Thames Valley Harriers 5 x 3.5 miles Relay, Stockley Park

Blowin' up a storm ...

With the Spring relays looming, a strong squad volunteered for this multi-terrain relay held on the almost traffic free roads and golf course of Stockley Park in West London. Looking at the team line-up it was obvious that a record run was on the cards by a substantial margin; but when storms blew in from the west to disrupt rail and air transport and one witnessed, during the race, one of the organiser's tents being ripped out of the ground and bowling its occupants across the grass, one had to admit that chances of cracking our previous course record looked slim.

It was good to see a veterans' team in action. New veteran Bruce Barton impressed on the lead-off leg by bringing the team home in second; President Don Anderson and new member Tony St. Leger kept up the pressure and the team finally placed 5th.

Chris Moss had driven up from Wales for the race. Given the conditions our ace 800m man could be forgiven for considering sitting in and "giving it some" in the latter stages. However, knowing that we still hankered after that record he decided to put himself on the line and led throughout the leg to complete the stage two seconds ahead of Bedford & County AC.

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