Belgrave sweep team trophies at South of Thames five-miler
Both Belgrave women and men dominated the South of Thames five mile Championship at Lloyd Park, winning both four-to-score team awards, the men also won the eight-to-score trophy as well.
Luckily the rain stopped for the duration of the race and the heavy overnight downpour hadn't penetrated the ground too badly, so the park was not the familiar mudbath. But this is always a testing, undulating course.
Saron Haileselase won this race way back in 2018, but she here raced off little training due to a persistant back injury. But she has so much natural ability and hung on well to claim the bronze medal. Emily Bowden had also found consistent training difficult with her shift work in the fire service. But she ran well and finished in 5th place just ahead of Bethan Goddard, delighted to win her first ever medal.
The scoring four were completed by Rosie Mutaars, a medal in her first race for the club. Rosie finished just ahead of Sara Ridmy; they battled throughout the race with Sara so unlucky to miss out on a medal after a fine run. Marianna Papat also ran strongly finishing in 28th place out of a field of 48 runners.
l-r- Jonny Neville, Conall McNally, Gavin Eccles and Sam Sommervllle with the men’s trophy. Sam collects the prize for the second year running.
Gavin Eccles only joined the club this autumn, but is getting fitter with every race. Here he finished in 2nd place splitting the two Dulwich runners. Sam Sommerville had led the race on the first lap, but was eventually overtaked by the medal winners, but he ran very well to finish 4th.
Then, it was a sea of claret and gold with team captain Conall McNally back running at his best ahead of Jonny Neville in 5th and 6th. Those were the scoring four. But the Bels kept ccoming with Harry Lawson in 8th, Aussie Nic Lukies in 10th, Rob Kelly 14th just ahead of James Preston in 15th. They were all the eight-to-score winning team.
Then very close behind, Daniel Wolff was 17th, Ross Christie 19, then Josh Snow 27th and Rubert Talfourd-Cook in 45th out of a field of 121. So there was a fine turnout of twelve Belgrave men. Hopefully that number will be repeated in the 7.5 mile Championship in December.
Results
WOMEN; 3, S. Haileselase 32:22, 5. E. Bowden 33:59, 6. B. Goddard 34:08, 15. R. Mutaars 36:28, 16. S. Ridmy 36:33, 28. M. Patat 40:59.
TEAMS; 1. Belgrave 29, 2. Kent AC 36, 3. SLH 63.
MEN; 2. G. Eccles 26:57, 4. S. Sommerville 27:34, 5. C. McNally 27:49, 6. J. Neville 27:53, 8. H. Lawson 28:12, 10. N. Lukies 28:31, 14. R. Kelly 28:53, 15. J. Prwson 28:57, 17. D. Wolff 29:22, 19. R. Christie 29:49, 27. J. Snow 30:52, 45. R. Talfourd-Cook, 32:60.
TEAMS; 4 to score; 1. Belgrave 19, 2. Dulwich 58, 3. AFD 71. 8 to score; 1. Belgrave 70, 2. G&G 285, 3. Dulwich 350.