Two Belgravians managed to prise themselves off the sofa and away from post Christmas inactivity to race in the fast and furious Ribble Valley 10k at Clitheroe.  Both set personal records to end the year on a high.  Mark Pollard placed 10th in 30:47 while Pete Willis was 20th in 32:28.  Well done boys!

Among the finishers was the legendary Ron Hill of Clayton le Moors, now an M70 and clocking 50:46.

Full result

South of the Thames Champions

European Cross Country Champs

Victory 5

Sunday 7 December. Conditions were perfect for the Victory 5 miles race at Portsmouth. Russell Dessaix-Chin set the pace from the off and the rest were content to sit in. Three miles came up in 13:36 (a pb for Russ) where he pushed on to start the break away.  As late as 800m to go Mark Warmby was still only 20 metres down but the damage had been done and he couldn't bridge the gap. Russell increased his lead to 10 seconds by the finish to win in 22:54.  But sadly a mistake had been made by the marshals just after the start, resulting in the field sticking to the athletic track before leaving the arena when they should have been on the surrounding cycle track. The result was that the overall distance had been reduced by 65 metres (11 seconds at Russell's pace), the shortfall being accurately measured after the race by the organisers. Mark Warmby (Newham & Essex Beagles) was second in 23:04 and Ben Tickner (Wells City) 3rd in 23:17. Full results

Belgrave took the team race with 65 points from City of Portsmouth 149 with Hassan Raidi 19th in 25:19. Redoubtable M45s Mike Trees, 25:44, and Knut Hegvold, 26:13, completed the team and placed 1st and 2nd in the veterans' category and Anne Hegvold, 30:42, was 3rd woman over 40.

Weekend Roundup

• Scottish Regional Champs 

Daniel Mulhare placed second in the Scottish East Champs behind Robert Russell at Cupar on December 6th while the West Champs at Irvine saw Mark Pollard fourth man home behind three Eritreans.

• The Varsity Race 

Also last week and held as normal on Wimbledon Common, Oxford got the better of a Cambridge team led home by their Captain, Belgravian James Kelly.  James placed 3rd.

• Vault action 

Winner of the pole vault at the Windsor SE&H Open Meet was Sam Colgate with 4.20m. Over at Lee Valley in the Data Connection Games Stephanie Smith vaulted 3.30m and at the recent Brunel Jumps series she improved her pole vault personal record to 3.60 - things are looking good for her for the summer.

• Sp8y - 4:03 mile in Saudi 

Not bad for mid-December on a concrete track in the rain!  Neil Speaight  limbers up for the South of Thames Cross Country Championship ... Video.  Be warned - can take ages to download.

• Marty Dent 2:14:46 in Fukuoka 

After disappointment at being turned down for Olympic selection by Australia, Marty Dent has successfully switched his attentions to the roads.  Sunday saw him run to 13th place in the Fukuoka Marathon, the race being won by Ethiopia's Tsegaye Kebede in 2:06:10. Ex-Brit Jon Brown was 9th and Dan Robinson 16th.  Full results

• 2009 fixtures

Many of the 2009 T&F fixtures are now in and have been added to our list. Link

European Championship Trials

Great news from Sefton Park, Liverpool, setting for the European Championship Trials in cold and miserable conditions with the temperature barely crawling above zero.

In the under 20 race Nick Goolab ran so well to place second to St. Helen's David Forrester.  Many commented on how confident Nick looked in his running - and he'll still be eligible for this age group next winter.

Phil Wicks and Russell Dessaix-Chin lined up in the senior men's race over 9.8k.  Russ (who placed 17th) tells us that he has never felt so cold or been in so tough a race - but that's what he's in the UK for - to learn as much as he can about cross country running. Up with the leaders over the first lap, Phil Wicks, took up the pace on the second circuit in an effort to break things up.  It worked to a certain extent and he was well in contention in a slightly smaller leading group for the final lap, holding on for sixth place while struggling to stop himself from "heaving" over the last 300 metres.

UKA reports and full results  Belgrave results  

Belgrave Open 7 mile Walk

Not yet eighteen years old, Alex Wright placed second in the 89th Belgrave Open Seven Miles Walk, in spite of treating it as a training spin.

Race winner was Darrell Stone of Steyning.

Alex has beaten some long standing U20 Club Records this year and got up to 3rd in the UKA Senior Men's 5000m Championship at Birmingham back in the summer.  He has been awarded the Cup for the Young Belgravian of the Year. 

