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 "A" at Hayes
October 17th 1959
Aylesbury press report: Vale of Aylesbury AC competed in their first Chiltern Cross Country League at Hayes on Saturday and their members filished in the following positions: 2 R Foulkes (25.49), 3 R Collins (25.52), 4 G Hurst (25.59), 8 J Ingham (26.47), 11 C Pedley (27.14), 15 D Clarke (27.32), 18 N Robson (28.28). The Vale won the event, the positions being 1 VoA 43. 2 Maidenhead 89, 3 Hayes 97, 4 Windsor 108, 5 Uxbridge 151. There were 37 runners. Foulkes and R Collins were 100 yards in the lead but went off course losing about 300-400 yards, but came through the field to 2nd and 3rd positions. Vale placings in the youths and boys race were : 1 D Tomkins (13.26), 9 A Collins (14.10), 10 C Fish (14.17), 11 T Harris (14.25), 12 G Cheshire (14.26). Tomkins ran extremely well holding off a strong challenge by a Windsor boy to win by 20 yards. Team result: 1 Uxbridge 28, 2 Aylesbury 31, 3 Windsor 38, 4 Maidenhead 63.

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 D. Larmour (Ruislip & N) 14.00
7 A. Bush (Ruislip & N) 14.03
8 P. 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 "A" Aylesbury
Sat Oct 31st 1959
Aylesbury press report: The Vale of Aylesbury AC were the host club, on Saturday, for the Chiltern Cross Country League fixture (section A) against Windsor & Eton, Maidenhead, Uxbridge and Hayes & Harlington. In the senior race, over about 5 1/2 miles, T Paton (Maidenhead) set up an early lead, but by the end of the first lap he had been overhauled by the three Vale runners Rex Foulkes, John Collins and Roger Collins. As the race went on these three drew further ahead to gain a comfortable win. With Jack Ingham, George Hurst and Des Clarke also in great form the club had an easy win, scoring 31 points to 77 by Maidenhead, 118 by Uxbridge, 119 by Windsor (without Stan Eldon), Hayes & Harlington failed to field a complete team. In the event for under 18s, an interesting race was won by G Webb (Hayes). He was closeley followed in by D Bignall (Windsor) and A Fitzgerald (VoA). The remaining Vale men, D Colvin, T Harris, D Tompkins, C Fish and A Collins packed well and all finished in the first 13. The club was thus able to complete the winning double for the first time in the series of races.
1= R.A. Foulkes (Aylesbury) 31.17
J.H. Collins (Aylesbury)
3 R.M. Collins (Aylesbury) 31.57
6 J Ingham (Aylesbury) 33.28
7 G Hurst (Aylesbury) 33.56
12 D Clarke (Aylesbury) 34.44
19 C Pedley (Aylesbury) 35.45
Teams: 1 Vale of Aylesbury 31, 2 Maidenhead 77, 3 Uxbridge 118, 4 Windsot 119, Hayes dnf
Youths & Boys
1 G Webb (Hayes)
2 D Bignall (Windsor)
3 A Fitzgerald (Aylesbury)
5 D Colvin (Aylesbury) 16.14
6 T Harris (Aylesbury) 16.15
9 D Tompkins (Aylesbury) 16.30
10 C Fish (Aylesbury) 16.31
13 A Collins (Aylesbury) 17.01

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 D. 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 P. 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
Aylesbury press report: Vale of Aylesbury AC scored their third senior win in the Chiltern Cross Country League at Uxbridge on Saturday/ This time the margin was close. Windsor & Eton AC who included AAA 6 mile champion Stan Eldon, fielded their strongest team, and were only 7 points behind VoA's score.
Eldon allowed Collins and Foulkes of the Vale to set up a 50 yard lead in the first mile. Then he moved up fast and joined the two leaders after 1 1/2 miles.
The three then alternated in the lead until half a mile from the finish, when Eldon raced away to win in 31.08. He was chased hard by the other two, with Roger Collins taking second place 6 yards behind in 31.10 (different from below) and Foulkes another 10 yards back, third.
In the race for youths and boys, The Vale made a clean sweep taking the first three places.
David Tompkins repeated his win at Hayes clocking 18.35, he finished 150 yards in front of team mates Chris Fish and Tony Collins.
The Vale team, well backed up by Graham Cheshire (11th) scored their best win so far, totalling 17 points to Windsor's 36 and Maidenhead's 77 (different to below).
The course was flat and heavy. The youths covered 3 1/4 miles and the seniors 5 1/2 miles.
1 S. Eldon (Windsor) 31.08
2 R. Collins (Aylesbury) 31.09
3 R. Foulkes (Aylesbury) 31.11
4 Bignal (Windsor) 33.10
5 Birdseye (Windsor) 33.15
6 G. Hurst (Aylesbury) 33.43
7 Paton (Maidenhead) 33.58
8 P. Sadler (Aylesbury) 34.07
9 Graham (Windsor) 34.10
10 Beckwith (Hayes & H) 34.17
11 Harris (Maidenhead) 34.25
12 D. Clark (Aylesbury) 34.31
13 Ellis (Maidenhead) 34.34
14 C. 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 P. 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 "A" at Maidenhead
Sat Dec 19th 1959
1= J.H. Collins (Aylesbury) 33.35
R.M. Collins (Aylesbury)
3= R.A. Foulkes (Aylesbury) 34.38
M.A. Tribe (Aylesbury)
Teams: 1 Vale of Aylesbury 32, 2 Windsor 77, 3 Maidenhead 82

