Belles win silver at Southern XC championships
Belles’ scorers (lr) Lea Adamson, Felicity Harrison, Jess Saunders and Naomi Lenane.
There was a very strong turnout of Belles in the South of England Cross Country Championships held at Beckenham Place Park, with the leading four runners winning very well deserved silver team medals.
All 15 who raced finished within the first quarter of the 408 who took part which illustrates the tremendous strength in depth of this team.
SEAA has suffered a fair amount of criticism in putting the race on at Beckenham instead of the traditional Parliament Hill venue. But with the help of a number of figures from the club scene, the course was significantly improved since last year and the park is an good setting for cross country races with the backdrop of the Mansion House, trees and with an undulating grassy course. The overall organisation was excellent with results announced very quickly after the end of each race.
Lea Adamson (1554) is closely pursued by Felicity Harrison and Naomi Lenane on lap 1.
The Belles’ leading four runners, Naomi Lenane, Lea Adamson, Felicity Harrison and Jess Saunders ran the whole race in close proximity, working together to maintain their positions and giving each other confidence. They finished 19th, 21st, 23rd and 28th all within sight of each other to combine with an excellent low score to secure the team silver medals.
Then, a gap of a couple of minutes before the second Belgrave train who all finished in less than a minute and a half between them. They were Ella-May Hards in her very best race of the winter, the ever reliable Lizzie Goldie-Scot, Mimi Corden-Lloyd then Lydia Gallyer-Barnett, both running very well. Track runner Steph Hewitt enjoyed the conditions much more than in the mud here two weeks ago. Next came Flora Whyte, a good run off little training, and then so good to see Samantha Amend back in the team after three months nursing a hamstring injury. Sammi was in the scoring team when the Belles last medalled in 2015.
They kept coming; with Bethan Goddard, Beth Brown and Sarah Dewhirst just a little bit further back, and finally Clemmie Copper, unhappy with her run until she saw how many were still finishing long after she had. It certainly was a very good day for the Belles.
Results
Individual: 1. G. Bruinvels (AFD) 27:01, 2. A. Clement (Blackheath 27:04, 3. N. Brown (AFD) 27:07, .... 19 N. Lenane 28:45, 21. L. Adamson 28:51, 23. F. Harrison 28:55, 28. J. Saunders 29:13, 47. E-M. Hards 30:23, 50. L. Goldie-Scot 30:33, 53. M. Corden-Lloyd 30:35, 55. L. Gallyer-Barnett 30:38, 61. S. Hewitt 30:45, 66. F. Whyte 31:00, 71. S. Amend 31:06, 85. B. Godard 31:37, 89. B. Brown 31:44, 90. S. Dewhirst 31:47, 102. C. Cooper 32:12.
Teams: 1. AFD 15, 2. Belgrave Harriers 91, 3. Kent AC 197, 4. Highgate Harriers 207, 5. TVH 208, 6. Herne Hill Harriers 223.
l-r: Felicity Harrison, Lea Adamson, Steph Hewitt, Clemmie Cooper, Jess Saunders, Ella-May Hards, Bethany Brown, Mimi Corden-Lloyd, Bethan Goddard, Sam Amend, Flora Whyte, Sarah Dewhirst, Lydia Gallyer-Barnett. [Naomi Lenane just missed the photo call!]
A delighted Charlie Dickinson on hearing the announcement of his team’s silver medal.