SEAA CC Champs, Parliament Hill Fields

"Little dog!"

Alan Mead writes:- Starting half-way up the hill instead of down at the Lido was a slight relief but there was still 50 minutes of running ahead of our stalwarts who come together each year to celebrate the toughest cross country race in our calendar. The postponement from three weeks earlier, due to the Heath being snowbound, resulted in a few of our men being unable to turn out; overall the field was down about 40% but the team race was hit hard.

Paskar and Andrew Connick were both prominent as the field went over the top and round the back of Kite Hill for the first time but already it was Frank Tickner of Wells City and Bedford’s Neilson Hall slugging it out for the lead. A lap later, with both our men in the ‘teens and the mud spattering up to eye level, it was Andrew putting our Vice-Captain under a pressure he hasn’t faced all winter – a club-mate showing every sign of getting away from him. Will Cockerell and Matt Taylor (what a boost he has given our team this winter) were similarly locked together and with Mike Trees and Roy Maddams completing the six and John Needham and Tom Hadfield backing up, we showed every sign of finishing a squad in a reasonable position. Bedford & County had the team race stitched up by a long way.

As Mike headed out again he was overtaken by a barking pooch that was having the time of his life. Following the flags over hill and dale he cheerfully barked and looked up at every runner he overtook with a sort of doggy grin: “Come on, hang on to me, we can catch ‘em.” Eight or nine minutes later our friend had worked his way further up the field, still going well, and as the racers came towards the end of lap two he’d caught Will and was by now drawing as much support as the runners: “Come on Will, come on Matt, come on dog!” Our own team manager was all for slipping a Belgrave vest on him but the course police arrested said canine, now intent on making an assault on the leaders, before he could set out on lap three.

Stitch caused Andrew a few problems over the second half of the race but his was a brilliant run. What a way to celebrate his birthday. Paskar was less than happy in the mud and Matt Taylor eventually got the better of the Cockerpillar. They don’t come any tougher than Mike Trees – an M50 and having just driven down from Northumberland to race, was going back again that night – what a hero. Sixth as a squad was not bad at all.

And our headline? An expression used by H.G.Wells’ Mr Polly whenever he found himself in a sticky situation and similarly used by your correspondent on occasions when a swift exit has been required.

Men. 1 F Tickner (Wells City H) 48:10; 2 N Hall (Bedford &C) 49:14; 3 D Deed (Bedford &C) 49:37; 15 A Connick 52:11; 29 P Owor 53:23; 63 M Taylor 56:02; 72 W Cockerell 56:43; 99 M Trees M50 58:16; 146 R Maddams 1:00:33; 215 J Needham 1:03:45; 290 T Hadfield M40 1:08:07; 541 finished.

Teams: 1 Bedford &C AC 57; 2 Highgate H 156; 3 Aldershot F&D AC 221; 4 Serpentine R 300; 5 Woodford Green wEL 357; 6 Belgrave H 424; 31 teams closed in.

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