South of the Thames Championship Race – Somerhill School, Tonbridge – Saturday 21st December 2024
Words: Mark Tennyson
To conclude the year, eight of G&G’s Masters squad travelled to Kent to participate in the South of the Thames Championship cross-country race. On a challenging 12km course in the picturesque grounds of Somerhill School, Tonbridge, they finished in tenth place. Terry Booth (m50-2) was first home for the team in 52nd place. On the eve of the race Terry had run at the Friday Night Under the Lights five mile race in Battersea Park and seemed to be feeling no ill-effects from swapping road for the more testing wet & muddy conditions, less than 18 hours later.
Nick Tearle (61st) was home next, followed by James Adams who ran very well in the mud to place 70th. Mark Tennyson (m60-1) followed in 76th which was good enough for the individual M60 title. Four home, two more required to close the six-to-score team result. Philip Pryke (99th) had a mixed result finishing one place inside the top hundred, but was one second over the hour mark. Phil was forced to sprint the last uphill section to the finish line, to hold off three competitors who were all closing fast. Charlie Alger who also finished strongly, closed the team in 153rd place.
Robert Harrison and Peter Wootton finished 173rd and 180threspectively, out of a field of 208 who completed the course. A good few runners dropped out during the race as the testing four lap course took its toll.
A snippet of ‘South of the Thames’ cross-country history….
The origin of this iconic race dates back to 1888. Notice of the race was published in ‘The Sporting Life’ 11th January 1888 edition:
South of the Thames CCA Championship, Battersea Rise, Wandsworth Common, 14 January 1888
‘The above event will take place on Saturday 14 January at three o’clock from the Freemason’s Hotel, Battersea Rise, Wandsworth Common’.
‘After the race a meat tea will be provided’. Tickets for which were priced at two shillings each. ‘A capital programme has been arranged for the smoking concert, at which prizes will be presented to the successful competitors’.
On Monday 16 January 1888 The Sporting Life printed:
‘The wave of athletic feeling that for the past few years has been ever increasing in volume has, at length, rolled up another competition, namely, that above, the distance being about eight miles’. ‘After a good deal of preliminary talk it was suggested to hold a ‘Second Class Club’s’ Championship to be run on similar lines to the Southern Counties one’. Seven clubs entered and the event was brought to a successful issue last Saturday from the Freemasons Hotel, Battersea Rise.’
No ‘meat tea’ nor ‘smoking concert’ took place after this year’s event. The presentation of the ‘huge’ Dewar shield, trophies and medals was made in the open grounds of Somerhill School as the driving rain began to fall!
