South of Thames “Junior” 5 miles CC Race, Sparrow’s Den, West Wickham

Individual "silver" for Tania and Padraic

Three laps of the playing fields and woods of Sparrow’s Den was the order of the day. Our small men’s team had hopes of getting into the medals while it was left to Tania Sturton to keep the flag flying for the Belles.

Kent’s talented Junior Jermain Mays was tipped by most spectators as the likely winner but after the first circuit of the rugby pitches it was Belgrave's Roger Alsop leading the field with the front part consisting almost entirely of navy blue Kent AC vests, the ‘Heath’s black and our own claret and gold. Padraic Buckley was around 6th and Will Cockerell was just a little way further back and maybe feeling the effects of a week in the United States and the accompanying flights. Soon Mays took control and while Roger slipped back a little, Padraic made good ground and was into third place . Will was also coming through and our 4th man Rob Tubbs was just about in the top twenty. Although we were going to be unable to match Kent’s score, we seemed to be clearly second. And weren’t we delighted to see Tania heading the women’s race – although Walton AC’s Williamson was ominously close behind as they set out on the second lap.

Mays went clear on the second circuit but Padraic was looking comfortable, now in a medal position and the only man who could stop a Kentish clean sweep. Will moved ahead of Roger while Rob responded to our supporters' calls by picking off a few more men. Tania was unable to stop Williamson coming past but was secure now in second place and destined to become our first female medallist in this event.

So to the finish. It all looked pretty cut and dried – but it wasn’t! Mays was untroubled, but Padraic had now shaken off the third man and seemed to gain a few metres on the leader as they looped around the playing fields. Kent had three home in the first four but then came Roger, making a big effort to retake Will, so it was Belgrave 2, 5 and 6, surely too much for anyone else to take silver medals away from us. But where was 4th man Rob? It soon became apparent that something untoward must have happened and sure enough we found that he had been forced to pull out on the last lap with his heart beating nineteen to the dozen. Unknown to us beforehand, we learned that Rob suffers with a heart problem which will necessitate an operation in the next month or so. He knew he was in trouble on that last lap and although full of sorrow at having to do it, also knew that his race, on this occasion, was over.

Veteran Don Anderson closed in for the Bels – and although we slipped back to 4th, had consolation in the form of “County” medals, being first unplaced team from Surrey.

Men

Four to score: 1 Kent AC 16; 2 Blackheath H 60; 2 Crawley AC 66; 4 Belgrave H 75; 15 teams closed in.

Eight to score: 1 Blackheath H 171; 2 Kent AC 172; 3 Crawley AC 207.

Surrey County medals: Belgrave H.

1 J.Mays (Kent AC) 26:20; 2 P.Buckley 26:43; 3 A.Dunwoody (Kent AC) 26:52; 5 R.Alsop 27:22; 6 W.Cockerell 27:24; 62 Don Anderson (M40); R.Bale (M50); dnf R.Tubbs; 90+ finished.

Women

1 Brighton & Hove AC 26.

1 S.Williamson (Walton) 32:10; 2 T.Sturton 32:53; 3 V.Mitchell 34:40.

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