AFD Road Relays inc. SEAA Women's 4-Stage Championship

Belles battle into top 25 clubs at Rushmoor

Will Cockerell reports.

What a fighting display by an extremely plucky quartet. A year ago the TM was feeling slightly despondent after 19 no’s and a maybe for this one, so this year’s 16 no’s and 4 yesses represents about an 800% improvement. And with girls to come in for the National, and several more on the comeback trail, things are looking positive for three weeks’ time, next spring, and beyond.

First up to field 132 elbows flying at her face was Sam Amend, deep into marathon training, who was 30th after a minute, climbing to 20th at half-way, and a pleasing and clinical 14th by the end, which in reality was 10th as four teams ahead were one-hit-wonders out for a jolly. Excellent running and placing new recruit Amy Linford nicely into the frying pan.

Now Amy was within a whisker of making the plane to the Sydney Olympics ten long years ago (that’d be for hockey, not running), before doing herself knee ligament damage. Her hockey days are behind her now, though she still keeps fit with football and her job as a personal trainer. She has also banged out a 3:25 marathon which I do believe is a world record for a runner dressed as, er, Morph. Here, Morph was going even quicker, and with grim determination Amy hung on for dear life managing to keep hold of that illustrious top-10 placing. What a find – a humungous signing, welcome to the club and I’m quite sure this is merely the beginning.

Next up, the delightfully rechristened (due to the TM’s deplorable hand-writing), “Ricko” Trees. Ricko was in at the deep end, with angry runners buzzing and snarling all around. Rick hung in there very nicely considering she’s only back into tentative training after the birth of baby Amy in the summer. But her 16:20 shows she’s heading plum in the right direction, and she handed over in sweet 16.

Last up Anoushka Johnson – or Anovshka – going by the results. I really need to acquire some penmanship if I’m to pursue this life. Valiant ‘Nush’ is not quite ready to be shouldering the harsh task of anchoring our A-teams in major championships, but without her we didn’t exist – so what can you do? She suffered from the go but never gave up, and thrilled the crowds as with 500 metres left to go, our arch rivals at Thames drew level. Noooooo! Anything but falling to the Saltire. Some choice words in Nush’s ear did the trick and she dug deep to win that particular war and give us a final placing of 30th, and 23rd best club on the day, out of 61 starters.

The team spirit was superb and it was great to see the girls bond together immediately like glue. This is only the 4th time in our history that we’ve completed a team at this excellent meet, but we’ll certainly be back.

1 Aldershot, Farnham & Dist AC 50:21; 2 Arena 80 AC 54:27; 3 Serpentine RC 54:59; … 30 Belgrave H 1:13:16; 61 teams started, 47 teams finished.

Belgrave: S Amend (10) 13:46; A Linford (10) 14:45; R Trees (16) 16:20; A Johnson (30) 18:25.

Fastest: S Twell (Aldershot F&D AC) 11:58; 2 C Purdue (Aldershot F&D AC) 12:18; 3 E Pallant (Aldershot F&D AC) 12:37.

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