Great Fighting Spirit in the Gloop

 Both squads performed well at the Surreys in pretty treacherous conditions. The Belles were surprised to find SLH, Ranelagh and the Clapham all close to their best, and so had to settle for 5^th this time out, with Aldershot continuing to operate on another level.We were delighted to welcome Nici Cahusac to the colours whose strong running saw her as our 2^nd finisher, with Kerimac snapping away close behind. Jojo led us home, as she did last year.  Flic is going to focus more on her running in the coming year, and Vicki was there to sweep up lest there be any mishaps.1 G Bruinvels (AFD) 30:24; 17 J Rhodes 34:28; 21 N Cahusac 35:17; 23 K Mackenzie 35:35; 36 F Cole 36:53; 74 V Goodwin 41:08. 129 finished.1 AFD 18; 2 SLH 44; 3 Ranelagh 59; 4 Clapham 81; 5 Belgrave H 97; 6 Herne Hill 124. 16 teams closed in.-----------------------------------The men were a little short on numbers with several drop-outs on Friday, but after the latecomers kept Charlie sweating, we started with a strong sextet, and a returning to the fold Mike as backstop. As it went Herne Hill were outstanding and although scoring more points than their dream-team of 2008, the race has come on a bit since then, and this could just be their best vintage ever. Certainly a top three lads of Busaileh, Lloyd and the Shaftesbury legend that is Kojo would take some stopping. And it’s decades since all five leading Surrey clubs all been so strong at the same time. South London are a force to be reckoned with again (yet still had to bow to a surging Guildford), Thames and Hercules doing fine, and we’re not messing about. Good times indeed, and it all makes for a very keenly fought and entertaining contest.PO did what he does best: bedding in, breaking free on the second lap, before playing come-and-get-me with the oppo. Tonbridge’s Henry Pearce answered the call, but how many kick-finishes have we seen Paskar lose in 150-odd races for us? His last lap at the Sydney Olympics may have been a bit of a ‘mare, but he doesn’t let that happen anymore.Andy and Taras cemented their roles as our go-to enforcers, and don’t they run with clinical efficiency; while Nick and Roy’s form this term is a revelation. Down to the ‘Pillar then – whose form is anything but… however, there were still valuable places to be fought for, and it turned out that we had just three points to spare over the defending champs in the end, to lands us a pleasing set of silvers.1 P Owor 41:34; 15 A Jaksevicius 43:53; 19 T Telkovsky 44:32; 25 N Bundle 45:26; 29 R Maddams 45:41; 47 W Cockerell 47:12; 128 M Trees 52:59. 236 finished.1 Herne Hill 92; 2 Belgrave H 136; 3 H/W 139; 4 THH 155, 5 AFD 186. 17 teams closed in.----------------------------------------Belgravians were busy elsewhere. Sarah Murphy won a momentous duel with the redoubtable Katie Brough to take the Cheshire title, whilst Mel won at Bucks by 61 secs.  Matt Taylor was 7^th in Berkshire and Zoe Doyle 6^th in Herts.