South of England AA Women’s 4 x 3851m Road Relay, Rushmoor Arena, nr. Aldershot
Two Belgrave teams complete Women's SEAA Road Relay
In warm and sunny conditions, Belgrave managed to complete two teams for the first time ever. Originally it was thought that this was the first time we had completed a team at all but Helen Alsop reminded us, and records showed, that back in the winter of 1993, Helen Alsop (Maskrey), Morag Andrews and Gabby Collison completed a team in what was then a 3-stage relay. Their times were 13.59, 14.09 and 13.19 respectively which, if the course is comparable, puts the girls right at the top of our list of fastest stage runners.
Although this wasn’t our strongest team, expectations based on the previous year had us hoping for a top ten place. Unfortunately, the good weather saw many strong teams in action and the competition was far tougher than expected. There was no Paula Radcliffe this year, but Hayley Yelling pulled off the fastest leg of the day for WSEH with 12.28.
On the first leg Getenesh Tamirat took off with the lead group. Having gone off too fast last year she was determined to pace herself better this time and at the halfway stage was in a group of four chasing Sharon Morris of Bedford, who by now had a dominant lead. True to her word Getenesh picked up the pace and was just pipped to third place in the finishing straight. Knocking 10 seconds off her time from last year, she was our fastest runner of the day. In the B team, Helen Alsop showed that she is quickly regaining her form with a very strong 15.13 run, bringing the B team round in 40th place.
Leg 2 saw Tania Sturton go for the A team and Louise Cooper for the B’s. Tania’s had a difficult summer but after a great run in the Surrey relays, looked on target for a fast time. The course was tough, however, and battling stomach cramps throughout, Tania brought the team back in 14th place, with a 15.12 run. Louise’s run for the B’s saw her pull back 7 places, bringing the team into 33rd place. It had been thought that this might have been too short a race for Louise to excel, being more of a marathon runner (although most of the team also are!). However, having been a 400m runner in her youth, the 3888m course suited her well.
By now Bedford had a clear lead, and there would be no-one coming close to them. There was still a battle for second and third, with Arena and Belgrave from stage one being replaced by Medway and Bideford on stage two. Stage three would see Bideford pick up to 2nd, with Havant now in bronze medal contention. Meanwhile, the Belles had just released Syreeta Stracey for the A team and Jo Poloni for the B’s. Syreeta had battled with injuries throughout the summer but the Rushmoor course saw her flying. The short undulating course really suited Syreeta’s strong style of running and she looked relaxed and comfortable throughout. Despite picking up a place by the halfway stage, she finished the leg in 14th still, with our second fastest leg of the day in 14.52. For Jo, it was a much tougher ordeal but in only her second outing for the road running team she put her head down and dug in, determined to do her part for our first ever B team.
By stage four, a top ten place was out of reach for the Belles. Angela Walker, one of our strong triathletes, set off in what were by now very warm conditions. Unfortunately she also had to face a number of exceedingly fast last leg runners who overtook her by the top of the hill. Despite this, she hung on and didn’t let this knock her from her own race, coming home in 15.30 to give the Belles their first 4-stage team position of 16th.
Jacqui Smiter, who had only come along to help drive a number of the team and who had suffered from knee problems this past year, volunteered to finish off the B team in last leg. On the basis that if she finished we would have two full teams, and if she didn’t, then we’d lost nothing, this seemed like a good idea. Cheered on by the girls, Jacqui battled through the course to bring the B team home in 51st place. Well done Jacqui and co.
1 Bedford & County AC 52:58; 2 Bideford AAC 53:47; 3 Headington RR 55:12; 16 Belgrave H ‘A’ 58:52; 51 Belgrave H ‘B’ 69:40; 63 teams started and 54 finished
A – G.Tamirat (3) 13:18; T.Sturton (14) 15:12; S.Stracey (14) 14:52; A.Walker (16) 15:30.
B – H.Alsop (40) 15:13; L.Cooper (33) 15:09; J.Poloni (47) 18:52; J.Smiter (51) 20:26.
Fastest: 1 H.Yelling (Windsor SE&H) 12:28; 2 S.Morris (Bedford & County AC 12:42; 3 M.Pannett (Dulwich R) 12:55; 9 G.Tamirat (Belgrave H) 13:18.
Restored from the club's earlier website, belgraveharriers.com, and published here as originally written.