Met League 4: Seniors
On Saturday 10th January the ATW Metropolitan League rolled into the familiar grounds of Horsenden Hill, west London. The running gods seemed against us, as both train and roads were severely disrupted but, thanks to a great team effort, we still had 30 on the start line.
Photos of senior races (by Alex Wardle)
Men's A team
Tom Phillips is getting used to leading the team in, but even he must have been pleased to see that he was right in the mix this Met as he took a team's season-best finish as he came in 8th. With the winter half done, Tom must have an eye on the spring and the summer and, given his excellent form this season, he should be looking at many of his PBs with great anticipation. Just behind was Tom Beedell in 12th. Tom being the modest person he is, he may say that his position was helped by a few athletes being missing, but the Met of today means that you have to be a top athlete to make the top 10 in any race, and the fact that he was only 4 seconds from doing this shows that Tom should definitely be included in this bracket. In next was Harold Wyber in 25th. Harold, fresh back from a short skiing break, brought a bag that, in size, looked like he had come straight from the airport, but again produced a run that defied his ultra training, as he again attacked the 8k course hard and got a position that any 10k specialist would be delighted with. In next was Donatas Tumaitis in a personal best Met League position of 31st. His improvement this season has been great to see, and his progression has been textbook, so that this manager hopes he will be peaking exactly at the right time for the big races ahead.
In just behind was Angus Holford in 33rd. Angus had just submitted his PhD and, after many years of studying, is looking forward to the changes in the next few months, and feels the change may also help springboard his training, so that we could see some very good results at the big races this winter and spring. A step behind was Bertie Powell in 34th. Bertie, due to injury, is having to run off a reduced training load, so that he doesn't get miss races altogether. But, thanks to having years of miles in the bank, his commitment, and having a good coach, Bertie is doing well on this regime and has forced his way back into our top 12 again, which, at the start of the season, you would have got very long odds on occurring! In next was Tomaz Plibersek in 46th. Tomaz was due to go to Slovenia and have a few races there, but a change of plan meant that this manager got an email saying he could run in the Met, which is always very welcome news! Although Tomaz was not expecting too much from the race as not feeling on top form, another very solid run and a top 50 means that, when things click, he is in a good position to push on. Just behind was Tony Russell in 47th. The new dad is enjoying his new role and, although sleep may be at a premium at the moment, Tony is doing well to get out for a run and, with the feelgood factor aiding his performances, he is not just showing season-best form but personal best form, which is greatly helping the team.
In ninth was Simon Beedell in 49th. Simon picked a good Met League race to bring his family to for the first time, as this was his first time in the top 50, but Simon knew he was in good form after picking up 8th (and team gold) at the Buckinghamshire champs a week earlier. Simon has been in our top 12 every Met League race this season and, with his form improving each month, this manager is looking with keen interest to see how he goes in the Southern and National. In next was Rob Wilbraham in what was undoubtedly the run of the day in 56th. To emphasise this, Rob had never been in the top 100 before, getting 102nd as his highest position before his thyroid put a halt to all training at the start of the season. But with the thyroid getting sorted Rob has found a new level, and it was great to see him turn in a performance like this. It has been quite a few months for Rob, as he has just had his first child, and he may have known he would go well as both mother and daughter had come to watch, but unfortunately, due to a nappy change, they were in the community centre for the race, which is great news for us as Rob will have to do it all again next time! In next was Robbie Cox in 64th. At the end Robbie expressed frustration that a cold was keeping him from a top level display, and un-timely illnesses this season have caused Robbie not to be able to ignite the potential form that is there, but his solid displays even though not 100% have indicated that if a few things fall right, Robbie could be running through all his pb's in quick succession. Closing the team and making it into every scoring 12 so far this season was Daniel Steel in 70th. Daniel has been starting races steadily and moving through, but one of the troubles with cross country running is that some courses suit this plan more then others, with this course making it a very tricky to come through, as the mud and long slight inclines mean that changes in pace are very hard to do! But he showed his quality as he did manage to move through and get our 12th place.
