Charlie Dickinson reports:

With many athletes away, injured or unavailable, it was still important to show a presence at the South of England relay, and that we certainly did with wonderful team sprit on a lovely sunny day at Aldershot. Mind you, there was slight panic earlier at the Clapham Junction rendezvous when Rose failed to appear.  Her hairdresser's appointment was running very late. In the end we picked her outside the shop which she fled with wet (and different colour) hair.Mid thirties was our target, and Jojo volunteered for the mad first leg, running sensibly at first then pulling through the field finishing on par. Next came Megan in her first race for the Belles. When she agreed to run she expected a C team place and didn't realise that the race didn't start until 4.00, she had the theatre booked in town in the evening.  She ran a very solid leg then sprinted all the way to the car park where Charliecabs rushed her off to the station so she would get to Miss Saigon on time!Next came Hester, as enthusiastic as ever, running well below her favoured distance, she nevertheless ran another solid time almost exactly repeating Megan's time. After a summer of track training, Rose was worried about the distance and her breathing difficulties, but after starting very sensibly she had no difficulty holding off the runners behind her and brought the team home in a creditable 33rd.

1 Camb & Col 53:51; 2 Bedford & C 54:03; 3 AFD 54:50... 33 Belgrave H 62.26.   78 teams started, 64 finished.

1. Jojo Rhodes 14:32 (25);  2. Megan Bailey 16:02 (35);  3. Hester Barsham-Rolfe 16:03 (34);  4. Rose O'Brien 15:49 (33).

Fastest: A Clements (Kent) 12:54.