Henry Hart got Belgravian blood pumping as he lead out much of the first lap of the Southern Cross, guiding his team to a pleasing sixth position overall.

He’d eventually fall back to 23rd, still way above his team manager’s expectation and claiming scalps who’ve run much faster than he has on the road.

On muddy but firm ground at Beckenham Place Park, captain Conall McNally ran a very smart race to work his way through a busy field and finish 2nd Bel and 80th overall.

The 15km, three-and-a-bit-lap course was unforgiving to many who didn’t pay it due respect. We worried a little for Fin Dyer, in his first senior championships, who’d not trained much after a chest infection over Christmas and was seen occupying a top 50 spot during the first lap. But helped by a natural, smooth running gait he held strong and finished 3rd Bel in 83rd. Easily his best race in our colours.

Just five positions separated Jonny Scott (92nd) and Nick Buckle (97th) who both ran sensible races over nearly 52 minutes of hilly grind.

And the ever-improving Tom Lole completed our scoring six in 118th, just pipping Matt Edgar in 124th after the pair had tracked each other for most of their afternoon. Both have been brilliant fighters for the club over the course of the season.

This season’s ever-present George Loxton is another Bel in his first senior campaign and will learn a lot from some early exuberance that made for a painful second half. Our next Surrey League fixture will be a breeze, George.

Ross Christie (199th) and Ben Hurley (260th) rounded off our team with solid runs on a very pleasing day for the club. We fell back only one place from our fifth a year ago, despite missing our first three scorers from 2022 due to injury (Callum Stewart and Jonny Neville) and a most regretful emigration (Reece Edwards).

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