SEAA Women's 3-Stage Cross-Country Road Relay, Wormwood Scrubs

Taking no prisoners

This inaugural 3x3k relay on the Scrubs, writes Will Cockerell, couldn’t fail to be entertaining fare due to the small quantity of stages and distance (although this was a much longer 3k than advertised).

Belgrave brought a team bristling with intent: Catherine Bryson making progress again after a lengthy spell on the sidelines, Zoë Vail also on the comeback trail after the birth of baby Isaac, and debutante Felicity Cole, a triathlete who cycles long on Saturdays, very long. Getting her to the venue on time was always going to be a stunt, as was persuading her that running a race after 90k in the saddle, was, well, good triathlon training!

CB kicked us off and gave a clinical turn. In an isolated 5th some 500 metres from home, she launched a cruel charge on 4th and got her on the run in. If this wasn’t good enough news, better was to come, as the athlete in 3rd passed over to the invisible man, who was never seen again. For the B’s our loyal reserve, Maureen Noel, got round in good shape.

So Zoë was in bronze and gunning down on silver. At half-way the gap finally started to come down. Zoë reeled her opponent in, went straight past, and kept on going. It was an excellent run and she set Felicity off in silver, 31 seconds down on gold. Gulp – some début neither aided nor abetted by quads full of lead.

As the two leaders passed the huge prison, Felicity started to chisel into to the deficit and hundreds of Her Majesty’s guests pressed their noses to the bars and a chant ensued, “Up the Belles”.

But then another athlete hurtled into view, tearing chunks out of Felicity and Highgate. It was Aldershot International Jo Harvey, and the prisoners hissed and booed. Two small fires were started, and a riot broke out in the East wing. But Harvey was not to be stopped as she carded a classy 11:44.

With 600 to go Felicity still had a small chance of catching Highgate, but credit to their runner, she found another gear just in time, as Felicity ending up matching Zoë’s time, some 80 yards back.

All three Belles were within two seconds of each other – that’s what relay running is all about - consistency. Stay tuned for Milton Keynes, where we need to double our numbers for a team of six. Can it be done? Can we press for more medals? Oh, you betcha’.

1 Aldershot F&D 38:12; 2 Highgate H 38:54; 3 Belgrave H 39:11; 4 Brighton & Hove 40:24; 5 Reading AC 40:46; 6 West 4 H 40:54; 28 teams started and 22 finished.

Belgrave: C Bryson (4) 13:05; Z Vail (2) 13:03; F Cole (3) 13:03. B’s: M Noel 14:48.

Fastest: J Harvey (Aldershot F&D) 11:44; N Lenane (Aldershot F&D) 12:14; 3 K Jenrick (Highgate) 12:42.

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