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 1 at Aylesbury
October 15th 1960
Aylesbury press report: The Vale of Aylesbury Athletic Club were hosts to the Chiltern Cross Country League on Saturday and enjoyed a very successful afternoon's racing, winning the senior-junior match and coming third in the youths-boys match. There were 5 clubs competing, with the youth's race attracting 41 runners and the senior race 52. In the youths' event, David Tomkins of the Vale took the lead after 3/4 of a mile and held on well to score a 15 yards win over Walters of Wycombe, in the course record time of 15.32. The club was able tofield only 4 runners in this race. Team result 1 Windsor (3 5 6 16) 30, 2 Wycombe (2 8 12 23) 45, 3 Aylesbury (1 7 13 25) 46, 4 Ealing (10 11 14 15) 50, 5 Southall (4 9 17 20) 50. Vale's runners positions and times: 1 D Tomkins (15.32), 7 D Collins (16.35), 13 A Collins (17.12), 25 G Cheshire (18.10). In the senior race Roger Collins shot to the front at the start and was never headed finishing a very good winner from club colleague Mike James, Bignell of Windsor taking 3rd place. The first three runners times of 30.20, 30.42 and 31.09 all beat the course record of 31.17 established in this race a year ago by John Collins and R Foulkes. The senior course distance was 5 1/2 miles and with the Vale placing four in seven and Ealing packing very close behind a tight finish was assured. Although having to wait for 27th place for their sixth scoring member, the Vale ran out winners by 5 points. Vale positions and times wereL 1 R Collins (30.20), 2 M James (30.42), 5 G Hurst (31.36), 7 R Foulkes (32.19), 16 J Ingham (33.30), 27 D Clarke (34.50), 28 T Harris (35.02), 48 D Woods (39.07). D Woods was making a return to competition after an absence of 7 years.

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
Report from Aylesbury: In a cross country match at Southall on Saturday, Vale of Aylesbury Athletic Club runner Dave Colvin lost a shoe and was unable to find it in 2ft deep mud. The meeting was the second match of the Chiltern Cross Country League. As Windsor & Eton were the host club in the South of the Thames Cross Country Championship there were unable to keep their league fixture; leaving Ealing, Southall and Wycombe as the Vale's opponents. After overnight rain the course was almost completely waterlogged and in places the mud was knee deep. In spite of the conditions two well contested races were seen. The youth's race was a triumph for the Vale who had managed to finish only third in the first league race at Aylesbury. David Tompkins was again in fine form and finished 3rd. Donald Collins, the youngest of the Weston Turville Collins trio, showed great promise in finishing 5th. John O'Callaghan in 6th place showed a marked improvement and with Tony Collins running 14th, the Vale were first with a score of 28 points. Wycombe were 2nd with 30 points, Southall 3td with 36 and Ealing 4th with 43. In the senior race Ealing were evidently determined to gain revenge for the shock defeat inflicted by the Vale of aylesbury. They fielded most of the team which ran predominently in the recent London to Brighton relay including their star runner Mike Barrett, who was the individual winner. Thje Vale club provided the 2nd and 3rd men home with Mike James and Roger Collins, but excellent packing by the Ealing team gave them a comfortable victory.
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
27 Thompson (Aylesbury)
30 D Clarke (Aylesbury)
37 J Ingham (Aylesbury)
45 D Wood (Aylesbury)
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
Report from Aylesbury: The Vale of Aylesbury cross country team was decisively beaten by Ealing in a Chiltern League fixture at Ealing on Saturday. The Vale team was second of the 5 competitors. Individual winner of the event was international Stan Eldon who completed the course of just under 5 miles in 28.34 - 67 seconds ahead of Vale runner Roger Collins in second place. Collins maintained his record of having been plaaces first, second or third in all league matches this season. George Hurst and Rex Foulkes both ran well in the heavy going, but the team missed Mike James who was slightly injured representing the RAF against Oxford University. In the youth race, David Tomkins who prefers drier conditions finished 5th - only ten seconds behind the winner. John O'Callaghan had probably his best race to date in finishing 8th and both he and Donald Collins, two of the Vale's youngest cross country runners, show great promise. After three of the four league races, the Vale teams are both in second place in the league, but on aggregate points they are well in the lead.
1 S. Eldon (Windsor) 28.34
2 R 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 G 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 R 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 K 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
28 D Clarke (Aylesbury) 32.41
33 J Ingham (Aylesbury) 33.07
35 D Colvin (Aylesbury) 34.45
42 S Owen (Aylesbury) 35.29
45 D Wood (Aylesbury) 35.53
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 D Tomkins (Aylesbury) 14.13
6 Graham (Windsor) 14.16
7 Gathergood (Southall) 14.46
8 J O'Callaghan (Aylesbury) 14.56
9 D Collins (Aylesbury) 15.03
10 Smith (Windsor) 15.22
11 Mills (Ealing) 15.22
22 A Collins (Aylesbury) 16.01
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?

