Sunday 1st July saw 10 teams from the best junior clubs in the country gather at Arrow Valley Country Park in Redditch for the final of the Yvette Baker Competition. SYO took a team of 56 runners (far more than any other club) by coach and a convoy of cars. Our aim - to retain the trophy for the 2nd year running!

Conditions were sweltering so we quickly set up a city of tents in the shade of some large trees and set to work with the facepainting and nail varnishing in our team colours. Then it was time for our first starters to make their way to the start and soon there was a steady stream of yellow and black heading out for their runs. Within no time at all our first finishers on the yellow course were back with some good times under their belts; followed by finishers on the orange and light green. It was a long wait though for finishers on green who had a greulling 6.4km, through grotty vegetation in 30 degrees heat! Eventually though all our runners had returned producing some excellent times across all the classes.

While the results were being calculated vast quantities of ice-cream were consumed and the older juniors chilled out in the shade listening to music, while the younger ones enjoyed the playground and bouncy castle. Finally it was time for the prize giving. There was an anxious wait as BOK were announced in 3rd place on 856 points, WCOC in 2nd on 868 points and then yes SYO in 1st place on 889 points - a fabulous win! 

Well done to everyone who ran - everyone's results help to push down the scores of the other teams - but particular congratulations to our counters:

Charlotte C - yellow girls (100 points)
Freya - orange girls (100 points)
Euan - light green boys (100 points)
Conrad - orange boys (99 points)
Imogen - light green girls (99 points)
Robbie - yellow boys (98 points)
Anna - yellow girls (98 points)
Dylan - orange boys (98 points)
Isabelle Ho - green girls (97 points)
Jamie - light green boys (97 points)
Isabelle Ha - yellow girls (97 points)

Thank you to Jacky for captaining the team so superbly and to all the parents supporters. Next year the final is on 7th July in Hatfield Forest near Bishop's Stortford. Please put the date in your diary!

The Harvester overnight relay was held over the weekend of 23rd/24th June in Tilgate Forest near Gatwick Airport. Twelve dedicated members formed 2 teams - 1 in the A class and 1 in the B class. The A team, comprised of Martin, Amanda, Charlie A, Aislinn, Pete T, Lesley and Nick, ran superbly to lift the handicapped trophy and finish 2nd overall; while in the B class the all junior team of Louise, Dom, Max, Sam and Euan also performed incredibly well to lift the Junior trophy and win the class overall. 

SYO hosted the Yorkshire Schools Champs on Sunday 10th June at Sandall beat. The grassy assembly area, adjacent parking, nearby start & finish and SYO refreshment stall all made for a lovely event. Participants also enjoyed the fast sprint style courses through the runnable woodland. Well done to all the SYO juniors who gained a podium place.

Y4 Girls: 1st Ella, 2nd Alice, 3rd Molly
Y4 Boys: 2nd Rory, 3rd Will P
Y5 Girls: 1st Anna, 2nd Sofia, 3rd Margaux
Y5 Boys: 1st Robbie, 3rd Toby
Y6 Girls: 1st Freya, 2nd Ciara, 3rd Ruth
Y6 Boys: 1st James, 2nd Evan, 3rd John Joe
Y7 Boys: 1st Ben T
Y7 Girls: 1st Imogen
Y8 Girls: 2nd Alex C, 3rd Carys
Y8 Boys: 1st Euan, 2nd Matthew, 3rd Dylan
Y9 Boys: 1st Max, 2nd Sam C
Y10 Girls: 1st Isobel
Y10 Boys: 1st Sam D
Y11 Boys: 1st Dom

Hunters Bar Junior School won the primary prize, whilst the secondary competition was won by High Storrs. Many thanks to Amanda, Paul & Ian for putting on such a fabulous sunny event.