Sarah leads the charge at Ally Pally
Heathside gets Yuletide started with a Swinhoe-ho-ho by Chris 'Scoop' Hartley
After an autumn cross-country season of fine weather and firm courses, the Met League finally got wet and muddy on us this weekend: the course at Ally Pally was ugly enough to start with and wasn't improved by being cut up by several hundred runners in cross country spikes. The dreaded hill was as steep as our worst memories, the downhill sections as treacherous: just what we all needed for a really testing afternoon. Getting covered in mud was never meant to be so much fun.
Well over 100 Heathsiders raced in the Junior and Senior races, with no less than 65 taking part in the Senior Men’s race, topping the 61 who competed at Ally Pally last year. Before getting into the individual race reports, let me just say a warm thank you to all who raced, marshalled and spectated. As a club, we could not have done better for our home fixture, so pats on the back all round.
Juniors
A respectable group of 20 Juniors donned Heathside colours to compete for the club. Highlights of the Junior races came in the Under 13 Boys event, where Liam Garrett continued his fine season, taking 8th place in a field of 55; in the Under 13 Girls, where Megan Naylor took 11th place from 46; in the Under 17 Men’s, where (in an accidentally extended race) James Wooldridge finished 9th, whilst Jonny Naylor managed 20th in a field of 69; and in the Under 17 Women’s race, where Rachel Seckl stormed to 4th spot from 42 finishers.
Senior Women
Arguably the highlight of our season so far came in the Senior Women’s race (152 finishers) where Women’s Captain Sarah Swinhoe stormed out of the traps like a startled rabbit and never let up, ignoring the mud and hills to finish 3rd overall, and first Vet. There’s not much to be said about Sarah’s cross-country running that hasn’t been said already, so I’ll just tell you that all I want for Christmas is a pair of wings like the ones Sarah has on her feet. It can’t have escaped anyone’s attention that Sarah is currently first in the Women’s Individual League after three races, a truly impressive achievement. Captain, we salute you.
Other eye-catching performances in the Senior Women’s race came from Gina Heiss, who made her debut in the Met League with an highly impressive fourth place finish for Heathside (27th overall), and from Louise Atkin and Katherine Vinnicombe, who finished 59th and 78th overall, in their maiden Met League outings this season.
The Women’s A-Team took third place in Division One (scorers were Sarah, Leigh James, Rebecca Bunting, Gina Heiss, Bridget Napleton, and Cathy Jeremiah), and have now climbed to third spot after three races. It’ll be tough to hold off Woodford Green, but I think we can do it, especially with Sue Rust set to return, and Gina Heiss likely to get even stronger in the New Year - if Ally Pally’s notorious hill hasn’t scared her off. Heathside’s B-Team took fourth in Division Two, closing the gap on H*ghgate B. The B-Team stand second after three races, with promotion a real prospect, if we can hold off the challenge of Barnet’s A-Team. Heathside C-Team battled to a fine 6th place finish in Division Two, easing our relegation fears considerably. With two fixtures remaining, the C-Team stands in 7th place from 10, with the bottom two going down at the end of the season.
The Women’s Vets A-team slipped up slightly, finishing third in Division One. Although we are still top of the League, both Serpentine and Ealing closed the gap on us considerably on Saturday. Ladies, the pressure is on! Meanwhile, the B-Team eased relegation fears with a creditable 6th place finish (finishing above H*ghgate’s A-Team!), and now stand seventh from 10 in Division One, with the bottom two facing relegation.
Senior Men
The Senior Men’s race was a procession of blue, gold and red, with a staggering 65 competitors amongst the field of 408. It was a privilege to be amongst the sea of Heathside men lining up at the start. We didn’t stay together for long once the gun went, however, with Tom Aldred rocketing off in the now customary manner, with a 17th place finish in an extremely fast front-end of the race. Behind Tom, all eyes were on the remaining 11 prized A-team finishes. Brent Atkins is getting quicker as the season progresses, finishing second for Heathside in 66th place overall. George Stewart won the battle of the Vets, with a 67th place finish, ahead of a cold-affected Steve Monaghan, who finished a nonetheless impressive 79th.
