CHILTERN LEAGUE - THE EARLY YEARS

1959/1960 Season

The Chiltern League was divided into Sections "A" and "B". There is a noticeable number of Middlesex area clubs then in the League. The Metropolitan League had not yet been formed and the nearest other league in the area was the Chingford League. The scoring system used was 6 to score in the senior race, 4 to score in the youths & boys race. If a club did not have enough scorers if didn't finish a team, the reverse scoring system didn't come in until the 1970's. I do not have all Section "A" results.

Section "B" at Perivale
October 17th 1959
1 A. Redrup (Wycombe) 26.42
2 M. Blagrove (Ealing) 26.59
3 R. Perry (Ealing) 27.22
4 S. Callan (Ealing) 27.40
5 T. Bivens (Ealing) 27.40
6 B. Trouse (Ruislip & N) 27.44
7 D. Case (Ealing) 27.57
8 C. Herd (Southall) 28.07
9 J. Gilmore (Ealing) 28.15
10 G. Archer (Ruislip & N) 28.25
11 D. Selwood (Wycombe) 28.30
12 R. Watson (Ruislip & N) 28.38
13 D. Hebbes (Ealing) 28.52
14 M. Roberts (Ealing) 29.03
15 Middleton (Wycombe) 29.12
16 J. Gunn (Southall) 29.17
17 Cox (Wycombe) 29.24
18 M. Smith (Southall) 29.28
19 I. Young (Southall) 29.30
20 C. Wroth (Southall) 29.33
Teams 1 Ealing 30, 2 Wycombe Phoenix 88,. 3 Southall 108, 4 Ruislip & Northwood 121
Youths & Boys
1= Currell (Wycombe) 13.30
Yates (Wycombe) 13.30
3 Magee (Southall) 13.40
4 Hedley (Wycombe) 13.42
5 Harding (Wycombe) 13.47
6 Larmour (Ruislip & N) 14.00
7 A. Bush (Ruislip & N) 14.03
8 Brennan (Ruislip & N) 14.10
9 Weston (Wycombe) 14.25
10 Jarvis (Southall) 14.26
Teams: 1 Wycombe Phoenix 12, 2 Ruislip & Northwood 33, 3 Ealing 61, 4 Southall 63

Certainly one athlete, Tony Bush then competing for Ruislip & Northwood is still around albeit as Harrow A.C's young athletes team manager. Any other named finishers still around?

In true "Public School" fashion names in results were often printed without initials. The next round received a brief race report:

Section "B" venue unknown
November 14th 1959
Tony Redrup broke away from Mike Blagrove after a mile and went on to win easily by 300 yards. Blagrove was forced to retire with a slight injury, but despite being without Mike Barratt, Ealing repeated their team win of the first race. Wycombe were again very easy winners of the youth's event.
1 Redrup (Wycombe) 27.11
2 Bivens (Ealing) 28.18
3 Trowse (Ruislip & N) 28.33
4 D. Case (Ealing) 29.05
5 Roberts (Ealing) 29.08
6 McGrath (Southall) 29.13
7 Herd (Southall) 29.15
8 Perry (Ealing) 29.19
9 Cattermole (Wycombe) 29.22
10 Watson (Ruislip & N) 29.35
11 Selwood (Wycombe) 29.38
12 Gunn (Southall) 29.47
13 C. Wroth (Southall) 29.50
14 Gilmour (Ealing) 29.51
15 Parker (Wycombe) 29.52
16 Garner (Southall) 29.56
17 G. Archer (Ruislip & N) 30.01
18 Smith (Feltham) 30.03
19 Randell (Feltham) 30.18
20 Brady (Southall) 30.27
Teams: 1 Ealing 58, 2 Southall 74, 3 Wycombe Phoenix 91, 4 Ruislip & Northwood 121, 5 Feltham 164
Youths & Boys
1 Currell (Wycombe) 15.25
2 Larmour (Ruislip & N) 15.47
3 Watters (Ruislip & N) 15.54
4 Hedley (Wycombe) 16.10
5 Harding (Wycombe) 16.13
6 McGee (Southall) 16.26
7 Brennan (Ruislip & N) 16.26
8 Jaques (Ruislip & N) 16.40
9 Gathgood (Southall) 16.47
10 Robson (Southall) 17.10
11 Legg (Wycombe) 17.11
12 Stewart (Ealing) 17.13
13 Jarvis (Southall) 17.30
14 Sykes (Ealing) 17.32
15 K. Hines (Ruislip & N) 17.36
Teams: 1 Wycombe Phoenix 13, 2 Ruislip & Northwood 32, 3 Southall 38, 4 Ealing 65, 5 Feltham 113

