ATW Met League race 3 Alexandra Palace: Seniors
On Sat 21st December the weather did its best to dampen the team spirit and Christmas cheer, but thanks to the bonhomie of our squad, the excellent new tent (thank you to Club President David Hollingworth for finding it and committee for spending the money on it) and Roy's and Barry Ewell's efforts to put up the tent and bring and set up more stuff than some shops hold, a great spirit surrounded the teams as the day progressed.
Men's A team
But looking at the start it become clear that this manager's prediction that all teams would be hit as our team had been by problems at this time of the year, was not to be that accurate as the day in fact a high turnout was achieved. Highgate were taking full advantage of it being a home fixture by having 4 in the top 12. Our first man in this high quality field was James Stockings in 34th, fresh in from his work's Christmas party, his performance shows why this manager was so pleased to hear that he would turn up to race, and bodes well for the U20 big races post Christmas. Second in was Jordan Donnelly in 38th, coming home to Liverpool for Christmas and showing how he has trained himself to such a good level on the track, by demonstrating an excellent racing brain to come through the field strongly on the third lap. Third in was Bertie Powell, in a season where Bertie is setting club records (and probably league records to) which are testament to what an extraordinary club man he is, he dug in when not 100% to get 40th. Just behind in 42nd was Tomaz Plibersek, who had put Jordan Donnelly up for the night and was for a long time our second placed runner, before Jordan showed him the thanks for putting him up by going past him on the third lap!
Fifth in was the first appearance of our second claim athlete Donatas Tumaitis in 61st. Many have been very pleased that Donatas has come over to do the Mets for us, and this performance showed why, on a very tough course, Donatas looked very composed and completely in place surrounded by so many good runners. As he is only just over a month back from injury, this manager looks forward to seeing his progression. Sixth in was Harold Wyber, who was suffering from a sickness that is common at this time off year, seasonal partitis, a heavy on-set was suggested had occurred, but Harold stuck it out, many would have turned it in, and he came in 77th. Next was probably as gutsy run as one could see, from Darren Southcott in 86th. Darren was suffering from illness and was looking distinctly pale as he lined up. He looked at maximum discomfort on lap one, so it was all testament to him that he managed to press a disk into Roy's (who was dressed as Santa) hand at the finish. Next there was Lorcan Murphy in 102nd. Lorcan was down on where he would have wanted to be, but this no doubt was due to him wearing 6mm spikes! It's a mistake that we've all made, and after spending time putting in the training there is nothing more annoying then using all your energy staying upright, which Lorcan at the end said he didn't always manage.
Gareth Cavell was in next in 110th, Always a solid performer, Gareth came in with a group of V45s and in another tough field is progressing well as the season goes forward, it will be interesting to see how he goes at the Essex Champs in January. In next was returnee Tony Russell, good timing for the return as the team had been decimated by illness and injury. He ran an excellent judged race as he closed the gap to Gareth throughout, finishing just a stride behind at the end in 111th. In eleventh and another stride behind was Rob Wilbraham, who has been going very well at Terry's Tuesday night group, and showed that good racing follows good training by coming in 113th. Closing the team was Joe Everitt in 121st, Joe is forever closing the gap on training partner Rob Wilbraham, is there better motivation to train then putting one over a good friend in a race!? I hope that the battle continues into the double digits.
We lost a number of needed runners through illness and injury, Bob Smith, the Beagles manager, had told me at the Aldershot relays to turn off my mobile on a Friday, I could see this week what he meant! We came fourth on the day, but not one of our athletes could have run better or given more and that is all a manager could ask. We sit fourth in this highly competitive Met league, but as this fixture shows one fixture can greatly change the situation.
Women's A Team
Ally Pally. Four days before Christmas, damp, dusk by midday. It was easy to believe that the burgeoning car park was all about the Darts World Championships. But as we rounded the corner to catch the strains of Brenda Lee's ‘Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' and beheld the flapping gazebos straining in the wind, if not the tunes, we knew we had come to the right place. Immediately our fears of a tiny hardcore of shivering diehards, determined while the rest of the country bedded in for the duration were dismissed.
And so, as a fragrant rebuke to anybody who had gone to the Darts, let alone Christmas shopping, stood - or squelched -152 mud-hungry women: laced up, lycra'd and sniffing the heady elixir of hot competition and Roy’s mulled wine as it drifted across the damp, heavy air and they prepared for a be-studded scrap.
This was another massive field for this ever popular event. The nine Woodettes were, while equal in number to previous fixtures, sensing the absence of their solid high scoring pals this time would leave them in a much weakened position from the start. Not to be banjaxed one scintilla by this pressure, Emily Moss (12) led the girls home in 24:06, a spookily identical time and place to our top scorer here last year, Linda Jackson, and only 45” behind winner Shaftesbury’s Rebehah Gardiner. Pleased with her run, modest Moss must be heartened by this strong result in tough conditions. After a 30” gap, next home Rachel Lund (17) hardened to the cold, and wet from early morning rowing sessions, was rightly delighted with her top 20 place for 24:36 - 14” faster and 8 places than last year. Third to score, 1’40” behind Lund V45 Bernie Pritchett (49) was pleased to be coming back to strength (a big improvement on last year’s off form 70th) but feeling tired and unrested was not satisfied with her 26:16. Fourth and 1’44’ later was “super” Maxine (nee) Davies (74) in 28:00 showing the benefit of those Saturday morning hills and fifth, losing 5 places to her ongoing inability to find a finish, V45 Jenny Thomas (84) in 28:28 was nevertheless pleased to have improved on last year’s run by 82”. Sixth home and closing for the A team, Kate Stockings (102) 54” behind Thomas reminded herself that she still loves cross country as she squelched back to the gazebo.
