage Road Relay Championships