Open '7' Full results

Catherine second on Parliament Hill

Saturday, 22 November. Belgrave only had one representative in the London Cross Country Championships at Parliament Hill but Catherine Bryson (20:28) made a bold effort to place second to Clapham's Justina Heslop (20:07) in the 6000m Senior Women's event.

Belgrave 1-2 in Brighton 10k and "South of the Thames" medals

It was a Belgrave 1-2 in the Brooks Brighton 10k as Jonathan Blackledge got the better of Stephen Sharp - 30:25 to 30:30. In 3rd place was Winchester's Tom Payne, 30:32. There were 2,338 starters.

Saturday, 15 November.  In the McCain's UK Cross Challenge at Gateshead Russell Dessaix-Chin placed 9th in the Open Race amongst classy opposition while Neil Speaight and Steve Davies featured in the One Lap event. Full results

Meanwhile, backing up a winning Phil Wicks at Lloyd Park, Pete Willis, Mike Trees and Malachi Byansi earned bronze team medals in the South of the Thames 5 miles Race behind Aldershot and Herne Hill. At eight to score the Bels were 2nd to Herne Hill. Results and pictures  Full results

Justin Chaston medals in Masters' International

A lot of water has gone under the bridge since Justin Chaston's Olympic appearances as a steeplechaser and countless runs in club colours, but the man is still mixing it at the front end of fields in endurance events.  At Swansea he competed in the British Masters' International Cross Country Championships over 8k in the M40 age group - and came away with 3rd place after a hard fought race.  Justin, racing for Wales, held second place early in the contest and was secure in third for most of the second lap but finally had to hold off a fast finishing John Downes (Ireland).

Belgravians star in Lotto Cross Cup at Mol, Belgium

Nick Goolab missed a win on his international début by a single second. In the Junior Men's race over 6.4k he was just beaten by Jeroen D'Hoedt of Belgium 20:50 to 20:49.  In the 9.5k Senior Men's race first Brit home with a fine run was Phil Wicks in 8th spot, ahead of compatriots Bowser, Humphries and McLeod. Winner was Ethiopian Faisa Dame Tasama 30:10 with Phil 31:07.  Running for Ireland was Daniel Mulhare and his 23rd place in 32:37 made him third man home for his country.

The Belles are back!

A turn around in fortunes saw Belgrave's women's team rise to the top of the results board in match two at Lightwater.  The Belles scored 92 to South London's 106 and Herne Hill's 112 and this moves them to second in the League behind South London Harriers. Led home by Sarah Murphy in 6th place, the Belgrave team was completed by Zoe Vail, Anne Hegvold, Tilly Heaton and Vicky Goodwin.

A very wet Wimbledon Common was the scene for Hercules Wimbledon AC's hosting of the second "Sweatshop" Men's Surrey Cross Country League race of the season.  Individual winner was Belgrave's Russell Dessaix-Chin - just a couple of weeks short of being eligible to score. The league is a two horse race with just a few points between Thames Hare & Hounds, who have won each of the races by a whisker, and Herne Hill Harriers; but the Bels now have a chance of moving into 3rd.

D.J. (John) Hall President of Belgrave Harriers 2008/2009

John Hall joined Belgrave Harriers in 1971 and soon became a scoring member in walking teams and has done so ever since - far too many to mention.

He has competed on a regular basis since then not only in Belgrave colours but Middlesex (and for a brief spell, Sussex) and Civil Service, turning in some meritorious performances over all distances from the one mile at Crystal Palace to the London to Brighton.

In his county of Middlesex he has won more titles in a single event than any other athlete and was the County President four years ago. He has probably won more athletics medals in Civil Service championships than anyone else, having picked up a few running team medals as well as being “in the frame” in track and road walks since the mid-1970’s and having regained the track title this year. He has been a vice-President of the Civil Service Athletic Association for many years and has recently been made Vice-President of the Southern Area of the Race Walking Association.

Regrettably National Team medals do not fill his wall but this year he was able to add the National 50kms to his tally.

He has competed with honour at international veterans meetings in recent years, the highlight being victory in the M55 20k walk at the European Veterans Championship in 35 degrees Celsius heat in Poznan, Poland in 2006.

John served on Belgrave Committee in his younger days but since moving to Enfield fills his time supporting the local allotments and is now Chairman of the Friends of Enfield Playing Fields, which has lately involved him in trying to save the Donkey Lane athletics track.