This closed our 12 in a season's best of 70 and got us second on the day, one point ahead of Serpentine, so giving us a good reminder that every point does count! With the number of races at this time of year it was testament to our team that we could produce a 12 this good and get back into the top two.
Women
In what seemed like exactly no time since lining up at neighbouring Uxbridge only three weeks before, a four-fifths familiar Woodettes quintet lined up on the Perivale start line, once again one vest short of a full team. Pleasantly surprised by the unexpected firmness of the camp and warm-up area on this traditionally boggiest of courses, 166 starters tore off fast after a nail bitingly, shoelace retyingly, ponytail tighteningly, sock pullingupily long wait for the gun. 200 metres in, as the first spikes yielded to the soft malodorous bog, the silent treachery of ‘no actual hill’ Horsenden Hill soon became all too real. Again.
If the course and line-up familiarity weren't enough to make Perivale feel like an Uxbridge re-run, another easy win by Shaftesbury Barnet Harrier V35 Rachel Felton, with further ‘low teens’ class from V35 Kat Gundersen (14) did nothing to detract from the deja vu. Saturday’s run was the third great performance in a row from ‘Gundo’ (only 8 seconds between her and the three runners between her and tenth) no doubt cooking up something good for the Southerns in a fortnight’s time. Her mud-laden return back home East perhaps not so eagerly awaited by Jim, having spent the afternoon liberating his kitchen U-bend from last week’s Claybury sludge! Next home, 1’ 05” behind, was Suzanne Turvey (24), the second Met League outing this season for Dr Turvey and a fine performance indeed following a week of hospital night shifts. Rachel Lund in her second race of the day, yes, her second race of the day - the first being on (rather than in) water - was 15” behind Turvey to make her third home in 27th. In the kind of superhuman consistency we have almost come to take for granted from ‘Lundo’ (a penchant for a headband isn’t the only trait she shares with cousin Harold Wyber - just saying) this was yet another fine performance. Behind Lund fourth scorer was V45 Jenny Thomas (79), over 3’ later and, if it wasn’t obvious from a first-mile fall or the gurning race pictures, struggling to the finish with leaden-legs - weary perhaps after two heavy training weeks. Just 2’ behind Thomas in her season’s best outing yet, ‘super' V50 Karen Balcombe closed in 110th.
Another missed chance of a full score sheet for the second match in a row and while the A team holds 5th, an unbridgeable gap of around 350 points separates us from the top 4 clubs Serpentine (4th), Heathside (3rd), Highgate (2nd) and Shaftesbury Barnet (1st) - any one of which could still be in it.
Race day captain Jenny Thomas summed up the day: “All the racing girls did brilliantly. Gundo and Lundo showed their class; but its the same old story: not enough legs on the line".
Brenda Bray Competition (performance and consistency) top 5 scores after four events are as follows: 1. Rachel Lund (74); 2. Jenny Thomas (66); Karen Balcombe, Kat Gundersen (58=); Emily Moss (40); Suzanne Turvey (38).
Men's B team
Starting the B team was Daniel Mann in 79th. This was also a very fine run from Daniel, as his previous Met best was 103rd, so to have two men improve on their best Met position by such a margin was a real bonus. Daniel's form has been suggesting this, as he did the London marathon and a few other races in the summer and at Stevenage seemed a step up from last season, so it is great for him to produce a result like this that shows his improvement very clearly. In next was Joe Everitt in 83rd. Joe, like Daniel Steel, paid the price of starting too steadily on a course which does not allow great pace changes. But Joe has shown good form this year, and this manager thinks that, when we get to the 15k Southern, many of Joe's good qualities will be highlighted, and he will be able to get a lot of people in that extra 7k! Third man in was Gareth Cavell in 109th. Gareth is now over a rib injury that has limited running since early December, but was only able to do his first hard session on Wednesday, but this manager backs the tough cabbie to be back in top form for the National in little over a months time, barring any more injuries!
