Surrey League Division 1, Match 3, Wimbledon Common

The Belles produced their best league performance of the season, finishing second on the day on our home course on Wimbledon Common led by a brilliant run by the in- form Georgie Fenn in third place.

The team did remarkably well even though they were without a couple of the team's strongest runners, Sophie Cowper and Mhairi Hall, who were injured and ill.  

The course consists of a mixture of hard fast paths, boggy heathland and a section of muddy and rutted woodland before a sharp hill up to the Windmill. The drier conditions over the last couple of weeks made conditions a little easier but it still remains a challenging course.

As in her excellent 7th place in the Surrey Championships the weekend before, Georgie was not afraid to stick with the leaders as they set off at a furious initial pace, lying a close fourth at the end of the first lap. As the field spread out she eased well past the third runner to finish less than 15 seconds behind the runner in second, perhaps her best ever race for the Belles.

Rachel Brown has been the team’s most consistent runner this season and finished in the top ten yet again. This after not feeling too well all week. She set off a little more cautiously this time but then maintained her position strongly as the race progressed.

Like Georgie, Emily Barrett had run very well the week before in the Surrey and here she reproduced her fine form finishing well inside the top 20. Emily was new to the team this Autumn and has been a terrific member. 

Olivia Papaioannou is an even newer team member, joining just before Christmas, but has already made her mark with a score in both of her races to date. Olivia is really a 400m track runner but likes to run cross country to help her endurance. She has not only strengthened the cross country team but will be a great asset to the club on the track in the summer.

Olivia finished just ahead of Alice Reed in the late thirties. Alice competed in a big endurance event in late November and after a quiet December is now beginning her build up to the London Marathon in April. She has a great deal of natural talent and will be aiming to break three hours in the marathon. Those five completed the scoring A-team who now lie third overall after three matches.

Next to finish was another relatively new member, Camilla Barden in the late forties. Camilla shrugged off a slight tummy problem and was many places higher up than her previous league race in the Autumn. She seems to improve with every race.

Next,  very close together came Mimi Corden-LLoyd and Jess Reed.  Both looked very strong, finishing in the late 70s. Jess will join her sister Alice in the London marathon, and Mimi too will be training for a summer marathon and long endurance event next Autumn. Mimi has been the most consistent Belle this winter: this the eighth race she has run so far for the team.

Not far behind those two came the reliable Jojo Rhodes, perhaps not training so much as she used to with a very demanding work schedule as a nurse, but still here a good solid performance working through the field on the second lap after a cautious start. It was unfortunate that injuries and illness prevented a full B team on an otherwise very good day for the team.

Finally, there were many in the club who helped stage a very successful home match. Megan and Chris James, Patrick McDougall, Mhairi Hall, Orna McGinley, Vicki Goodwin and John Hall all arrived on the common just after daybreak and stayed clearing up until it was nearly dark. Megan continued sorting the results out all over the weekend. Giles Simons, Ed Auden and Mick Lesley spent nearly four hours marshalling in crucial points on the course and were assisted by Lizzie Goldie-Scot, Nick Buckle, Chris Taplin and Alan Black. Then of course Don Anderson, what would Belgrave do without him? Using his knowledge and experience to help plan the match in the preceding weeks, marking the course on the day and his unflappable nature dealing with everything that might occur in a calm and helpful manner.

Results

1. O. Matthews (CC) 32:08,  2. L.Major (THH)  33:10,  3. G. Fenn 33:24, 9. R. Brown 33:52,  16. E. Barrett 34:45, 37. O. Papaioannou 35:56,
   38. A. Reed 35:58,  49. C. Barden 36:55,  78. M. Corden-Lloyd 38:18,  79. J. Reed 38:23,  92. J. Rhodes 38:54. 

Teams 

1. THH 50,   2. Belgrave Harriers 103, 3. CC 114
   Scores after three matches; 1. CC 272,  2. THH 283,  3. Belgrave 366,  4. Kent AC 372,  5. HHH 560,  6. H/W 613.