South of the Thames 5 Miles Team Race, Streatham Common

Gold medals for the Belles and Paskar

A magnificent triumph for the Belles on what must be one of the toughest cross country courses anywhere, writes Charlie Dickinson. Our scoring four won by the huge margin of 26 points with Keri Mackenzie winning the individual bronze medal. They were supported by real gutsy runs from Zoe Smith, who battled round in spite of sleepless nights over the last week with her baby, then Helen and Jen racing each other all the way round on their debuts for the Belles.

Many of us knew the open part of Streatham Common, we had done hill reps there for many years, but we had never ventured past the car park into the wooded, muddy and very hilly Norwood Grove. this part of the course was brutal! Our team were led off cautiously by Fee and Zoe Doyle on the downhill start which was very soon channelled into a narrow path. Things settled down along the flat part of the course, parallel with the A23, about the only flat part! Then up the long drag against a bitter north easterly wind. It was here on the first lap that Keri started to pull through the field passing both Fee and Zoe although all three were packing nicely. Then came Felicity, back with the Belles after a couple of years just doing Triathlons working brilliantly to stay in touch with the other three. Had she gone off to fast, would she die on this course?

Keri continued to move through the field on the second and third laps up to fourth and edging closer to the medals. Then Zoe and Fee, within sight of each other showing their incredible strength and maintaining their positions. So did Felicity, she just hung on, not losing ground, a wonderful, tough performance. At the end, Keri only just failed to catch the South London girl in third place, but it didn't matter, the winner, Fiona Clarke from Reigate was a non scorer so Keri deservedly got the bronze medal. With Zoe 6th just edging out a THH girl on the line, Fee 8th and Felicity 12th our scoring four won the Norah Heathfield shield for the very first time. A great performance by those four backed up by Zoe Smith, Helen and Jen.

Incidentally, adds Alan Mead, that winning trophy was given to the South of Thames by our own late Jim Heathfield, Treasurer of the Association for 21 years, in memory of his sister. It was the first time that Belgrave have won it.

And what of the men? Paskar was determined to avenge recent defeats by Kent AC men, including Johnny Gilbert, and together with Rogers of Aldershot they broke away on the first lap with the Kent man mostly making the running. Paskar started to get a bit frisky on the second circuit and by the third time round the Common he'd prised open a lead which he maintained until he crossed the line and waited to warmly greet Gilbert at the end of what had been a fierce struggle.

It was so nice to see Roy Maddams back in the team. Running to work a few weeks back he had a blackout and had no further knowledge of what was going on until he woke up in hospital with a fractured jaw and other damage to the Maddams phizog. Tests have revealed no underlying serious problems and to come back and duff up Will after a few weeks of very little running was a great achievement. 'Cockers' wasn't taking it lying down though. A quickly improving James Browne gave both of them something to think about early on and although Will managed to pull him back here was nothing he could do about Roy who was fully aware that he must keep the pressure up to stay ahead of the man who had been his target since the beginning of the season.

Men. 1 P Owor (Belgrave) 26:50; 2 J Gilbert (Kent) 26:53; 3 P Rogers (Aldershot F&D) 27:54; ... 26 R Maddams 30:13; 28 W Cockerell 30:22; 29 J Browne 30:34; 73 M Young 33:26; 77 R Norville 33:53; 93 A Luce 34:42; 162 finished.
Teams: 1 Kent AC 23; 2 Herne Hill H 42; 3 Tonbridge AC 65; 5 Belgrave H 84; 32 teams closed in from 17 clubs.

Women. 1 K Ellison (Herne Hill) 33:53; 2 R Coe-O'Brien (South London) 34:14; 3 K Mackenzie (Belgrave) 34:21; ... 6 Z Doyle 34:42; 8 F Maycock 35:18; 12 F Cole 35:47; 22 Z Smith 37:38; 47 H Brown 42:56; 50 J Isaac 43:32; 65 finished.
Teams: 1 Belgrave H 29; 2 South London H 53; 3 Thames H&H 58; 10 teams closed in from 8 clubs.

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