In his spare time he has been walking secretary for Middlesex County for over 10 years, for the Civil Service for over 30 years and has now added the British Masters Athletics Federation walking duties to his portfolio.

He is the Secretary to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Athletic Club, which he founded over 20 years ago, despite having retired over three years ago from the Civil Service after 34 years of toil.

What other spare time he has is taken up with walks in the Lake District and Scotland, being an expert on “Munros”, a regular in the Tanners Hatch Marathons and a member of Saracens rugby football club. He has supported Belgrave at many National League meetings over the years and recalls being at the promotion match when the Bels at last achieved British League status.

John has just been elected onto the Race Walking Association Judges Panel and has been a Life Member of Belgrave for many years.

Half a million website visits

Many thanks to those of you who visit our website regularly.  The Belgrave website has now received over half a million unique per day visits. (i.e. if you come back twice in a day you only get counted once). It's good to know that there are so many of you out there around the globe who are interested in the fate of Belgrave Harriers.  Long may we continue to bring you news ... and long may we continue to make it.

Road Running

Sunday, October 26.  In miserable conditions on the south coast, Jonathan Blackledge placed 20th in the Great South Run in a personal record of 50:44.  His previous best was 50:52 from 2005. Kevin Gadd was 37th, 56:40, and crazy running man Pete Cross was 7th in the M50 category with 68:26.

Saturday, October 25. Veteran Mike Trees is getting back to winning ways, first across the line in the Bushy Park 5k time trial.

Road Running, Cross Country and more

Simon Jones abstained from the post 6-Stage Relay celebrations and dance-off in "Brummy-town" ... saving himself for the next morning's Cardiff Half Marathon where he ran 67:48 to beat Kenyan John Murithi by getting on for a minute. Murithi went off like a rocket to grab a big lead but he suffered in the wind and when Simon went after him at 8 miles and then hammered the last mile or so, the African had no answer.

Elsewhere on the Sunday morning, after singing and dancing in Reflex 'til the early hours, some of Simon's team mates were slowly rousing themselves, having slept on floors and spare beds in the Skipper's house. Skip himself was feeling a little fragile ... "I don't think it was the drink, Maria, ... it was just that the music was too loud ..."

At the Cabbage Patch 10 miles, veteran Knut Hegvold was first Belgravian home in 7th place - 53:50 - and Birhan Dagne placed second in the women's race with 57:55.

In the Wimbledon Audi 10k, Hassan Raidi was first across the finish line in 31:19.

Dan Mulhare had to miss the relay to race in the Jerry Farnon 5 miles cross country event in Ireland as part of the lead-up to the Euro Cross.  He was so inspired to see on our website that the Bels had won without him that he ran a great race on the Sunday to place 5th, coming home ahead of a couple of guys who were on the Irish senior team at the World Cross in Edinburgh.

There was plenty of Belgrave action in the area around the O2 Arena in the Sony Ericsson Run to the Beat London Half-marathon - but it sounds as if the organisation left a very great deal to be desired.  Nevertheless Belgravians finished 3rd, 4th, 6th and 7th in the men's race thanks to Hassan Raidi, Kassa Tadesse, Knut Hegvold and Will Cockerell.  Birhan Dagne outran Lucy Hasell to win the women's event and Vicky Knight had a great run for 3rd.

The low key Belgrave 5k Yacht Handicap enabled Russell Dessaix-Chin to let rip around the roads of Wimbledon. On the accurately measured circuit that is also used for the Belgrave Bolt/Surrey County 5k, back-marker Russell set out no less than fifteen and a quarter minutes after the first runner had been let loose yet got through to 5th place, just 11 seconds off the win. His time of 14:49 took 20 seconds off Phil Wicks' club best for the course - and was only 2 seconds slower than the all time best set by Thames Hare & Hound Phil Sly when winning the Surrey race in 2004.

Result

Aldershot Road Relays

The Men's 2008 SEAA 6-Stage Championship at Rushmoor Arena was a hugely exciting race. Bedford, Beagles, Basingstoke and Aldershot all served time at the front of the field but at the end of getting on for two hours of racing it was the Bels who took the victory, notching up a sixth win in the event over the past seven years. The B squad also excelled to place 22nd giving us the chance to field two teams for the National Championship at Sutton Coldfield on October 18.

Dan Mulhare (left) was a revelation. His storming 17:58 on stage four largely negated Andy Vernon's push for an Aldershot victory, leaving Steve Sharp and Phil Wicks to do the tidying up. Phil is still only operating at around 75% but nevertheless ran his best ever time for the course - 17:41 - to go third fastest of the day and second on our all-time list, sandwiched between Mark Miles and Marty Dent. Dan goes straight into the list at number six.

