Women's Surrey Cross Country League, Division 1, Match 2, Coulsdon
Belles Navigate A Bunch of Cows
From quiet beginnings this term, the train has built up speed and is now a runaway train; and the great news, with three big wins in the locales of Leeds, Streatham and Coulsdon, is that the brakes are in no danger of being fixed. Missing as many as ten top-guns here, including talisman Tish, meant that our 'midfield' cranked into gear and didn't they just love the adrenaline rush that comes with responsibility. The Downs were at their kindest considering how treacherous they've been in recent years and once half-a-dozen cows had been politely finessed from their powwow plumb on the racing line, all was set for 313 of Surrey's finest to hot-step it on the dance floor.
Our lines were led by find of the year Zoe Doyle (left), a softly-spoken mother of three who doesn't appear too alarming a prospect from a distance, though at close quarters her razor-sharp calves give a clue. Superb stuff from ZD as her Lightwater 12th was sliced in half. Mel (right) was a wee bit gutted after a sub-par return at Leeds, but she put in the hard yards in Egypt of all places, and returned fit as a flea. Magnificent stuff, and matched for excellence of run by the skipper who led out the gang early doors. JJR settled down, but not by much with a stellar 14th, up from 21st on match 1.
Wonderful to see Flic Cole back in business regularly for the Belles. She spoilt us in March 2011 with a coupla' gems, but was elsewhere till last month. She hung in great here and saw off the ever game Fee who was only 3% to start on Friday with various niggles, but her unbroken Surrey League sequence now stretches to over two years. Only eight Belles have had more scoring runs since 1990 than the Vixster and she flew along (before continuing her diary with her sister's wedding); and with HBR nearly a minute up on Lightwater and hockey star Helen dispatching over 150 bods, our work was done.
Herne Hill and Thames upped their games and we are not safe yet from a violent assault from our stripy friends. But our lead has stretched to 76 points and with Dulwich having a bit of a 'mare, at least we've isolated the enemy. Now to apply the anaesthetic.
N/S G Bruinvels (AFD) 23:11; 1 C Ansell (Herne Hill H) 23:50; 2 S McIntosh (Dulwich R) 24:08... 6 Z Doyle 24:45; 9 M Wilkins 25:01; 12 J Rhodes 25:30; 18 F Cole 26:00; 23 F Maycock W45 26:07; 49 V Goodwin 27:55; 66 H Barsham-Rolfe 28:57; 109 H Brown 30:19.
Teams: 1 Belgrave H 68; 2 Herne Hill H 92; 3 Thames H&H 121; 4 W4H 137; 5 SLH 154; 6 Clapham C 174.
Overall after two matches: 1 Belgrave H 132; 2 Herne Hill H 208; Thames H&H 272; Dulwich R 293; Clapham C 300.
In the U13 race an excellent run from Adelaide Clair who finished 10th in 18.58, winner Elsa Palmer DMV 10.05. Unfortunately, Yasmin Marghini had to drop out with a pulled hamstring after being well placed.
It was nice to see the two sisters, Marie and Juliette Michot also running even though they just missed the start. Marie is 11 and Juliette only 9 but they both completed the tough course very well.
Also good to see our old friend Leo Coy there taking photos.
Left: Yasmin Marghini (3) hot on the heels of the leaders with Adelaide Claire (2) close behind. Photos by Leo Coy.
Restored from the club's earlier website, belgraveharriers.com, and published here as originally written.