"We're here for the team" - February 19, 2005

As I was spectating the stomach-churningly tense women’s race yesterday, I found myself thinking, “nothing beats this”.  The National is truly one of the great events in the English sporting calendar.  I didn’t have time to worry about my own race, as my partner Dorchie was involved was in a white-knuckle ride to defend Bristol’s title.  As the finishing straight arrived, Dorch led the Charnwood girl by 30 metres…then 20…then 10…then 1.  Dorchie got the nod by little more than the width of her sports bra.  Had Helen Whitmore caught her, Charnwood would have won on a tie by virtue of closing in their team first.  Whew.  And many congrats to our Belgrave girls for their best ever National return.

The Bels had a chance of medals yesterday but simply everything would have to go our way.  Never have I seen a more bandaged, patched-up, niggle-ridden, confidence-bereft, background-shy outfit.  “I have zero personal aspirations today, I’m here purely for the team,” was the refrain of Mark, Dave, Tim, and Hassan – rotten winters all.  And of course there was Kev, who had come out of the Southern with a hip injury.  We only had one well-oiled machine: Spen.  What a cruel irony it was that the gods decided to pick on him.  But as it is, we wouldn’t have medalled anyway had things gone to plan – the competition was just too hot.

I was nostalgically struck many times yesterday with similarities to Stowe 2000:  the same wonderful gung-ho team spirit, dazzling sunshine, the incredibly fast downhill start with the cruel left bend after 500 metres; our talisman tragically coming out the race; Tromans thumping everyone; and yes, us coming 6th when we had hoped for a little more.  We even repeated as leading Southern club, until I made the mother of stupid remarks to the official as I accepted the trophy:  “Are you sure?”  To which he replied:  “No, I’m not actually – it’s Newham!”

Although we had no survivors from our scoring six at Stowe, three are still very much on the Belgrave scene: Paul, Al Stewart and ‘Bandana man’; and there are four other survivors from five years ago: Kev has gone from his iconic clunker that day [245th!] to score back-to-back National blinders.  You just can’t keep class like that at bay.  I’ve grafted 92 spots up the list, and old favourites Phil and Don just keep coming back for more.  “How will I ever run the most Nationals for the club if I’ve got you as a pesky moving target?” I asked Don.  He grimly warned me he’s got at least another 10 in him yet.

Hercules Wimbledon’s Richard Xerri has taken a magnificent video of the race in which Belgrave runners feature prominently.  To order a copy, drop me a line.  The most spell-binding footage is of Mark.  We first sight him in around 15th,  with a smile on his face [as I’ve noticed he so often does in races], looking loose and terrific.  A little later he’s up to 12th.  And then 9th…then 7th.  And, well you know the rest.  The smiling assassin truly nailed one of the great Belgrave performances of all time.