New Hall in a league of their own

Young athletes race for honours at the King Henry VIII Relays in Coventry

New Hall School defended their title in fine style to make it two wins from two at the King Henry VIII Relays, James Taylor reports.

On a special day for the girls’ race, 25 years on from its addition to the long-standing boys’ fixture, the Essex school dominated in every respect, with fastest splits in all four stages. The concurrent boys’ six-stage event, on the other hand, came down to a last-lap showdown, with Ermysted’s Grammar School clinching their second title. That they took down the defending champions The Judd School in the final reckoning would have made the victory even sweeter.

The girls’ first stage saw an early statement of intent by New Hall. Heidi Woodley put them in control with the day’s fastest split, 13:12, though last year’s runners up, Upton Hall, had Holly Cross keep Woodley honest with 13:28. But this was as close as it got, as Isla Widdowson (14:05) pushed the lead out to half a minute on stage two, handing on to Ava King, the young international putting the race out of sight with 13:42.

Olivia Forrest could therefore cruise round to match the day’s second fastest, 13:28, bringing her team in a minute faster than last year, and the fifth fastest of all time. Behind, there was a great race for silver, Luan Power of Ratcliffe College coming through from a minute back to pip Upton Hall and match their high placing from 2023. But New Hall were in a different league, and with all four team members set to return next year, who would bet against a golden hat-trick?

So as one dynasty begins, another seemingly comes to an end: an open boys’ contest was expected, since eight of the ten fastest last year, including the core of long-dominant Judd squad, had now left school. The Kent team had already endured a painful season, failing to qualify out of an admittedly horrid region in the National Cup, and thus anticipated an uncomfortable race around War Memorial Park, though fell running specialists and 2024 fourth-placers Ermysted’s were perhaps a little under the radar.

The first stage was fast, as we have now come to expect. Many teams with only one superstar played their ace early, none more effectively than Bourne Grammar School, who had Tom Preston rip around the multi-terrain 2.3 mile course in 11:16. Given the exceptionally muddy conditions in the short woodland…