"Sweatshop" Surrey CC League Division One Race 2, Roehampton

Thames take the initiative on the Common

With the injury list longer than we'd like and work commitments and alternate races also playing a part, a predicted score of around 300 for race two proved to be spot on. Combine this with the fact that Thames took full advantage of their home course by packing their scoring ten into the first twenty four places – and we saw our initial race advantage swept away.

Two new Belgravians got their first taste of The Butts, and the delightful 5 miles of squelch that Thames reserve for Surrey League races – a long “5” at that. Eliot Lyne came home in Skip’s wake and Andrew Porteous was also well into the “ten”. No doubt we’ll see a lot more of these two men in races to come.

Reigate’s Ali Moses seemed well in control at halfway and went on for a comfortable win but it was a delight for the Bels to see Royal Marine bandsman Tim Watson underline the fact that that he’s working his way back into great shape. He led our team home with second individual place and his next outing will be on the road in the Victory "5".

Mal Byansi is now training regularly with John Bicourt’s squad and is looking for some high positions in the big races to come. He completed the first lap well and from the Bels only Kevin Nash, missing training through regularly working 12 hour days, got the better of him on lap two.

An unfit Mike Trees had had his arm twisted until he turned out – and it’s a good job he did. Now enthused, and with the prospect of the South of Thames Championship ahead, Mike will be sure to make big advances in the intervening weeks.

So, after an interesting day on the Common we are 129 points adrift at the league’s halfway point; the final result is far from being predictable.

1 A.Moses (Rei) 28.45; 2 T.Watson (Bel) 29.00; 3 N.Altmann (TH&H) 29.10; 10 K.Nash 30.00; 16 M.Byansi 30.24; 26 M.Trees M40 30.53; 28 W.Cockerell 30.59; 29 E.Lyne 31.10; 32 J.Wolf 31.15; 51 W.Lynch 32.39; 57 A.Porteous 32.53; 63 T.Hadfield 33.08; 73 T.St Leger 33.45; 93 M.Kazimierski 34.29; 123 P.Carstairs M40 36.19; 124 A.Bicourt 36.36; 142 J.Webb 38.31; 147 H.Corbett M45 39.13.

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