The next round finally featured the Section "A" result. The winner was Stan Eldon, winner of the International Cross Country Championships earlier in the year.

Section "A" at Uxbridge
November 28th 1959
1 S. Eldon (Windsor) 31.08
2 Collins (Windsor) 31.09
3 Foulkes (Aylesbury) 31.11
4 Bignal (Windsor) 33.10
5 Birdseye (Windsor) 33.15
6 Hurst (Aylesbury) 33.43
7 Paton (Maidenhead) 33.58
8 Sadler (Aylesbury) 34.07
9 Graham (Windsor) 34.10
10 Beckwith (Hayes & H) 34.17
11 Harris (Maidenhead) 34.25
12 Clark (Aylesbury) 34.31
13 Ellis (Maidenhead) 34.34
14 Pedley (Aylesbury) 34.36
15 Comber (Windsor) 34.50
16 Leith (Hayes & H) 35.35
17 Hewitt (Hayes & H) 35.36
18 Taylor (Windsor) 35.48
19 Hooker (Windsor) 35.50
20 Coleman (Uxbridge) 37.05
Teams: 1 Aylesbury 45, 2 Windsor 52, 3 Maidenhead 106, 4 Uxbridge 161, 5 Hayes & Harlington score?
Youths & Boys
1 Tomkins (Aylesbury) 18.35
2 Fish (Aylesbury) 19.07
3 Collins (Aylesbury) 19.10
4 Snazel (Uxbridge) 19.15
5 Munro (Maidenhead) 19.17
6 White (Windsor) 19.17
7 Smith (Windsor) 19.18
8 M. Duff (Maidenhead) 19.25
9 Gutteridge (Windsor) 19.35
10 Sparks (Hayes & H) 20.00
11 Chesher (Aylesbury) 20.02
12 Stickley (Uxbridge) 20.20
13 Weller (Maidenhead) 20.55
14 Hoad (Windsor) 20.58
15 Day (Windsor) 21.00
Teams: 1 Aylesbury 17, 2 Windsor 36, 3 Maidenhead 44

Section "B" at Feltham
November 28th 1959
Over a fast, firm course, Tony Redrup beat the course record by 47 sec. When the Chiltern League (Div. B) held their third race at Feltham. Despite having to wait until 27th position for their last scorer Ealing won the team race by 6 points from Southall who packed their 6 in 20.
1 Redrup (Wycombe) 23.33
2 Trowse (Ruislip & N) 24.14
3 Callan (Ealing) 23.20
4 Bivens (Ealing) 24.27
5 Case (Ealing) 24.31
6 Herd (Southall) 24.36
7 Wroth (Southall) 24.46
8 Perry (Ealing) 25.00
9 Gunn (Southall) 25.03
10 Cox (Wycombe) 25.08
11 Young (Southall) 25.09
12 Archer (Ruislip & N) 25.12
13 Parker (Wycombe) 25.13
14 Selwood (Wycombe) 25.14
15 Watson (Ruislip & N) 25.17
16 Roberts (Ealing) 25.18
17 Turnham (Southall) 25.20
18 Garner (Southall) 25.25
19 Cattermole (Wycombe) 25.31
20 Knights (Southall) 25.40
Teams: 1 Ealing 63, 2 Southall 69, 3 Wycombe 78, 4 Feltham 216
Youths & Boys
1 Yates (Wycombe) 12.00
2 Currell (Wycombe) 12.00
3 Wattirs (Wycombe) 12.01
4 Headley (Wycombe) 12.01
5 McGee (Southall) 12.03
6 Brennan (Ruislip & N) 12.06
7 Harding (Wycombe) 12.09
8 Jarvis (Southall) 12.19
9 Gathergood (Southall) 12.25
10 Jaques (Ruislip & N) 12.30
11 Stewart (Ealing) 12.31
12 Coleman (Wycombe) 12.40
13 Smith (Wycombe) 12.45
14 Jones (Southall) 12.46
15 Murton (Feltham) 12.49
Teams: 1 Wycombe 10, 2 Southall 36, 3 Ealing 67, 4 Ruislip & Northwood 71, 5 Feltham 90