Behind Steve, the A- Team berths were filled by Chris Burn, Dan McKeown, Andrew Brooker, John Flahive, Roger Braybrooks, Rob Salter (back from the frozen north for a much appreciated appearance), Mark Anderson, and Jonathan Hopkin. John Flahive had the best race of his season by a mile, as did Jonathan Hopkin, who will find the pressure (from me) to step up to A-Group training at Finsbury Park irresistible after his 128th place finish on Saturday.
On a personal note, I’d just like to say: Philip Duggan, Howard Gold, Sam Thompson, Andy Welshman - where were you? Oh, you were behind me all the time. I’ll see you all at Horsenden Hill next month for your next chance to play ‘Catch the Captain’. Saturday was a fail, gentlemen. Nice try though.
Before moving to the Team results, I’d also like to say congratulations to Bob Gould, who skipped up Ally Pally’s grueling hill three times, finishing second in the V70 category. Bob, you are an inspiration to us all. Congratulations also to coach-supreme Jacob Howe, who finally returned from injury, and had a very respectable run to boot. Good to have you back, Jacob.
Heathside’s A-Team, robbed by injury and the absence of several of the club’s best runners (yet again), finished in a slightly disappointing sixth place, as a result of which we remain sixth overall in Division One. We can still catch Woodford Green, but a podium finish is starting to look beyond us this year. The Men’s B-Team finished fourth in Division Two, and have climbed above Barnet into fourth spot after three races. Meanwhile, the C-Team continues to shine, with a second place finish in Division Three, and we remain second overall, sitting pretty for promotion. Come on you C-Team!
In the Veterans category, Heathside held off the challenge of H*ghgate’s Vets to finish first in Division One, extending our lead in the overall standings after Serpentine (who are in second spot) had a bit of a ‘mare on Saturday. Just as impressively, Heathside Vets B-Team finished in an impressive third place, whilst our C-Team were fifth. Three Vets teams in the top five. Impressive work, oldies. The B- Team now stands a fantastic fourth overall, whilst the C-Team relieved relegation fears to increase their lead on Herts, and Garden City runners.
Many thanks to all who raced on Saturday, and everyone else who helped to make it a great afternoon. Now rest up, pour yourselves a glass of sherry, scoff a few mince pies, unwrap that new pair of spikes you bought yourself for Xmas, and start dreaming of the next Met League race at Perivale on Saturday January 11th.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from your Cross-Country managers, Chris and Sarah.
Results
Met League, Ally Pally (December 21st)
Under 13 Boys (55 finishers)
8. Liam Garrett 10m 46s
27. Tom Carter 11m 32s
52. Zac Paul 14m 14s
55. Nat Stark 15m 32s
Under 13 Girls (46 finishers)
11. Megan Naylor 12m 06s
21. Phoebe Crockford 12m 45s
26. Silvia Allan 12m 59s
29. Holly Conroy-House 13m 28s
37. Ella Conlon 14m 28s
46. Aaliyah Lakerman 16m 30s
Under 17 Men/Under 15 Boys (69 finishers)
9. James Wooldridge 19m 09s
20. Jonny Naylor 19m 45s
