Words: Mark Tennyson
Bronze at South of Thames for G’s ladies…
South of Thames 5m XC Team Race – West Horsley Place- Saturday 23rd November 2024
For the second time this year GGAC hosted a cross-country event at West Horsley Place. In February it was a Division 1 Surrey League match; this time it was a fixture with a far richer history – the South of Thames ‘five’ mile XC.
The ‘five’ mile race formally named the ‘Junior’ race (by standard and not status) dates back to 1910.
Nowadays it is a single race with men & women competing together and scored separately. It has not always been this way; before 2001 it was a race only for the men.
Nineteen Gs battled against strong winds and driving rain; with the women performing exceptionally well in the wet and muddy conditions, and being rewarded with bronze medals in the 4-to-score team event.
Eleanor Harrison (6th), Holly Shaw (W35-2)(16th), Jacqueline White (W-40-2)(23rd) and Susanna Harrison (W60-1)(25th)were the four scorers.
Zoe Rowe (29th) and Isabel Newland-Smith (40th) both also ran well, with Zoe just outside a scoring position.
Our men finished fifth (third ‘A’ team) behind very strong squads from Belgrave Harriers & Kent AC, who between them filled the first four ‘A’ & ‘B’ team positions.
Tom Foster (9th) and Charlie Pickett (13th) were the first two in for the host club, with both having strong runs. A week after the home-international XC in Belfast, Terry Booth (M55-1)(26th) was next with another strong run. In his first cross-country of the season Nick Tearle (M50-1)(44th) closed the ‘A’ team.
Ian Acreman (M50-2)(50th), Mark Tennyson (M60-1)(54th), James Adams (57th) and Phil Pryke (M50-3) (71st) finishedtwelfth (third ‘B’ team).
Ian Davies (78th), Jason Robertshaw (100th), Charlie Alger (104th) and Gerard Swinley (116th) completed the ‘C’ team.
217 finished this combined race.
A huge thanks to Dave Williams (Race Director), Paul Sanderson (Volunteer co-ordinator), Matt Lythell (Course Referee), David Clarke (Surrey Athletics), Geoff Newton, Mike Boucher, Kate Haynes (South of Thames), Matt Link (Estate Manager) and all the volunteers, officials, marshals and supporters who assisted with making this another successful event. We also thank West Horsley Place for their provision of the venue.
British Athletics Cross Challenge – Liverpool – Saturday 23rd November 2024
Two of the G’s in-form athletes, Evie Warren and Danny Wallis, raced brilliantly at a very muddy Sefton Park, Liverpool on Saturday in the British Athletics Cross Challenge, which incorporated the trials for the European XC Champs.
Evie finished 14th in the U23 women’s 5.6km event, while Danny finished 15th in the men’s short course 1500m event.
British & Irish Masters XC International – Belfast – Saturday 16th November 2024
Terry Booth and David Williams travelled to Belfast in mid-November to race in the 35th edition of the Five Nations XC Championships. Teams consisted of four participants, with the first three from each nation to score, racing over a challenging five mile (4 lap) course.
Terry finished 5th M55 and with his teammates finishing 3rd & 6th, picked up M55 team gold medals for England. Dave was the 2nd scorer for Wales in 13th place in the M60’s, holding off the entire host nation Northern Ireland team in his category. Wales finished fourth, one place off the podium.