Section "B" at Northwood
December 19th 1959
1 Redrup (Wycombe)
2 Codling (Wycombe)
3 Archer (Ruislip & N)
4 Bivens (Ealing)
5 Perry (Ealing)
6 D. Brennan (Ruislip & N)
7 Cox (Wycombe)
8 Cattermole (Wycombe)
9 Cressy (Ruislip & N)
10 Wroth (Southall)
11 Parker (Wycombe)
12 Garner (Southall)
13 Selwood (Wycombe)
14 Knight (Southall)
15 McGrath (Southall)
16 Watson (Ruislip & N)
17 Roberts (Ealing)
18 Taylor (Wycombe)
19 Havercroft (Wycombe)
20 I. Young (Southall)
Teams: 1 Wycombe 42, 2 Ruislip & Northwood 82, 3 Southall 94, 4 Ealing 98
Youths & Boys
1 Yates (Wycombe)
2 Larmour (Ruislip & N)
3 Harding (Wycombe)
4 Brennan (Ruislip & N)
5 McGee (Southall)
6 Hedley (Wycombe)
7 Watters (Wycombe)
8 Gathgood (Southall)
9 Stoker (Ruislip & N)
10 Jaques (Ruislip & N)
11 Mills (Ealing)
12 Storey (Ealing)
13 Smith (Wycombe)
14 Hodgson (Ruislip & N)
15 Sykes (Ealing)
Teams: 1 Wycombe 17, 2 Ruislip & Northwood 25, 3 Southall 49, 4 Ealing 61

Some of the name spellings vary from result to result (some things don't change!)

Wycombe's youth team later went on to take the silver medals in the National Champs.

1960/1961 Season

The league was now in a Division 1 / Division 2 format. Again the Division 1 results are incomplete.

Division 2 at Maidenhead
October 15th 1960
1 Thomas (Watford) 33.16
2 Redman (Watford) 33.16
3 Ellis (Maidenhead) 33.47
4 Dixon (Watford) 34.01
5 Archer (Ruislip & N) 34.12
6 Homes (Watford) 34.30
7 Trouse (Ruislip & N) 34.32
8 Smith (Hayes & H) 34.39
9 Paton (Maidenhead) 34.46
10 Watson (Ruislip & N) 34.49
11 Bates (Newland Park) 35.01
12 Kelly (Newland Park) 35.16
13 Barnard (Watford) 35.18
14 Larmour (Ruislip & N) 35.26
15 Wiggins (Ruislip & N) 35.37
16 Cann (Watford) 35.41
17 Clarke (Hayes & H) 36.06
18 Grant (Hayes & H) 36.06
19 North (Watford) 36.18
20 Cowlin (Maidenhead) 36.24
Teams: 1 Watford 42, 2 Ruislip & Northwood 87, 3 Maidenhead 124, 4 Newland Park College 131
Youths & Boys
1 Beechcroft (Ruislip & N) 20.18
2 Brennan (Ruislip & N) 20.27
3 Yapp (Maidenhead) 20.59
4 Cinnanman (Watford) 21.07
5 Jennings (Watford) 21.16
6 Fuller (Watford) 21.27
7 Hodgson (Ruislip & N) 21.40
8 Archer (Maidenhead) 21.56
9 Burton (Watford) 22.03
10 Weller (Maidenhead) 22.08
11 Brown (Watford) 22.16
12 J. Broadribb (Ruislip & N) 22.17
13 Darby (Ruislip & N) 22.21
14 K. Hines (Ruislip & N) 22.23
15 Blair (Ruislip & N) 22.45
Teams: 1 Ruislip & Northwood, 2 Watford 24, 3 Maidenhead 39

