Aldershot Road Relays - SEAA Women’s 4 Stage Championships, Rushmoor Arena

A late withdrawal meant that only three women were available for this race – and in spite of many calls to likely candidates it proved impossible to make up a foursome. Rather than call things off, Tilly Heaton vowed that she would run twice to keep the show on the road. What a heroine!

Back in the late ’80s and early ’90s our men’s team usually failed to turn out a team and it wasn’t until we insisted on making an effort – even turning up with half a squad – that the wheel began to turn in our favour.

Tilly battled round a first effort for 19th before unleashing Heidi Cayzer who was intent on making a showing to grab a National team place. She stormed the slopes and bends and was delighted to move up four places for a time just a few ticks slower than Tilly’s. Juliette Clarke continued the drive forward with our fastest run and a position of 9th before we ran out of runners was very creditable. And of course Tilly was going to make sure that we continued to the finish. She looked pretty tired setting out for her second run but by the time she was running in to the finish there was a spring in her stride and a second run under 15 minutes was a real feat.

1 Windsor SE&H 54:10; 2 Woodford Green wEL 54:54; 3 Winchester &DAC 55:06; 4 Aldershot F&DAC 55:37; 5 Thames H&H 55:54; 6 Shaftesbury Barnet H 56:00; 13 Belgrave H 58:08; 58 teams started, 49 finished.

M Heaton (19) 14:27; H Cayzer (15) 14:30; J Clark (9) 14:16; M Heaton (15) 14:55.

Fastest: S O’Sullivan (Thames H&H) 12:28; 2 L Elliott (Winchester &DAC) 12:39; 3 L Yelling (Bedford &CAC) 12:49.

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