With six more men to come into the reckoning for the National, who'd be a selector!

"Jack" Brown 1925-2008

Belgrave Harriers regret to announce the death of John "Jack" Brown who passed away on 24 September in his 84th year.  He had spent his last years in a nursing home.

"Jack" became a Belgravian in July 1942 at the age of 17 and became a fierce middle and longer distance runner right through to the early 1960s.  His best 6 miles time was set in 1955 - 29:54.8 - and he ran 13:52.4 for 3 miles in 1956. In his later veteran years he became a member of Cambridge Harriers. A fuller appreciation of Jack's career will appear in due course.

Phil Wicks 3rd in New York

The 26th Annual JP Morgan Chase Challenge Final was held in New York over the standard 3.5 mile course and saw a fierce race. The South African Transnet Rail Engineering team retained their title for the fifth consecutive year - but the Africans were challenged for the individual honours by Legal & General's (and Belgrave's) Phil Wicks.

Phil sat in the pack for the first 2miles but took up the pace going into the last 800 metres. With 400 metres to go Tshamano Setone of Transnet and Olebogeng Masire of Goldfields regained the lead with the former just nipping the win by one second - 16:03 to 16:04 and Phil's 16:08. 

Phil was pleased to be much closer to them than last year in a personal record for the distance.

Legal & General placed 4th, behind Transnet, Google and General Electric (Chicago), with their team including another Belgravian in Tim Chidgey and our old friend Stuart Major.

Annual General Meeting 2008

Around forty members attended Belgrave Hall to listen to the Secretary's Report and Treasurer's report before electing prolific race walker John Hall President for 2008-2009. Graham Parr and George Flanagan were made Life Members.

There were few changes in our administrative line-up but one of note was that Alan Mead stood down after fourteen years as Committee Chairman, with John Powell moving into that post.

Secretary's Report

Goldie Sayers - 4th with a new British Record

Belgravians Goldie Sayers and Phillips Idowu were both in action at the Birds Nest Stadium in Beijing and both came so close to achieving their dreams.

Down - and out!

British Athletics League Premier Division Final Match

Needing just seven more points on a day where we should have been able to pick them up almost anywhere, we were found wanting and paid the penalty with relegation. Thus a twenty-two year reign in the top division of British Athletics came to an end.

One couldn't fault any of the guys who were there and did all they could.  Towards the end of the match we were lying fourth and it was still looking as if we might just stave off the drop - but so few points covered the struggling clubs in positions four to seven and the last events of the day went against us.

Rosenheim League Final

Belgrave Bolt 5k

This was Marty's 5th appearance in the race. His first was outside the first thousand (although we think he was only 13 yrs old then) and in his second race he was about 200+.  He has been in the first ten on two occasions. 

Four Belgravians are Beijing bound

While Team GB Belgravians Goldie Sayers (javelin) and Phillips Idowu (triple jump) have been putting the final touches to their Olympic preparations, the Olympic Council of Ireland have announced that they will add three additional athletes who have only attained the B standard to the Irish team - and one of these is Michelle Carey (400m hurdles). David Gillick (400m), who has recently broken the Irish record with a run of 45.12, was already assured of his place.

Dwain's Olympic bid is over

Marty - a Dad!

On the roads

European recognition

UKA Champs. & Olympic Trials

Phillips is favourite

Goldie Sayers led the women's javelin competition from the first round and finished with a flourish - a final throw of 62.62m.  In the 5k walk 17 year-old Alex Wright placed an outstanding third in 22:58.21 to set a superb U20 Club Record. Caught out a little by a fast early pace, Neil Speaight worked hard throughout the 1500m final getting up to fourth place at the end.

UKA Champs. & Olympic Trials

Dwain Chambers must now wait and see

William Sharman placed 3rd in the sprint hurdles final, Tim Bayley was 5th in the 800m and Hannah Douglas was 7th in the 400m hurdles, not too far from her best time.

Full results

Wicksy's back!

News from Coggie

Our New Zealand correspondent Paul Coughlan writes to tell us of the safe arrival of baby Ben William Coughlan, born 18 June.  So belated congratulations are due to Paul and Bronwyn, now the parents of three boys.

Coggie also tells us that after an eight year hiatus, he'll be back in the UK for a brief visit during October this year.  Hopefully he'll be able to fit in a race - or at least a run or two over the Common.

