We all got the train and tube up to Hampstead Heath for the SEAA XC (Southerns) at Parliament hill on Saturday afternoon.
The women’s race was one medium lap followed by one long – all together around 8000m. The men’s race was a whopping 3 long laps – 15000m!!! In those conditions, I think the women were quite happy to be doing less.
The start at parliament hill lives up to all the hype – an uphill battle charge with the thundering sound of thousands of spikes over tarmac.
It’s the muddiest I’ve ever known a race to be. The field in some areas had been churned up into a vast mud pool, reminiscent of scenes from an epic David Attenborough wildebeest migration documentary, with lots of people ignoring the course markers and finding their own route just to survive the crossing.
It did make the downhills interesting though – there was a pretty hairy, banked corner situation near to the finish that provided Bob, Ed and I with some excellent spectating in the men’s race. Scandi flicks going on and all sorts.
Jess Gibbons of Reading AC won it for the ladies and Adam Hickey of Southend on sea AC came striding into the finish, some time before the second man came into view.
Harrier’s results are below, unfortunately we didn’t get enough ladies to make up a team, but the men’s team came in 53rd (Dan, Andy, James, Simon, Saul and Rob) and everyone put on a great individual performance.
Dan Watts was first harrier home in 151st and Harriet came in 80th for the ladies as well as getting 3rd team as part of TAC’s 4-to-score.
Provisional results: https://results.sporthive.com/
Ladies 8k
| Bib | Overall Position | Name | Guntime | Team / Club | Avg pace |
| 5295 | 1 | Jess Gibbons | 00:28:41 | READING AC | 03:35 |
| 5513 | 80 | Harriet Woolley | 00:33:56 | TONBRIDGE AC | 04:15 |
| 5547 | 208 | Cathy Gill | 00:37:57 | TUNBRIDGE WELLS HARRIERS | 04:45 |
| 5548 | 437 | Gemma Stilliard | 00:43:44 | TUNBRIDGE WELLS HARRIERS | 05:28 |
| 5545 | 464 | Clare Andrew | 00:44:40 | TUNBRIDGE WELLS HARRIERS | 05:35 |
Men’s 15k
| Bib | Overall Position | Name | Guntime | Team / Club | Avg pace |
| 4104 | 1 | Adam Hickey | 00:47:28 | SOUTHEND ON SEA AC | 03:10 |
| 4397 | 151 | Dan Watt | 00:55:34 | TUNBRIDGE WELLS HARRIERS | 03:42 |
| 4389 | 263 | Andrew Howey | 00:58:15 | TUNBRIDGE WELLS HARRIERS | 03:53 |
| 4393 | 512 | James Sarre | 01:03:19 | TUNBRIDGE WELLS HARRIERS | 04:13 |
| 4388 | 597 | Simon Howden | 01:04:59 | TUNBRIDGE WELLS HARRIERS | 04:20 |
| 4386 | 785 | Saul Harris | 01:09:26 | TUNBRIDGE WELLS HARRIERS | 04:38 |
| 4399 | 791 | Rob Winter | 01:09:39 | TUNBRIDGE WELLS HARRIERS | 04:39 |
| 4383 | 878 | Neil Clark | 01:12:20 | TUNBRIDGE WELLS HARRIERS | 04:49 |
| 4395 | 900 | Geoff Turner | 01:13:05 | TUNBRIDGE WELLS HARRIERS | 04:52 |
| 4398 | 965 | Steve Austin (Simon W) | 01:15:18 | TUNBRIDGE WELLS HARRIERS | 05:01 |
| 4396 | 1115 | Chris Walmsley | 01:23:51 | TUNBRIDGE WELLS HARRIERS | 05:35 |
| 4384 | 1121 | Andrew Deighton | 01:24:33 | TUNBRIDGE WELLS HARRIERS | 05:38 |
| 4391 | 1127 | Nick Pierce | 01:25:10 | TUNBRIDGE WELLS HARRIERS | 05:41 |
Special thanks to Ed, Bob, Mike, Sam and Margaret, who didn’t run but got us all round with their support and photo taking.
After the race Geoff delivered the goods with some tasty rocky road snacks, which kept us going until we got to the pub. First up was the Southampton Arms and then the Dartmouth Arms, where Ed got excitable and started waving his pole about – it actually reached the ceiling!
Finally we settled in the Monsoon curry house, where Neil appeared with a basket full of beers.
“Who will buuuuuy this wonderful morning??”
The naga blew our heads off, despite having it on good authority that it ‘wasn’t very hot at the Monsoon’ but was still very tasty.
The train ride home was eventful in itself: two civilians came a cropper on the tube, accidentally grabbing Ed’s pole instead of the hand rails. Easily done.
Finally, the XC race report wouldn’t be complete without a pic of Simon having a wash.
Cathy x