Saturday 24th October
A very healthy male team of 27 and a rather small team of 5 ladies met up at Somerhill School for the second cross country race of the Kent League, making us the second highest represented club on the day with 32 harriers. The weather was perfect and mild and the ground looked spongy and promising for fast times. Unfortunately the ladies team suffered from various clashes with other races and also a few injuries but we managed to scrape together 5 for this race. Thank you to Kim Deeney who after running the park run heard we were short on numbers came to join us and also to Alison Beard who made her cross country debut for the Harriers.
It forecast rain later on in the afternoon and so when the tent turned up and was being erected 20 mins before the start of the senior ladies it kind of looked like it was going to be a waste of time, however this proved to be a good move as we suffered a heavy downpour only 5 minutes into the ladies race.
The course started with a small lap of the start field and then 2 larger laps including a long drag up towards the school building and also a short steep climb. I particularly love this course as there are lots of opportunities to pass people and also some long rewarding down hills. One lap down and the heavens opened which turned the ground on the course very slippy and there were a few stumbles and trips on the last lap. All 5 ladies ran extremely well the first Lady harrier home was Pru Clements, then Kim Deeney and Lesley Mercer for 3 to score. Alice Beard and Gemma Richardson came in to bring the 5 ladies safely home to their very own support crew on the finish line of 26 Men waiting to start their race. Spud Taylor finished second in his category V70.
The men’s race, as always, goes off at a very fast pace and we commented that It was very impressive seeing a wash of yellow and blue deckchairs on the start line rush off amongst the host club of white and blue hooped vests! Early on the men settled into their positions which they pretty much kept for the whole 3 large laps of the course with approx. 8 hill climbs in total. Once again the rain seemed to want to sprinkle on this race too and caused quite a few major slips on the corners.
First male harrier home was Sam Begg followed by Andy Howey, Craig Chapman, Ed Steele, Matt Clements and Simon Whittaker for the 6 to score. The next 6 to finish were Tim Lucas, Terry Everest, Nick Reynolds, Dave Hadaway, Ben Murrells and Richard Carter for 12 to score.
An excellent effort from all those involved as always and a superb lovely atmosphere and support amongst the team and supporters.
Race times and finishing positions below:
Senior Women & Men V70 – 96
1 18:36 NIAMH BRIDSON-HUBBARD B&B
2 19:20 ELAINE RAYNER B&B
3 19:45 CAROLINE FORD Camb H
18 21:50 PRU CLEMENTS
34 23:06 KIMBERLEY DEENEY
53 25:08 LESLEY MERCER
71 26:55 ALISON BEARD
81 28:04 GEMMA RICHARDSON
2 40:49 BRYON TAYLOR
Senior Men – 181
1 33:19 MAX NICHOLLS Ton
2 33:29 BEN COLE Ton
3 33:35 ABEL TSEGAY Inv EK
35 37:40 SAM BEGG
43 38:15 ANDREW HOWEY
68 40:59 CRAIG CHAPMAN
73 41:10 EDWARD STEELE
84 42:18 MATT CLEMENTS
85 42:24 SIMON WHITAKER
87 42:40 TIM LUCAS
99 43:30 TERRY EVEREST
104 44:00 NICK REYNOLDS
112 44:24 DAVE HADAWAY
114 44:36 BEN MURRELLS
116 44:50 RICHARD CARTER
122 45:17 CHRIS SMITH
126 45:30 ANDREW JOAD
134 46:07 ALAN COLLARD
140 46:48 STEVE AUSTIN
146 47:15 NEIL CLARK
149 47:45 GEOFF TURNER
158 48:50 MICHAEL RUSSELL
161 49:22 MICHAEL TULL
163 49:42 MEL TAYLOR
167 49:59 ANDY PAGE
181 52:49 PETER RICHARDSON
183 53:30 LUKE EDWARDS-EVANS
195 59:32 JONATHAN RICKARDS
DNF DANNY WINSON
Next Race is for the Men only: Sat. 7 Nov. 2015 Sparrows Den, hosted by Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC – It would be fantastic to see such another huge team for the men.
The next race for the ladies in on Sat. 28 Nov. 2015 Danson Park, Bexleyheath Bexley AC (Venue TBC)
Thank you for the extra pair of hands from Lucy Clements who seems to be everywhere when you need her.
Lesley
Ladies XC Captain