Coggie's recently got to know ex-Tipton Harrier Matt Smith, now living in Christchurch and wanting to pass on his best wishes to Mark Miles.

Bels move up the league

Going to Eton for the second match in the BAL Premier Division with a team no stronger than that which gained 6th place in the opening clash, hopes were not particularly high. But the Bels came good with some powerful performances by newer and younger members and placed a very pleasing 4th at the end of the day - moving up to 4th in the league table as well. Our own man of the match must be Mark Allen who added 6 metres to his previous best to win the B hammer throw and won the B shot putt for good measure.

Other Belgrave winners were Neil Speaight (A 800m), William Sharman (A 110mH), Dave Wellstead (B Triple Jump) and the sprint relay team.

Newham & Essex Beagles won the match from City of Manchester with Woodford Green wEL third.

Bels raid Norwich again

Belgravians won the men's and women's races at the Lord Mayor's City Centre Classic 5k at Norwich. Simon Jones continued a tradition of Belgrave athletes heading the field (Paul Evans still holds the course record and Mark Miles has won here twice), while Birhan Dagne (also the course record holder) was winner of the women's race.

And just to make it a truly Belgrave affair, our greatest ever road runner, Paul Evans, now also a member of City of Norwich AC, was on hand to congratulate Simon, one of our fine crop of road runners of today.

Competing in Biberach an der Reiss, Germany, Dwain Chambers twice beat the 'A' standard Olympic qualifying time for 100 metres, racing 10.14 in his heat and then 10.06 to win the final. 30-year-old Chambers thus goes to joint top of the British rankings and looks forward to the UK Championships and Olympic Trials at Birmingham in two weeks time. 

Currently he, along with others who have committed anti-doping violations, is prevented by a British Olympic Association (BOA) bylaw from ever again representing Team GB at any future Olympic Games, but he insisted he will be concentrating on the track.

Chambers said: "Now I've got the qualifier, I've just got to continue with my role which is competing and let the lawyers do their part."

Chambers said: "I've taken up this challenge and as I have said before, I would only do it because of my strong feelings about how well I can run in the Olympic Games. I've matured a lot and I'd like to go on record in saying that I've made amends for my mistakes a long time ago, and now I'm proving that I can do it clean."

After hearing the German crowd applaud his performances, Chambers added: "I will always remain a clean athlete from here onwards. I've come of age now and I believe in what I say and I'm able to do the walking as well. That comes with age, experience and confidence."

Fabulous Phillips wins again

Sat/Sun 21/22 Jun. Competing in the SPAR European Cup at Annecy, France, Phillips Idowu set the GB team up for a fine second day by winning the triple jump.

The 29-year-old world indoor champion, rotated badly with his first effort but took the lead with his second leap, 17.29m, and improved again with his third, 17.46m.

Phillips was delighted with his first European Cup win. "I needed to get a jump in today and win and that's what I did,"

"I wanted a little bit more but a win is a win and I'm still on top of the world. I reckon I can even put down another one metre."

Phillips was voted man of the match.

Neither Samson Oni (high jump) or Goldie Sayers (javelin) were able to live up to their recent form on day one of the competition, placing 5th and 4th respectively.

In the Group A competition in Leira, Portugal, Michelle Carey placed 2nd in the 400m hurdles while one time Belgravian Silvia Cruz broke the Portuguese record in the javelin.

Rosenheim Romps

The two opening matches in the midweek Rosenheim League had Belgrave lying just one point off bottom of the division but two subsequent match wins have now moved us into the top four clubs - a position that if maintained will take us to the final.

But perhaps the most noticeable feature of our team at the most recent match was the lighthearted approach to the event by our squad.

Long-legged middle-distance man Dave Mason had previously tackled the high jump and triple jump in match three with some success - 2nd place and a win - now he tried his first ever 400m hurdles and didn't look at all bad as he successfully negotiated ten flights of hurdles to notch up yet another win.

While this was going on, spearman James Everard, having won his speciality, turned to the pole vault.  There were no poles available so he commandeered a length of metal fencing, cleared 2.20m and won the competition.  Bonkers these javelin throwers!

Phillips tops World list

Phillips Idowu went to the top of the world triple jump rankings after clearing 17.55m at the Venizelia meeting in Haniá in Greece on Saturday 7 June.

Idowu's best effort was five centimetres further than the previous leader set by Cuban David Giralt.

