Author:  Charlie Dickinson

Photos: Matt WelshAnother good turnout from the Belles this winter with no less than nine women happy to take on the challenge of Lloyd Park in the Surrey Championships. Old hands couldn't remember a team this size for the event, often just the bare scoring four like last year, and sometimes just one or two.

However, team spirit byword this year exemplified by the words of Helen White, ' I'm no good at cross country but I just love being part of this team'. (remember Helen, you ran a blinder at Polesden Lacey).

   Interestingly out of the nine, only Vicky Goodwin had ever run at Lloyd Park before and our first three finishers have only been members since the summer with our fourth Christina, only in her second season with Belgrave.

So to finish fifth was very creditable especially as we were missing both captains and one or two others through injury or illness. In fact, our second scoring four would have finished 12th if there had been a 'B' team competition.

At the start just opposite the tram stop, the course looked quite benign, firm grass, pretty warm, just a very light drizzle, no liquid mud or half the course under frozen icy water. But, this is Lloyd Park, undulating and never easy, and after several earlier junior races, the nasty hill a mile out had already turned to mud.

    Photo: Vicki Goodwin

   Sophie Harris, as at Parliament Hill, was our first finisher, starting perhaps a little too cautiously, she came through the field strongly on the second lap to finish in 21st.    Photo: Sophie Harris 

   Next, a remarkable run by Iona Cousland who ran the race in trainers. Benefitting from a nice lot of training over Christmas at home on the beautiful sandy beaches of Northumberland, she wisely kept to the grassy side of the course where possible and ran easily her best race of the season.    Photo: Iona Cousland   Then Becky O'Kill, just a couple of places behind with a terrific finish which killed off a strong challenge from a cheeky Windmiler. (We love to see that determination).    Photo: Rebecca O Kill   To complete our scoring four, the ever reliable Christina Pennock, now such an important member of the team and continuing to improve with every race.    Photo: Christina Pennock As for the non-scorers, but just as important for the club, the next finisher was  Gemma Farrell who just seemed to get stronger as the race went on. Then Fiona Maddocks just ahead of Megan Bailey. Although Fiona much prefers the shorter races, she is a very strong runner and ran with Megan most of the way round the course helping Megan to perhaps her best ever cross country race.  Helen White has decided to target 5km and 10kmroad races, so she is treating cross country as a means to an end and just enjoyed being there and running with her friends. She is a wonderful example to others.  Finally, Vicky Goodwin who has been a member of this team and scored for us so often. Cautiously recovering from an Achilles injury, she was very happy with her run which was only partly spoilt by getting the stitch half way round. (That just showed she was running fast enough to get the stitch).          Top: L: R - Fi Maddocks, Gemma Farrell,  Megan BaileyBottom: L:R  Vicki Goodwin 

Results; https://www.surreyathletics.org.uk/crosscountry/champs/2016/20170107.php

1. P. Law (K & P), 29.09,  2. E. Wicks (AFD), 29.30,  3. M. Renfer (Highgate), 29.40,

21. S. Harris, 33.28,  33. I Cousland, 35.02,  35. R. O'Kill (Prince), 35.07,  40. C. Pennock, 35.44,  52. G. Farrell, 36.57,  57. F. Maddocks, 37.44,  61. M. Bailey, 37.56,  65. H. White 38.32,  86. V. Goodwin, 38.32.