Division 1 at Southall
November 12th 1960
1 M. Barratt (Ealing) 29.46
2 M. James (Aylesbury) 30.16
3 R. Collins (Aylesbury) 30.35
4 T. Bivens (Ealing) 30.40
5 B. Codling (Wycombe) 30.42
6 J. Lusty (Ealing) 30.50
7 Randall (Ealing) 30.55
8 G. Hurst (Aylesbury) 30.58
9 G. Glancy (Ealing) 31.00
10 D. Case (Ealing) 31.11
11 McCaffery (Ealing) 31.13
12 J. Gilmour (Ealing) 31.28
13 C. Wroth (Southall) 31.36
14 J. Currell (Wycombe) 31.42
15 K. Parker (Aylesbury) 31.44
16 R. Foulkes (Aylesbury) 31.45
17 I. Young (Southall) 31.47
18 B. Coker (Wycombe) 31.55
19 D. Slatter (Wycombe) 32.03
20 M. Roberts (Ealing) 32.10
21 R. Knights (Southall) 32.18
22 R. Harndon (Ealing) 32.20
23 K. Cattermole (Wycombe) 32.27
24 L. Mence (Ealing) 32.30
25 M. Rooney (Ealing) 32.34
Teams: 1 Ealing 37, 2 Aylesbury 71, 3 Wycombe 107, 4 Southall 158
Youths & Boys
1 A. Watters (Wycombe) 15.59
2 T. Magee (Southall) 16.05
3 D. Tompkins (Aylesbury) 16.19
4 D. Gathergood (Southall) 16.24
5 D. Collins (Aylesbury) 17.01
6 J. O'Callahan (Aylesbury) 17.04
7 Mills (Ealing) 17.07
8 D. Harding (Wycombe) 17.07
9 Stewart (Ealing) 17.29
10 P. Legg (Wycombe) 17.32
11 I. Hislop (Wycombe) 17.34
12 Sykes (Ealing) 17.40
13 I. Robson (Southall) 17.42
14 A. Collins (Aylesbury) 17.47
15 Storey (Ealing) 18.08
16 Griffin (Ealing) 18.40
17 J. Reeves (Southall) 18.48
18 Penn (Ealing) 19.02
19 D. Francis (Southall) 19.23
20 J. Horsnell (Southall) 20.06
Teams: 1 Aylesbury 28, 2 Wycombe 30, 3 Southall 36, 4 Ealing 43

Division 1 at Horsenden Hill
November 26th 1960
1 S. Eldon (Windsor) 28.34
2 Collins (Aylesbury) 29.41
3 Bignell (Windsor) 30.07
4 Randall (Ealing) 30.23
5 Bivens (Ealing) 30.28
6 Lusty (Ealing) 30.30
7 Hurst (Aylesbury) 30.31
8 Young (Southall) 30.32
9 Gayson (Ealing) 30.32
10 Case (Ealing) 30.43
11 Currell (Windsor) 30.44
12 Gilmore (Ealing) 30.44
13 Foulkes (Aylesbury) 30.47
14 Lee (Windsor) 31.02
15 Glancy (Ealing) 31.14
16 Wroth (Southall) 31.19
17 Birdseye (Windsor) 31.38
18 Parker (Aylesbury) 31.51
19 Roberts (Ealing) 31.57
20 Cattermole (Windsor) 32.08
21 Cox (Windsor) 32.08
22 Dean (Windsor) 32.08
23 Legg (Ealing) 32.10
24 Rooney (Ealing) 32.13
25 Harnden (Ealing) 32.15
Teams: 1 Ealing 46, 2 Aylesbury 101, 3 Windsor 114, 4 Wycombe 127, 5 Southall 167
Youths & Boys
1= Yates (Windsor) 14.03
Walters (Windsor) 14.03
3 Magee (Southall) 14.09
4 Holden (Windsor) 14.12
5 Tomkins (Aylesbury) 14.13
6 Graham (Windsor) 14.16
7 Gathergood (Southall) 14.46
8 O'Callaghan (Aylesbury) 14.56
9 Collins (Aylesbury) 15.03
10 Smith (Windsor) 15.22
11 Mills (Ealing) 15.22
Teams: 1 Wycombe 28, 2 Windsor 35, 3 Aylesbury 43, 4 Ealing 63, 5 Southall 70