The Belgravian's winning distance in his first competition of the summer represents a major boost for his Olympic title bid in Beijing.

In the same meeting, David Gillick ran 45.78 to win the B 400 metres.

In Kassel, Germany, on 6 June, Goldie Sayers had a big win at the Askina meeting as she beat both the top German javelin throwers Christina Obergföll and Steffi Nerius. At the same meet Neil Speaight placed 3rd in a classy 1500m with 3:40.51.

In the Arles International Decathlon Kyle McCarthy was among the field, placing 9th and racking up 7492 points.

Another "shaky" start to BAL campaign ...

Already missing a few key men, those Bels that made it to the start line mostly had an uninspired match in the Premier Division at Birmingham. After languishing in 7th place for most of the meet, the Bels crept into 6th at the death and will have to improve greatly to get clear of the relegation zone.

Man of the match was Samson Oni - clearing 2.30m to win the high jump.  William Sharman scored an impressive sprint hurdles win and multi-eventer Louis Evling-Jones was everywhere - and setting a personal record in the hurdles.

... and slammed in Swansea!

The Belles were outgunned in the opening UK Women's Athletics League Division Two match, placing last of the eight teams. Once again it was a case of far too many being unavailable with the result that the team was very thinly spread.

But those that were there enjoyed themselves and there were some bright spots.  Hannah Douglas set a personal best in the 400m hurdles - 58.43 for 2nd - and Michaela Hutchison was third in a closely fought 1500m. Jodie Favell placed 2nd in the B 400m hurdles in spite of becoming unwell overnight.

Jonesy in Germany

Dwain wins in Greece

Running Wild

Loughborough International

A good number of Belgravians found themselves representing one or other of the home countries or taking part in invitation events at this fixture.

Both Neil Speaight and Steve Davies ran nifty 1500s after 800m outings in the BMC GP at Watford the previous night.  Graeme Oudney was less than a second from his best 800 while Michelle Carey and Hannah Douglas went sub-59 in their 400m hurdle races. William Sharman was second in the sprint hurdles, David Gillick won the invitation 300m and Louis Evling Jones was victorious in his 400m race.

BMC Nike Grand Prix

Percy Wright

We regret to inform that Percy Wright, Belgrave Harriers' oldest and longest serving member, died aged 94 years on May 2nd.

Percy joined Belgrave in 1934 and thus achieved 74 years of membership. Originally he was a cross country runner but moved into race walking and went on to win silver medal in the AAA 2 miles of 1950. He competed into his 80s as a veteran.  During the war years he edited the Belgrave newsletter and was instrumental in providing a trophy for our Youths Cross Country Championship - The Overseas Cup.

Percy is survived by his wife Kitty and their three sons.

47:13 15k from Simon Jones

With a couple of big races coming up Simon Jones decided to have an "easy" weekend and took himself off to Breda in The Netherlands where he ran in the Haagse Beemdenloop 15k.  He ended up 6th behind an assortment of Kenyans a Burundian and a Belgian in the fine time of 47:13.  Winner was Boniface Biwott (Kenya) in 45:21.

It's Road Relay Time

For road runners one of the most exciting events on the calendar - "the 12 stage" - takes place next Saturday at Sutton Coldfield.  Who will end up being national champions for 2008? 

This weekend just gone has seen guys on the edge of the Belgrave team doing all they can to work their way into the dozen. 

A couple ran in 5k races.

Another ran a time trial on the road - a 5k course measured with a proper course measurer's wheel with all the kilometre marks chalked onto the tarmac.  His Dad timed, clocked the kilometre splits, stopped his car to block off a car that might have encroached into the path of our oncoming time-trialler - and then made sure that the selectors were aware of the fact that a little dog and a vehicle turning left caused slight interruptions to the run.

A few hours later - at the end of an Open Meeting at Battersea - we had the electric timing running on yet another time-trialler who was doing his 5k on the "all-weather oval", lapping on his own, in the wind.  It was enthralling, seeing a guy churn out what was required after a two year absence from our teams.

Will they get in the team? Will the Bels, who in the last seven months have won the National Half Marathon, SEAA 6-Stage Road Relay, National 6-Stage Road Relay, National CC Relay and SEAA 12-Stage Road Relay, not to mention narrowly losing the National 10k Championship, pull off this last title at the end of a long "winter" season?  This one's much too close to call.  No doubt Notts AC, Leeds City, Newham & Essex Beagles ... maybe Aldershot Farnham & Dist. and others will have something to say in the matter.