In next was Julian Russell in 119th. It is testament to Julian's form that last year to break the 200 was the aim, and now the goal to break the top 100 is very realistic! A slight injury had put the participation of Julian in doubt, but he ran very well, beating for the first time Adam Mead, who also finished with a Met PB of 120th. Adam joined the club this year and has progressed well. With a place in the London Marathon, he can now think to have a solid base upon which to prepare and hopefully will find how well the mud can help an athlete even over these longer distances! In sixth was Pete Caton in 125th. Pete told this manager that he was thinking of hanging up the football boots to concentrate more on the running, and it is this type of result which shows that if he does what an asset to the club Pete will be. This manager just hopes that, after Pete has seen the course at the Southerns in Brighton, he does not question his decision!
In just behind was Dave Cox in 127th. Dave felt he would be doing just a job in this race, but as usual just a solid run for Dave defies belief. He was, of course, the highest V60 (next was 297), only lost to 4 V50's and beat every V55, the nearest of whom was our own Alan Rugg in 168th. Alan is getting back to good form and after a very good run at the Essex champs, it was good to see him come out and perform well here, being the first V55 home by over a minute. In ninth was James Perry in 230th. It was fitting that this was James's first time in the B team as it was an exceptional run by him, as shown by the fact that he and training partner Mark Cambridge have been close in every race, with Mark winning the last one. But James showed real focus and 30s at the end of lap 2 had become a minute by the end which shows how well James had run. Mark came just behind in 249th, and did well to keep James in sight for as long as he did on such form, and probably paid a little on the third lap, but when he looks and sees that he finished a minute ahead of Richard Hogg, Mark will realise that he, too, had a good run, and hopefully making it in into the B team will take the edge off being beaten by his training partner!
This closed our B team in 249 with 937 points which gave us 5th on the day in Div 2. This means we are second in the league and still in automatic promotion spot, just ahead of Highgate's B team, which highlights how well the squad has performed this season.
Men's C team
Opening the C team was Richard Hogg in 272nd and his tactic of starting steady and catching up Mark and James on this course, as noted above, was a recipe to have a very tough day! But Richard would have been pleased to have beaten in Alun Evans, who had been chasing him down all of the third lap but could only close the gap to a couple of seconds to get 273rd. In next was ex-manager, now coach, Tel McCarthy who, after a heel operation in July, had not expected to be running this season, so it was good to see the return of Tel who looked in decent shape, and as long as things go well could have a good run in the National in a month's time.
In fourth for the team was Tom Spanyol in 321st, looking in good form. Tom would be disappointed that Paul Stockings was not present to get another victory over, but he did manage a victory over next man in Alistair Holford in 330th. Alistair at the end gave a summation on how he felt - we will just say that rarely has any man needed more a hot bath and a good drink! This manager hopes Alistair was able to do both and reflect that this 8k would have set him up better to do the National in a month's time. In just behind was Trevor Powell in 333rd. Such is Trevor's progress that he caught the eye of Newham's manager Bob Smith, who said 'isn't Trevor going well'. This manager immediately made a mental note to make sure Bertie, Trevor's son, kept an eye open so that no tempting offers were put the good doctor's way, as Newham look to battle against relegation, our C team captain is just the man you want in such a situation! Seventh in and closing the team was Stuart Phillips in 373rd, who this manager somehow missed come out of the funnel, and had to rush back to collect the disc to get all his well deserved and hard fought points for the team.
This closed our C team in 373 one man short of maximum points, but we were still 10th on the day and are 6th overall in Div 3 with London Frontrunners still trying to get both teams promoted from Div 3, which would be an impressive effort. Mention must go to Nick Andrews, who had to contend with work, this manager trying to change his travel plans last minute and heavy road traffic, to start the race only to be kicked which aggravated an old injury so that he had to pull out. The only thing more annoying than having a bad run is being forced to stop, so this manager appreciated the effort put in by Nick to come all that way.
The squad, as all season, performed excellently as post-Christmas it is a busy schedule, and to get 30 athletes on the start line with all the road and train trouble shows how excellent the team spirit is. On the busy schedule, one runner who would have been out for us but had been called to represent the North in Edinburgh was Pete Matthews, who in a very good field came 13th just 7s away from 10th, with a very fine run. The last Met is on the 7th February at Wormwood Scrubs but the next team fixture is the Southern CC champs in Brighton on January 24th.