Press report from Aylesbury - not sure which date this relates to: The Vale of Aylesbury AC on Saturday narrowly missed pulling off both Senior and Youths titles in the Chiltern Cross Country League. In the fourth and final match at Wycombe, the youth team ran out easy winners which to them into second place in the league. The senior team took second place in their race and so became the runners up in the league. But with their combined placings and points the Vale won the overall league from Windsor. (sic - see below). In the youths race on Saturday the Vale runners were well on top form and romped home in their race with 29 points with Wycombe just getting the better of Windsor for second place. This just enabled Wycombe to win their section by 1 point. D Tomkins was back in the placings again with 3rd place and was well backed up by Donald Collins 5th, J O'Callaghan 9th and Tony Collins, fast improving to take 12th place. The Vale times were: 14.55, 15.20, 15.50 and 16.08 for the very hilly 2 3/4 mile course. The senior race was again won by Stan Eldon of Windsor in 20.16 from Roger Collins of Aylesbury who was only 25 seconds behind. George Hurst again ran well up to his present form in 5th place and Ken Parker also had a good run for 12th place. If the Vale had been able to field their strongest team in the league races there is no doubt they could have beat Ealing. Vale senior times and placings were: 2 R Collins (26.41), 5 G Hurst (27.35), 12 K Parker (28.35), 14 R Foulkes (28.39), 26 D Collins (30.11), 27 D Clarke (30.11), 41 D Woods. Team results: 1 Ealing 62.5, 2 Aylesbury 85, 3 Wycombe 100.5, 4 Windsor 129, 5 Southall 156. Youths race:1 VoA 29, 2 Wycombe 37, 3 Windsor 39, 4 Southall 52, 5 Ealing 59. These make the final league positions: Seniors: 1 Ealing 23, 2 Aylesbury 23, 3 Wycombe 14, 4 Southall 13, 5 Windsor 9. Youths: 1 Wycombe 21, 2 Aylesbury 20, 3 Windsor 15, 4= Southall and Ealing 11. The combined positions: 1 Aylesbury 41, 2 Wycombe 35, 3 Ealing 34, 4 Windsor 24, 5 Southall 22.

1961/1962 Season

Division 1 at Windsor
Sat Oct 21st 1961
1 S. Eldon (Windsor) 25.40
2 G. Howard (Watford) 25.44
3 M. Blagrove (Ealing) 26.16
4= D. Bignell (Windsor) 26.32
R. Graham (Windsor)
6 J. Merriman (Watford) 26.49
7 C. Redman (Watford)26.53
8 J.H. Collins (Aylesbury) 27.09
9 K. Dearing (Watford) 27.10
10 G. Hurst (Aylesbury) 27.15
11 R. Collins (Aylesbury) 27.20
21 D. Clarke (Aylesbury) 28.38
45 D. Chapman (Aylesbury) 31.58
Teams: 1 Watford 56, 2 Windsor 62, 3 Ealing 113, 4 Wycombe 129, Aylesbury dnf

Division 1 at Wycombe
Sat Oct 28th 1961
Very slippery; up and down Keep Hill with 2 laps at top
1 S. Eldon (Windsor)
2 G. Howard (Watford)
3 M. Blagrove (Ealing)
4 R. Graham (Windsor)
5 C. Redman (Watford)
6 R. Collins (Aylesbury)
7 J.H. Collins (Aylesbury)
10 G. Hurst (Aylesbury)
11 M. James (Aylesbury)
18 K. Parker (Aylesbury)
21 D. Tompkins (Aylesbury)
22 D.H. Clarke (Aylesbury)
? C. Palmer (Aylesbury)
Teams: 1 Vale of Aylesbury 73, 2 Windsor, 3 Watford, 4 Wycombe, 5 Ealing

Division 1 at Ealing
Sat Dec 2nd 1961
1 S. Eldon (Windsor) 25.37
2 M. Blagrove (Ealing) 25.42
3 M. Barrett (Ealing) 25.51
4= G. Howard (Watford) 26.00
J. Merriman (Watford)
6 D. Bignell (Windsor) 26.24
7 R. Graham (Windsor) 26.47
8 J.H. Collins (Aylesbury) 26.57
13 R.M. Collins (Aylesbury)
23 G. Hurst (Aylesbury)
26 D. Tompkins (Aylesbury)
28 D.H. Clarke (Aylesbury)
38 R.A. Foulkes (Aylesbury)
49 A. Thompson (Aylesbury)
Teams: 1 Ealing 59, 2 Wycombe 106, 3 Watford 107, 4 Windsor 109, 5 Vale of Aylesbury 136