Women's Surrey League, Div 1, Nonsuch Park, 15 Oct 2016
Author: Zoe Vail SmithFor the first time in two years, the Surrey League cross country chose to kickstart the season at Sutton’s Nonsuch park. Outside Mansion House, colourful pennant flags began to pop up as Surrey’s Division 1and 2 clubs slowed amassed. With around 400 runners, this was no small event, but the atmosphere felt relaxed – as runners and supporters were able to sprawl out over the grass. At times, start lines can feel cramped and be delayed, but this time around runners took to the long line marked by two mature trees and within moments officials had started the race.With an A team, a B team and extra runners out for experience and training, our claret and gold kit stood out proud along the line as the race spread out down and across the rolling meadows of Nonsuch. The course was, in the opinion of this writer, a bit of a gift for old and new hands – a do-able 4.5 miles, comprising 2 identical laps of dry, grassy undulating parkland, there was no sign of the usual seasonal terrors of mud and hill – but stand by, this will come!
Co Captain Zoe Vail Smith and Saron Haileselase , positioned at the front of the start line with Belles clustered around, were able to take advantage of the clean, fast start. These occasional training partners were an unshakeable pair for the first lap, a painful stitch inhibiting Haileselase in the second lap, which saw Smith move ahead. Zoe Doyle, laying claim to 3rd A Belle, ran a strong and controlled race – serving as an excellent example of how injury recovery takes time but with patience and self-belief comebacks are there for the taking. We very much look forward to seeing Zoe back participating over the season.A cluster of Belles fell within top 50, which given a field of this size and calibre, was an excellent achievement. Hot off the heels of a strong performance at Sutton Park last week was Becky O'Kill who ran an impressive first cross country for us, placing 34th.
In a pleasing double whammy, Justine Lynch and Christina Pennock came in 48th and 49th. We’re rather impressed by Christina’s summer of fell running pursuits and expect to see this strength put to excellent use over the season!Strong personal performances abounded, with gutsy running from Helen White who only last weekend bagged a half marathon PB; a welcome return to ‘Champagne Moment’ winner Lizzie Goldie-Scott; cross country 2015-2016 lynchpin Megan Bailey; track legend Jodie Albrow and our most welcome newbie Sarah McKelvey who pulled out a cracking finish line sprint much to everyone’s delight.Dare I say it, we’ve had a turn out ‘nonsuch like it’ in quite some time and this race neatly encapsulates all we want for our Women’s team and the season – a large team of happy runners! We’ve laid the down the gauntlet now – let’s show Surrey what we’re made of.1 P Law (K&P) 22:15; 2 Amy Clements (Ken) 22:41; 3 S McCall (SLH) 22:46... 8 Z Vail Smith 23:44, 13 S Haileselase 24:20; 23 Z Doyle 25:15; 34 B O'Kill 25:43; 48 J Lynch 26:20; 49 C Pennock 26:20; 58 H White 26:22; 68 L Goldie-Scot 26:39; 99 M Bailey 27:57; 146 J Albrow 30:10; 158 S McKelvey 30:47.Well done Belles!!!The team competition is shaping up to be superb with no fewer than six clubs right in the mix after Round 1:1 SLH A 98 2 14 18 27 372 C/C A 104 9 11 22 24 383 H/W A 114 6 19 26 28 354 BEL A 126 8 13 23 34 485 HHH A 145 12 21 32 39 416 FOT A 145 3 29 30 40 437 DUL A 199 7 17 47 56 728 THH A 204 5 25 36 67 719 E&E A 224 4 16 20 88 96