Date: Saturday, 13 June, 2009

Time: 1.45 pm (arrive by this time to enter the races)

Venue: Chingford Park Grounds, North East Valley.

Course Map: See Below or Download pdf

Results are now available >> Results Page

Photo album is now available

2009 Chingford Challenge

Leith regained the Chingford Challenge Shield from University of Otago Harriers after a tough tussle on Saturday 13 June 2009 at Chingford Park in cold but sunny conditions. Neale McLanachan returned to form in splendid fashion by taking charge from go and led from start to finish to win the Leith XC Senior Men's title as well as spearheading the Leith team to a fine win. Barbara Roy Uni's W19 star runner and Leith's Kirsty Morris fought out a tremendous duel with Roy winning by just one second from Morris in the Open Women's race. Uni won the Open Women's team's race and Morris won the Leith XC Senior Women's title in the process.

The Men's and Women's Open grades started together with the women running 2 laps of 1.75 km around the Chingford Park grounds and the men to run 3 laps. With the University women putting in a great team effort to place University 6 points ahead once all the women had finished, it was up to the men to complete the last lap to decide which club was going to come out tops.

The University Team of Roy, Maddie Munro, Andrea Peat and Charlotte Munro with 15 points, beat the Leith team of Morris, Sue Cuthbert, Megan Balchin and Jan Craig with 21 points, by a 6 point margin.

Neale McLanachan seemed determined to show that Leith meant business this year and this seemed to galvinise the Leith runners to put in an all out effort. Geoff Williamson showed prominently for much of the race while Glen Ferguson and Jason Palmer were always thereabouts. In the end Ferguson put in his trademark finish to stay ahead of the fast finishing Palmer and Williamson. McLanachan meanwhile had literally run away from the rest of the field to his fine win. Matt Gibbons (6th Overall) was the first University runner to finish. Elliot O'Sullivan (Hill City guest runner) also put in a fine run to finish in third place (non-counting placing).

The Leith team of McLanachan, Ferguson, Palmer, Williamson, Alan Funnell and David Rush with 22 points, beat the University team of Gibbons, Luke O'Connor, David Taylor, Sam Jordine, Aka Fakareng and Ken McDonald with 62 points, by 40 points.

With the Women's and Men's scores combined, Leith regained the Chingford Challenge Shield by 34 points. Well done to Leith and also to the University runners who competed in such great spirit. We wish them luck for next year's challenge.

Leith XC Championships 2009

Neale McLanachan was a comfortable winner of the Leith XC Championships in conjunction with the Chingford Challenge. Jason Palmer was the next Leith SM to finish with Geoff Williamson third. Glen Ferguson was the first Leith MM35 runner home to win the Leith MM35 XC title while Brian Pascoe put in a steady run to win the Leith MM50 XC title.

Kirsty Morris won the Senior Women's Leith XC Championships in her great duel with the W19 runner Barbara Roy of University. Megan Balchin was second Leith SW home and Kerri Lumb finished third in the SW grade. Sue Cuthbert took out the Leith MW35 title and Jan Craig the MW50 title.

Adrian Arsen won the M14 title running one lap of the 1.75km course. Guest runner Joel Uttley, in a "keenly" contested race finished with the same in a well-orchestrated photo finish.

Sebastian Sole won the B12 title and Claudia Sole won the G12 title over the shorter 1km course.

Thanks to all those who helped to set up the course, the timekeepers, marshals, caterers and the competitors themselves who made this a great day of cross-country running.

See map below for an aerial view of the 1.75 km course lap (not accurate, will be updated) and further below for 12 and Under map.