Belgrave sweep the podium at South of the Thames 5-miler
Belgrave won both the men’s and the women’s team titles at the South of the Thames 5-mile race, a championship first contested in 1910.
Individually the men were particularly dominant, sweeping all three podium places on a stormy day at West Horsley Place near Guildford. Mack Downey, Phil Wicks and Fin Dyer ran superbly in testing conditions, while Sam Sommerville secured an excellent seventh place.
The three Bels pictured in the lead pack here would eventually finish (l-r) 1st (Mack Downey), 3rd (Fin Dyer) and 2nd (Phil Wicks).
That was enough for a 12-point win over Kent AC in second place, who pipped us by just 3 points for the eight-to-score shield.
The Belles, meanwhile, continued their voracious appetite for silverware, and with all four of their scoring team finishing in the top ten they easily won the team competition for the second year running. Emily Bradley and Emily Robbins won individual silver and bronze medals for their outstanding runs.
In-form Em Bradley was first Belle home.
The ever-reliable Ella-May Hards - who enjoys a good storm - secured a brilliant eighth place, winning her second team medal in as many weeks. It was great to see Lydia Gallyer-Barnett closing the team in 10th place and being awarded a medal after just missing out last week on silverware in the London Cross Country Championships.
New member Jess Rusby finished just three places behind Lydia, and Marianna Patat completed the Belles contingent finishing in 31st out of nearly 70 women in the race.
Results
The first three men home.
Emily Robbins was second Belle.
Ella-May Hards was third Belle on a soggy day near Guildford.
The Bels’ scoring four: (l-r) Phil Wicks, Mack Downey, Fin Dyer, Sam Sommerville.
Coach Charlie Dickinson emerged victorious in his double battle against Storm Bert and Kent AC.