Charlie’s Angels Dazzle

Our local tribe put together an outstanding performance at Petersham to prove what a bubbling cauldron Charlie Dickinson is brewing at Battersea. We value hugely our big guns from elsewhere, and the last four years have been one heck of a ride, but for this one they were all indisposed. Indeed on Wednesday, there were just two runners in the entire club reporting for duty without a problem; were we relegation proof?! Well, there was a buffer of 400 or so points, but starting with two or three runners would have been unacceptable.But a rallying cry did the trick and we arrived armed with "the Battersea seven" who did brilliantly. Saron kept several notables at bay, including 2:23 marathoner Mara Yamauchi, whilst Jojo Rhodes showed she is returning to the form of old. Then a remarkable cascade of unexpected Belles action as first a very nervous debutante Emily Robbins dealt with her butterflies by getting out like lightning, and then hanging on grimly for the next 32 minutes. But this is clearly an exciting find, and the sooner we can expedite her first-claim switch from Waveney the better.  Evergreen Flic Cole followed on swiftly while another to completely blind-side the TM’s was Lizzie Goldie-Scot. Now she is back living the Spartan lifestyle at Uny her running has reignited.Five in 41 was way beyond our imagination and with fine back-up from a spluttering Christina Pennock and returning Helen White [fond memories of her hobbling the SOT in 2012 on a bad leg]; our work was done and we could enjoy duffing up a strong Herne Hill with an excellent Thames, Clapham and South London all lined up ahead. This league is fast becoming as fierce as the men’s, and if we’re to regain our title we need to start out a whole lot better in October than this term. I am quite sure the ladies will be up for the challenge.1 S McCall (SLH) 29:07; 7 S Haileselase 31:20; 23 J Rhodes 32:42; 30 E Robbins 33:15; 34 F Cole 33:25; 41 L Goldie-Scot 33:41; 72 C Pennock 35:23; 79 H White 35:48.  206 finished.1 SLH 80; 2 C/C 88; 3 THH 105; 4 Belgrave H 135.Overall: 1 C/C 327; 2 SLH 447; 3 THH 544; 4 RAN 596; … 9 Belgrave H 766.