26.2 Winter 10 km, Chessington

A change in the weather brought rainy conditions that were not conducive to fast times but as the field tore out of the Chessington World of Adventures car park and onto the A243, Richard Ward and Phil Wicks had already grabbed a 15 metre lead on Stuart Major of SLH. After 2k the runners faced a climb to the highest point of the course ... and at 3k Phil went clear. The late Ed Prickett's course record of 30:17 was not under threat, thanks to the weather, but Phil's winning 30:51 looked very easy and his best of 30:29 will surely be revised before too long.

Richard was pleased with his own performance. He's still suffering from a hangover of the glandular fever which has kept him well below par over the last couple of years, a continuing chest problem which means that he's taking a course of antibiotics, but it looks as if we'll see him right back to his best this coming spring and summer.

The conditions did not hold back Catherine Eastham who took a full minute off her best ever for the distance.

Men. 1 P Wicks 30:51; 2 R Ward 31:25.

Women. 1 S Branney (City of Glasgow) 37:22; 14 C Eastham 42:52.

Restored from the club's earlier website, belgraveharriers.com, and published here as originally written.