South of the Thames 5m XC Team Race – Lloyd Park – Saturday 22nd November 2025. Words: Mark Tennyson
Fifteen G’s raced in cold conditions over a relatively dry Lloyd Park at the South of the Thames five miles team race on Saturday. The ‘five’ mile race which was formally known as the ‘Junior’ race has a long history dating back to 1910. Today the men & women compete together in a single race with the result scored separately. It has not always been this way; before 2001 it was a race only for the men.
After a seven year absence, Colin High led the G’s home with a very decent tenth placed finish. Between 2015 – 2018 Colin’s individual record at the South of Thames five mile event improved from 18th in 2015, to second and a silver medal at Morden in 2018. In the intervening years Colin finished 9that Polesden Lacey in 2016 and 6th at Beckenham Place Park in 2017. Welcome back Colin.
Four are required to complete the team and the next three G’s to complete the course were Nick Tearle (27th), Terry Booth (30th) and Ian Acreman (35th), for a fifth placed team finish.
Luke Bishop (37th), on his long awaited cross-country debut for the G’s – and after his recent Chicago Marathon – ran an excellent race. More of this please Luke. Regulars James Adams (41st) and Ben Gilmore (52nd) – who also ran in Chicago – were the next two in. Roger Barr (53rd), whose debut was at this season’s Surrey XC team race in September, also ran very well to complete the eight-to-score team, resulting in a second place finish.
These eight were well supported by Lee Lintern, Kit Hawtin, Mo Ansari, Phil Pryke and debutant James Mitchell.
In the women’s race, run alongside the men, Laura Addie (14th) impressed on her G’s debut together with the G’s ‘fell runner’ Rebecca Brennan (27th).
British Athletics Cross Challenge – Liverpool – Saturday 22nd November 2025
Also on Saturday, Evie Warren finished 26th in the U23 women’s race at a very muddy Sefton Park, while Abel Davies was 99th in the U20’s men’s race. In the next age category Kay Davies finished 53rd in the U23’s, with father Ian 442nd in the Senior Men’s event making it an ‘eventful’ day for the Davies family. Well done all.
