Surrey Women's Cross Country League Division 1, Race 3, Mitcham Common
Hanging on in there...
Will Cockerell writes:- There was more tremendous fare on offer at this venue that was a regular in the 1980s but less seen of late. A sign that our squad is settled and focussed is to note our scoring five was identical to match 2. Their scoring spots barely changed either. This is a slight paradox in that consistency is a hallmark of good teams, but the TM is now concerned we are becoming too reliant on the fab five. What if something happens to one of them? Our back-up is sound but some way below that of our competitors. Indeed our B-team only lies 9th in the rankings, which is a bit shaky. Nothing for it - we've just got to keep building. And how churlish for the TM to say he wants more. Compare for instance this race to the one from exactly two years ago, Sammi was 8th - no change there then, Rieko was out to play again as well... but our points total after the 3 matches then was 980, and it's now 264. We've been without three big guns this year in Tilly, Catherine and Zoe - hopefully all will be back for '13-14.
Yet again Ruth and Tish had a battle royale and their domination over the other 326 athletes is severe. They bring out the best of each other, and their upcoming clash at the South of England Championships in two weekend's time is to be savoured. Ruth has been making all the running of late, with Tish grimly trying to keep tabs. But she refused to let the elastic snap, and coming into the last 200 they were still inseparable. Another brutal slog for the line followed with Tish initially taking the lead, but in the last 60 metres Ruth clawed her back and inched her way to a splendid win - and her maiden Surrey League victory - many congratulations to her.
Sam seemed to get better as the race wore on and we all hope she has a similar resounding performance in the Southerns as she produced on that famous day last year. Fee had a self-confessed shocker at the counties ("only 8th" - greedy girl!), but felt much better here, while Jojo has had time-out, but it's now blinkers on and she intends to get better with every race between now and April. Anne yet again under-pinned us with steely fortitude.
Our back-up today came from the Vixster, great to see her commuting in for the Belles for the second week running, and she's running well at the mo, back into the top 25% of fields where she belongs. Rieko was dependable as ever, and we're always delighted to see another debutante, and in this case it was Maisie-Rose Byrne, who runs with a nonchalant demeanour and dispatched 180 bodies in the combined race.
In the team stakes it was a thriller, as Thames flirted with 4th, finishing just ahead of a quickly improving Herne Hill, but the Belles saw both of them off while Dulwich were outstanding, and come back into the overall reckoning. For now it's still Thames's to lose but we can have done no more than we have, to go into the last race 2-1 up on them for the three races. Some years ago this is how they scored it in the Surrey League, merely counting where the club finished on the day. ie. 1st scored 15, and 15th 1. We would be in the lead if they still did that, but this way is undoubtedly fairer and means that every position is scrapped for and meaningful.
Finally, more great running from Yasmin in the U13s - 6th place and less than 30 seconds off podium.
1 R Clifton (Thames H&H) 31:57; 2 T Jones (Belgrave H) 31:59; 3 F Clark (Reigate) 33:16; 8 S Amend 34:35; 21 F Maycock 36:13; 25 J Rhodes 36:46; 29 A Hegvold 37:03; 58 V Goodwin 39:37; 72 R Trees 40:55; 101 M Byrne 43:41. 160 runners.
Teams: 1 Dulwich R 63, 2 Belgrave H 85; 3 Thames H&H 87; 4 Herne Hill H 89; 5 West 4 H 159; ... 23 Belgrave B 571.
Overall: 1 Thames H&H 226; 2 Belgrave H 264; 3 Dulwich 283; 4 West 4 H 365; 5 South London H 486; 6 Herne Hill H 539...24 Belgrave H B 1608. 46 teams.
U13 1 S Millard HHH 10:44;... 6 Y Marghini 11:48.
Restored from the club's earlier website, belgraveharriers.com, and published here as originally written.