37. Mason Dietrich 21m 07s (22nd U-15)
40. Jacob Phillips 21m 11s
50. Jake Reynolds 21m 45s (30th U-15)
54. Luke Gray 22m 03s
63. Antanas Weston 24m 17s (39th U-15)
Under 17 Women/Under 15 Girls (42 finishers)
4. Rachel Seckl 17m 49s
14. Lily Beckford 18m 37s
20. Genevieve 19m 02s
Senior Women (152 finishers)
3. Sarah Swinhoe 23m 27s (1st Vet)
19. Leigh James 24m 42s
23. Rebecca Bunting 24m 49s
27. Gina Heiss 25m 28s
39. Bridget Napleton 25m 46s
40. Cathy Jeremiah 25m 47s
52. Claire Morrissey 26m 32s
59. Louise Atkin 27m 01s
63. Celine Murray 27m 10s
76. Karen Levene 28m 02s
77. Jane Higgins 28m 05s
78. Katherine Vinnicombe 28m 15s
79. Tammela Platt 28m 23s
88. Caroline Boyle 28m 42s
94. Jo Irwin 29m 02s
95. Victoria Pound 29m 02s
96. Caroline White 29m 06s
100. Ruth Miller 29m 19s
115. Edyta Szot 30m 21s
124. Barbara Tomaszczyk 31m 13s
135. Gabi Johnson 32m 06s
144. Louise Cripps 33m 50s
146. Margherita Maserati 34m 15s
147. Alison Harrow 35m 32s
Senior Men (408 finishers)
17. Tom Aldred 28m 00s
66. Brent Atkins 30m 18s
67. George Stewart 30m 18s (3rd Vet, 1st V45)
79. Steve Monaghan 30m 41s (4th Vet, 3rd V40)
80. Chris Burn 30m 44s
84. Dan McKeown 30m 51s
99. Andrew Brooker 31m 30s
109. John Flahive 31m 46s
115. Roger Braybrooks 32m 04s
122. Rob Salter 32m 22s
123. Mark Anderson 32m 23s
128. Jonathan Hopkin 32m 28s
133. Anthony Hall 32m 35s
140. Chris Hartley 32m 45s
143. Phil Wright 32m 51s
145. Philip Duggan 32m 55s
147. Howard Gold 32m 56s
150. Sam Thompson 33m 02s
153. Ed Garrett 33m 09s
158. Andy Welshman 33m 16s
166. John Driscoll 33m 29s
167. Stuart Meiklejohn 33m 31s
168. Paul Mercer 33m 36s
171. Tom Stephenson 33m 45s
173. Richard Macaulay 33m 57s
178. Tony Killilea 34m 02s
182. David Hellard 34m 15s
183. Adam Mitchell 34m 20s
197. Steve Armstrong 34m 35s
199. Gavin Evans 34m 36s
212. Dom Jackson 34m 58s
216. Paul Jarman 35m 02s
217. Rob Shulman 35m 07s
225. Alex Sweet 35m 24s
226. Daniel Szajna 35m 24s
231. Joe McKeown 35m 32s
234. Rhodri Gabe 35m 36s
241. Matt Fassnidge 35m 47s
264. William Wagstaff 36m 27s
282. Kris Milovsorov 37m 14s
290. Paul McCrossin 37m 49s
292. Patrick Waldron 37m 52s
298. Nick Desausmarez 38m 08s
299. Brian Doyle 38m 11s
310. Laurence Arnold 38m 46s
311. James Felstead 38m 51s
321. Andrew Sulston 39m 22s
334. Jacob Howe 40m 01s
344. Dave Walton 41m 04s
345. James Reid 41m 08s
346. Andrew Hudson 41m 09s
347. Ian Whisson 41m 11s
349. Oliver Pound 41m 26s
353. Jesper Lycke 41m 41s
358. Ray Yau 42m 05s
360. Russell Weston 42m 11s
363. Charles Redfern 42m 29s
368. Tim Sander 42m 39s
372. Neil Davies 43m 35s
382. Paul Silverman 44m 45s
385. Adrian Essex 45m 26s
388. James Parker 45m 38s
392. Ken Townson 46m 06s
399. Rick Baker 47m 28s
405. Robert Gould 48m 56s
Portsmouth Waterside Coastal Marathon (December 22nd)
236 Philip Hogg 03:43:37
Various parkruns
Barking parkrun
2 Asa CUSACK 00:19:55
Finsbury parkrun
14 Carl HEAP 00:21:04 74
Helene-Mary KEHOE 00:32:12
Highbury Fields parkrun
7 Tim MARSHALL 00:19:48
Oak Hill parkrun
16 Claire SLIWERSKI 00:23:26
Preston Park parkrun
10 Mark DERRY 00:20:30
Richmond Park parkrun
6 Rebecca BUNTING 00:19:30 (1st Lady)