Surrey County Cross Country Champs., Lloyd Park

Another dominating performance from Phil Wicks

"Of my three wins that was the most satisfying," said Phil, who seems to be moving towards top form with perfect timing. "I deliberately went out hard as I was treating it as a training run - everything is going really well and I felt comfortable all the way. He's certainly earned the respect of the local runners and is gathering many of them as his fans. Herne Hill's Andy Lea-Gerrard later told our Team Manager: "You must thank Phil for me. There I was at the back of the field when he came past, lapping me, but had the time to tap me on the shoulder and give me encouragement."

The going was frozen hard but fast at Lloyd Park. A slight change in the starting area meant that there was a potential bottleneck after 50 metres but there were no problems - and let's face it, Phil was already clear by that point! After one lap he was a minute up on our own James Kelly who was doing battle with a couple of Thames men and by the finish Phil's margin was two and a quarter minutes.

James, Cambridge University Hare & Hounds Captain this winter, is in great form himself, throwing off the challenge of John McFarlane on the second circuit and moving away well to claim the silver medal.

Herne Hill Harriers were looking for yet another win to take them to a streak of eight consecutive county victories (which we believe would have equalled Boxhill Racers' record) but came up against a Thames team that is stronger, in Surrey terms, than ever before. There were six "red & black" vests through the funnel before any other club could complete a team but it was Thames Hare & Hounds who took the title with their strong packing in the top ten. It was the first time that our rivals from "across the Common" had won the Surrey title.

But fortunes improved for Belgrave as well, even though we only had the bare minimum of six men in action. Our one-two gave a huge boost and was followed by Will Cockerell and Mike Trees, at each other for the whole race, before finishing in 14th and 15th. Tom Fordyce, back this winter after a year of illness, and Mark Humphrey ran exceptionally well with the weight of our team prospects on their shoulders - and for the first time since 1996 (when we won) a set of medals was ours.

Mixed fortunes for the Belles

Earlier the Belles had also lined up with just the necessary four bodies on the start line, but luck went against them when Catherine Bryson, possibly an individual medal hope, badly turned an ankle towards the end of the first lap and had to limp to the first aid post - extremely bad luck.

But Sarah Murphy was going well, occupying 6th place, and as the race went on her strength told as she overtook some redoubtable runners to come home in 4th - out of the medals maybe, but delighted to have claimed a couple of important scalps.

Men 12k. 1 P Wicks (Belgrave) 39:19; 2 J Kelly (Belgrave) 41:32; 3 J McFarlane (TH&H) 42:09; 14 W Cockerell 43:51; 15 M Trees 43:59; 41 T Fordyce 48:06; 52 M Humphrey 49:36.

Teams: 1 Thames &H 75; 2 Herne Hill H 86; 3 Belgrave 125; 4 Clapham Chasers 259; 5 South London H 275; 6 Reigate Priory AC 289; 10 teams closed in.

Women 8k: 1 L Partridge (Aldershot F&DAC) 31:02; 2 J Heslop (Clapham Chasers) 31:19; 3 E Adams (Aldershot F&D AC) 31:53; 4 S Murphy 32:44; 22 M Heaton 36:01; 60 C Eastham 42:01.

Teams: 1 Aldershot F&DAC 24; 2 Clapham Chasers 62; 3 Herne Hill H 74; 12 teams closed in.

U13 Boys 3.25k. 1 J Rowe (Windsor SE&H) 15:13; 36 E Langmuir 17:21.

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