Men's Surrey League, Div 2, Wimbledon Common, 15 Oct 2016

Bright New Dawn

After the grim and ghoulish reverse eight months ago, some 600 yards down the way, where we lost three men on the day and got relegated by just a single point; it was interesting to see how the Bels would respond to our first taste of Div 2 life for 23 years, and the answer in a word was, emphatically.Six of the top 11 were claret and gold, we had two scoring debutants, and could even put your scribe out to pasture, who hadn’t missed this league opener for 19 years.  But then again I was waist deep in manure between the hours of 12-4 as we organized not just us but Divs 3&4 beforehand, who contrived to take a 1 mile scenic trip on their tour, up to the A3.  So it might’ve looked mildly obnoxious if I stripped off into racing garb amidst the chaos all around.No such troubles in Div 2 as Phil and Paskar cruised round beautifully, the former nailing a comfortable win with some big races to come, and PO supposedly on cruise control ahead of the Cabbage Patch 10 today (4^th in 50:50).Next up was the poor skip, in great pain with his latest injury challenge, feared to be shin splints.  Although Gus was ‘seeing stars’ during the second lap, he refused to drop-out and secured a fine 4^th place for his trouble.  Hopefully he won’t have to serve too much time off-games.And they kept on coming!  Ed Auden is calmly securing a reputation as one of our ‘bankers’, and hot on his heels was Andrius, making a very welcome return to the fray after an injury nightmare for much of the year.  Tracking him was James Williams who will only get better, being understandably heavy-legged after his pleasing 2:33 at Lisbon.Next up, and another on the comeback trail was Paul Lowe, finally scoring for us in the league after last season’s injustice when he found himself cup-tied.  He paced it well and narrowly took care of Nick Smallwood in his last race for us before he leaves for Cambridge and Coleridge where he lives and trains.  But he assures us that if his job takes him to London, which is likely, then we’ll be the door he knocks on.  Thanks for a fine two years Nick, and au revoir but not goodbye.A little behind was the inimitable Royston just a week on from a steady tour of the Munich marathon, and to settle our account was the “vomiting cavalier” – Welshy – who to his bemusement found himself having to stop twice.  Must’ve been the Sambuca slammers the night before, the TM slanderously suggests.  Our noble sweeper Tom O’Beirne was next, and then two old faves in Phil and Alex who both ran this one 20 years ago, and probably 30, but I’m not gonna look it up!Very many thanks to the 20+ volunteers who helped put on the show, and in particular to Nigel Bongers & Maggie Statham-Smith of Holland Sports, and as ever flagman and more, Don Anderson.  1 P Wicks 27:36; 2 P Owor 28:19; 4 G Upton 28:50; 7 E Auden 29:16; 8 A Jaksevicius 29:25; 11 J Williams 29:58; 22 P Lowe 30:58; 25 N Smallwood 31:06; 28 R Maddams 31:41; 31 M Welsh 31:59; 42 T O’Beirne 32:47; 114 P Carstairs 36:41; 120 A Luce 37:00.  177 finished.1 Belgrave 139; 2 Guildford & G 208; 3 Reigate 245; 4 Croydon 457.