Winner of the next round was John Merriman who had been runner up in the National earlier in the year beating Stan Eldon into 3rd place. Merriman had later represented Wales in the International CC finishing 3rd behind Morocco's A. Rhadu and Belgium's Gaston Roelants. Neither Eldon nor Merriman competed in the 1961 International.

Division 2 at Northwood
November 26th 1960
1 J. Merriman (Watford) 29.25
2 Martin (Watford) 29.48
3 C. Redman (Watford) 30.05
4 M. Dickson (Watford) 30.05
5 G. Archer (Ruislip & N) 30.09
6 T. Rogerson (Uxbridge) 30.31
7 D. Wiggins (Ruislip & N) 30.34
8 Paton (Maidenhead) 30.35
9 D. Thomas (Watford) 30.44
10 Ellis (Maidenhead) 31.25
11 B. Watson (Ruislip & N) 31.27
12 Webb (Hayes & H) 32.09
13 Dover (Uxbridge) 32.11
14 T. Homes (Watford) 32.12
15 K. Barnard (Watford) 32.20
16 Beckwith (Hayes & H) 32.27
17 Smith (Hayes & H) 32.29
18 Kelly (Newland Park) 32.31
19 Cutler (Newland Park) 32.52
20 N. Croston (Ruislip & N) 32.56
Teams: 1 Watford 33, 2 Ruislip & Northwood 105, 3 Uxbridge 132, 4 Maidenhead 158, 5 Newland Park College
Youths & Boys
1 P. Brennan (Ruislip & N) 13.20
2 Fuller (Watford) 13.28
3 Woolridge (Maidenhead) 13.31
4 R. Beecroft (Ruislip & N) 13.40
5 Saines (Ruislip & N) 14.00
6 Hodgson (Ruislip & N) 14.06
7 Cinnamond (Watford) 14.18
8 C. Maslen (Ruislip & N) 14.28
9 J. Broadribb (Ruislip & N) 14.31
10 Brown (Watford) 14.36
11 Sparks (Hayes & H) 14.31
12 Whitehead (Hayes & H) 14.42
13 Weller (Maidenhead) 14.42
14 Blair (Ruislip & N) 14.43
15 Gillett (Watford) 14.48
Teams: 1 Ruislip & Northwood 16, 2 Watford 34, 3 Maidenhead 51, 4 Hayes & H 67

John topped the UK rankings in 1960 for the 6 miles and 10km with times of 28.09.4 and 28.52.6. Stan Eldon was 5th and 4th in the same lists with times of 28.19.8 and 29.20.0. Furthur down the 6 miles list (only the top 5 were ranked in the 10km), Tony Redrup appears in 16th place with 29.15.0 and Mike Barratt in 24th with 29.31.8. Merriman's other 1960 bests were 8.12.6 (3000m), 8.47.6 (2 miles), 13.31.6 (3 miles) and 14.03.0 (5000m), Eldon's 3.51.3 (1500m), 8.08.8 (3000m), 8.49.0 (2 miles), 13.36.8 (3 miles) and 14.09.8 (5000m). How many current Chiltern League athletes can match these times 40 years on?