Words by Laura Goodson

On December 10 2022, six Belles lined up alongside fellow Surrey team members to race in the SEAA Southern Inter County Championship held at Horspath, Oxford.

Surrey county’s Belgravian contingent comprised Léa Adamson, Naomi Lenane, Nathalie Beadle, Lizzie Goldie-Scott, Laura Goodson and Ella-May Hards. 

The 6,000m 2-lapped course called for careful navigation in response to narrow woodland, an open ditch and a fallen tree all set within sub-zero temperatures.

With the Under-20s and Senior Women starting from the same pistol and given the firm underfoot conditions, the race set off to a blistering start.

Léa and Nathalie - mindful of avoiding the inevitable trouble of the tight trails - nipped out of the gates smartly.

Naomi, Lizzie, Ella-May and Laura set off to a more conservative start. Naomi’s decision to settle into the race was perhaps influenced by a recent a virus. 

Lizzie judiciously opted for an honest initial pace allowing her to move up and through the pack in the second lap. Laura and Ella-May deciding to factor in the depth of the field’s strong runners and took a similarly measured approach. 

Léa, assertive from the outset, delivered her finest performance of the season and reiterated her ability to make a serious impact at this level; showcasing not only her undeniable talent over country but also aptitude from a tactical perspective, sitting into the leading pack for most of the race before breaking away in the last 2KM and holding firm to return home In 5th place. Léa’s fifth place also helped the Surrey ‘A’ team to secure Team Gold. 

Naomi was the 2nd Belle to return home, in 16th place, who by her own admissions has struggled to find the form she enjoyed last season, banked an excellent race, opening up in the second lap to overtake 10 women; sure-fire evidence that she is close to re-capturing her stride. 

Natalie Beadle, ever the elegant-racer, who never allows the heat of the competition to alter her rock-steady attitude towards race-day added another brilliant race to her roster of fine performances this year crossing the line in 18th. 

Lizzie also dealt with the task brilliantly. Despite the bottlenecks around the course, coupled with technical descents, she ran extremely well, the occasion perhaps lending her the opportunity to demonstrate her analytical approach to race-day and earning her a very impressive 22nd place. 

Laura and Ella-May also ran very well indeed, finishing in a very respectable 32nd and 40th, with Ella noting post-race the double-delight of racing with some of the best women in the South and running with the gold medalling Surrey squad.