There was more medal success for the Belgrave women's team in the South of England London Championships at Parliament Hill  finishing just ten points shy of a strong Thames Hare and Hounds team.

Heavy overnight rain after a largely wet week had caused the course to be so waterlogged that the London Youth Games, which should have preceded the senior races, was cancelled to the disappointment of the Belgrave juniors. Even without the mornings age group races, the going was extremely soft and muddy. Of course, Parliament Hill is notorious for these conditions. 

The Belles were led home by Emily Robbins with a very strong run in 5th place. Emily first ran the club in 2016, but then disappeared from athletics until last year when she began training again and ran an excellent 2:51 in last year's London Marathon. She rejoined only this autumn and is a great addition to the team. 

Anna Sharp has been troubled with a persistent knee injury and more recently a sore hamstring. She wisely set off cautiously but and was only the Belles sixth scorer after the first lap, but then moved through the field and with a fast finish came through to 15th just ahead of Natalie Beadle, a fell runner who thrives in these tough conditions, and Naomi Lenane who tired a little on the second lap, probably because she had not run all week due to a heavy cold. These four were the Belles scorers, all in the top twenty.  

They were just ahead of Karen Xiang in 23rd who did drop back on the second lap, but this was Karen's third race in as many weeks after very good runs at Mansfield and in the league race last week.  She is another recent recruit who has greatly added to the teams strength. After a slow start to the season after her duathlon summer races, cross country specialist Ella-May Hards is now getting stronger with every race. She finished in the low thirties just ahead of a fine run from Katarina Bonner who is another improving with every race.

The final Belgrave pair, Lydia Gallyer-Barnet and Sarah Riceman also ran very well, finishing in the mid fifties out of a huge field of 261 runners.  This is just another indication of the strength of this team. 

RESULTS

1. H. Dixon (Cambridge) 23:01, 2. Y. Lock (TVH) 23:18, 3. M. Squibb (Blackheath) 23:32, ....

5. Emily Robbins 23:58, 15. Anna Sharp 24:54, 17. Natalie Beadle 24:58, 18. Naomi Lenane 24:58, 23. K. Xiang 25:21, 31. Ella-May Hards 26:00, 34. Katarina Bonner 26:06, 53. Lydia Gallyer-Barnet 27:03, 58. Sarah Riceman 27:27. 

TEAMS: 

1. Thames Hare and Hounds 45, 2. Belgrave Harriers  55, 3. Herne Hill Harrriers 91. There were 28 complete teams who finished the race.