With two in 20 but six in 102 (compared to hosts, and now League leaders, Highgate’s 5 in 10 and 6 in 28) - this fixture’s much weakened A team finished eight on the day and in the League slips - mercifully only one place - to fourth. We’re on Heathside’s tails only 12 points behind, but anything other than bronze now seems impossible as big hitters Highgate and Serpies widen the gap.
Race day Captain Alex Wardle summed up the day: “We knew we’d struggle today - I’m grateful for sterling performances from our high scorers but it stands to reason that we can’t expect silverware from only a handful of high achievers. We have the depth but we need it on the field. I’m absolutely delighted that we had nine girls in green & white today. But we need to pack that A team good for Scrubs.”
Women's Division One (Team): 1. Highgate (399); 2. Serpentine (338); 3. London Heathside (329) … 8. WGEL (233)
League Position: 1. Highgate (1072); Serpentine (1014); 3. Heathside (863); 4. WGEL (851)
Men's B team
The B team was started by Jon Powell in 137th. Jon is ticking over in training but is a very helpful athlete to have as he will not be fazed by any course or standard of field, and will always get the most out of the training that he has been able to do, so combined with his talent will always get a good result. In next in 141st was another returnee Robbie Cox. Robbie had a very good summer but running into a car door led to a catalogue of injuries, so it was pleasing to see his return. As a season opener, it is a fair marker, and hopefully will set him up well for the new year races. Third in was Daniel Mann in 154th, the Ally Pally hill catches most new runners out, but Daniel seemed to cope with it well, coming in two places higher then Claybury in what seemed a much tougher field. In next was CJ Shepherd in 179th. He was fighting a stomach bug that his twin children had passed on to him, and as such did a good job getting round, only coming 15 places lower then Stevenage.
In fifth was Peter Caton in 201st, perhaps further back from his training partners Rob Wilbraham and Joe Everitt then training suggests, but as his season opener, others who have raced will always have an advantage, and it will be good to see if his training improves as often happens after the first race. In next was good club man Alan Rugg in 205th, whose appearance was a good boost, as he gets back from injury. Only a minute and a half behind the first V50 he will be looking to cut that gap as the training continues. Julian Russell was 228th, 27 places up on Stevenage, and making it so this manager has everything crossed that one of his predictions will come right and Julian will break the 200 this season! Next in 238th was another runner worthy of the B. Powell woodford medal of grit, Steve Lambert, whose shoulder had seized up in the week, and meant that on the way here on his motorbike, Steve was at a slight disadvantage of not being able to look over that shoulder to see if traffic was coming! His running was badly affected, but not wishing to give the hill the satisfaction of beating him, Steve gamely got round.
Ninth in 327th was Richard Hogg who had been helping with the Juniors again with Alistair Holford, Richard has the attitude (the same as Alistair when not injured) of while he is there helping he may as well race, and the bodies on the line are always well appreciated! In 377th, was Grant Corton who could not have chosen a tougher met league for his met league debut, I hope it hasn't put him off, they are not all like that! Coming in just behind in 383rd was Trevor 'Team Captain' Powell, running with a fire that could only be caused by knowing his C team weren't going to close on arch rivals London Heathside C, Trevor had a very good run coming in 24 people and 7 minutes before the last man.
Our B team therefore only closed 11, and remains rooted to the bottom of the first division. Our C team is in 15th place in division three. It was fitting that on the worst weather that this team manager can remember at a met, we had the new tent, which seemed to stand up to the test. Although the result was not what we wanted, the effort put in by people, the camaraderie shown by the team and the spirit were all excellent, and hopefully after Christmas we can post some good results and move back up the league table. Thanks again to Roy, his music, mulled wine and mince pies went down a treat and greatly helped add to a very memorable Christmas Met!
Women's B Team
Race Day Captain and legendary hill-hater (V45) Alex Wardle (106) made it first home for the Bs in 29:45, 23” behind Stockings. V50 Karen Horswood (129) in 31:35 closed second, 1’50” behind. admitting to having done no training, newly retired Ms - no longer WPC Horswood can look forward to getting some miles back into her legs. Closing third and closing or the Bs, Aussie, rookie and cross-country first timer Laura Sheehan (140) in 32:55 was relieved simply to have finished in one - albeit muddy - piece.
Alex Wardle commented that “It’s a very tough competition. That several of our usual Bs were scoring for the As today exposes our weak spot. But that’s not to take away from the girls who ran hard for the Bs today. Its good for us all to have more than six out on the day, but nine needs to be twelve or more for us to make the impact we are capable of. Legs is what we need.”
Women's Division Two (Team): 1. Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets (191); 2. Barnet & district (189); 3. Mornington Chasers (173) … 10. WGEL (24)
Women’s Division Two (League): 1. Highgate B (486); 2. Heathside B (449); 3. Barnet & District (392)… 8. WGEL B (223)
Veteran Women's Division One (Team) : 1. Ealing, Southall, Middx (138); 2. Serpentine (135); 3. London Heathside (122) …. WGEL (71)
League Position: 1. Heathside (336); Serpentine (330); 3. Ealing, Southall, Middx (289); 4. WGEL (281)
The girls are especially grateful to Alex Wardle for support on the day; and join the Men in thanking Roy for outstanding in-tent entertainment.
Brenda Bray Competition scores after four events are as follows: 1. Emily Moss (97); 2. Kat Gundersen (72); 3. Alex Wardle (54); 4. Bernadine Pritchett (50); 5. Maxine (nee) Davies (47)