Belles' Surrey Cross-Country Championships 2018, Denbies

There was a good turnout from the Belles at Denbies on a bright sunny but a very cold day. It's a tough undulating course around the vines in the Surrey Hills and the biting wind made conditions difficult although the mud has been much worse in recent years.Saron Haileselase led the group of nine Belles out at the start but unfortunately had to drop out suffering from breathing difficulties near the end of the first lap when lying just off the leading group of four runners. There followed a close group of three in the thirties with Mhairi Hall, Iona Cousland, and Felicity Cole, and another group a little further back with Megan James, Lizzie Goldie-Scott Jess Reed, and Justine Lynch. Vicki Goodwin after a week warm weather cycling training was also there further back enjoying her run.The finish saw the same two groups close together with the very strong Iona finishing just ahead of Mhairi with Felicity close behind using her experience on this course to run her best race of the season.Megan was delighted to close the team with another fine run, she was just ahead of Jess in her first race for the Belles who managed to edge past Lizzie who was continuing her comeback from injury. Justine, another who suffered an Autumn of injury, was pleased with her run well in sight of the others.

C: Jess Reed edging past Lizzie

RESULTS; Surrey League SW 8K

I. Brindsen (Epsom & Ewell) 30:09, 2. L.Gent (AFD) 30:16, 3. S. Cowper (Rotherham) 30:22, 30. I. Cousland 34:46, 32. M. Hall 34:53, 35. F. Cole 35:20, 49. M. James 36:35, 50. J. Reed 36:38, 51. L. Goldie-Scott 36:40, 57. J. Lynch 37:39, V. Goodwin 41:52

TEAMS;