Belgrave Harriers continued their fine run of form to take team honours at the Surrey Cross Country Championships, while members made their mark across the country in their home races.

Bels toast silver at Denbies Wine Estate

Words by Alex Janiaud

The Belgrave men have acquired a taste for silverware. Victory at the South of Thames championships in December was swiftly followed with team silver in January’s Surrey Cross Country Championships. Sparkling individual performances and a powerful Belgrave engine room have left our glasses half-full ahead of this weekend’s Surrey League fixture.

Lit by winter sun and flanked by the Denbies vines, Ollie Garrod led the boys home in seventh, sealing his place on the Surrey team for the Inter-County Championships in March. Sam Gebreselassie followed him home in 11th, leaving him in contention for the nine-man Surrey squad should his services be needed. Jonny Neville and Sam Sommerville, finishing in 20th and 24th respectively, have also been contacted by the selectors.

Given the sheer quality of the Surrey field these days, earning yourself a yellow vest at this level is a Herculanean achievement. We hope to see multiple Bels at Wollaton Park in the spring.

Further down the estate, Conall McNally and Angus Lamb got their seasons off to a good start, finishing in 28th, and 34th, while only seven seconds separated Irish duo Michael McCarthy and ‘Big’ Rob Kelly in 40th and 41st. 

George Loxton and Matt Edgar had just eight seconds between them in 44th and 45th, while marathon maestro Tom Lole rounded off our top-50 finishers in 48th. Jonny Scott, who is still fighting his way back to full fitness, took 55th, followed by James Roberts, team manager Steve Gardner and Rupert Talfourd-Cook.

We have a fight on our hands in Wimbledon this Saturday. Another large Belgrave turnout is expected. We’re encouraged by individual highlights across the county championships this weekend - a medal for Fin Dyer in Berkshire deserves huge credit - but we’re going to need everything from everyone this weekend, along with a little bit of luck. Onwards.

Belles strike bronze

Words by Charlie Dickinson

Injury and illness meant it was a rather depleted team of just five women that competed in the Surrey Cross Country Championships at Denbies Vineyard. However, this team has strong depth and they were delighted to take surprise bronze medals by the barest of margins, just one point ahead of local rivals Herne Hill.

After what seemed like weeks of rain and overcast skies, the team were welcomed by bright sunshine, and a chilly wind on a very cold day. The course, which is in the magnificent setting of the Surrey Hills, had somehow remained fairly firm despite the previous week's heavy rain. 

At the front of the race, Georgie Bruinvels set a ferocious pace finishing forty seconds ahead of past National cross-country champion Phoebe Law. Emily Wicks, wife of our own Phil, finished an excellent fifth for the dominant Aldershot team. Georgie added this title to the Southern and the two South of Thames wins of 2023. 

The Belles were led home by Naomi Lenane, who was back to her best in 12th place. Naomi has a fine record over the years in this race, and it's good to see her running strongly again after a summer and autumn of injury niggles. 

Then just five places further back came Leonora Lynn winning her first ever medal. Leonora has made a remarkable improvement since joining the club less than a year ago. Then, her best 5km time was 21:30. Just before Christmas she improved this to 18:00. She also finished just ahead of the Herne Hill second scorer, this proved to be crucial for the team scores at the final reckoning. 

A few places further back, the Belles team closed with Natalie Beadle and Emily Bradley in 21st and 22nd place. Natalie has been ever present supporting the team and collecting medals his season and it was nice to see Emily, just like Leonora, winning her first medal for the team. 

The team was also supported by Olivia Papaioannou, slowly working herself back to fitness after her long-term stress fracture last year. She found the race tough, but still finished well within the top half of the field of 110 runners. We know Liv will be back to her best soon.

RESULTS.

1. G. Bruinvels (AFD) 32:17, 2. P. Law (Kingston & Poly) 32:57, 3. L. Bailey (Stragglers 33:12,...12. N. Lenane 34:28, 17. L. Lynn 35:16, 21. N. Beadle 35:51, 22. E. Bradley 35:57, 34. O. Papaioannou 37:49.

TEAMS. 

1. AFD 34, 2. G & G 54, 3. Belgrave Harriers 72, 4. Herne Hill Harriers 73.