Surrey Cross Country Champs & Surrey Ladies League Cross Country, Match 3 - Reports

Surrey Cross Country Championships – 7th January 2018

The County Champs this year returned to a previous venue at Denbies Vineyard at Dorking. The

the undulating and mixed terrain at Denbies always makes the course a challenge and this year was no

different, with the cold temperature and strong winds making the race a daunting prospect for even

the most experienced athletes. Though the course was a little less muddy than it was two years ago,

giving the team a little something, at least, to smile about!

With our reigning champion, Phoebe Law, busy preparing for international duty and other athletes

being ineligible for the Surrey championship race, a small field of 4 senior athletes braved the 5-mile

course and the elements. Nina White had a strong run to lead the team home in 71 st place with a

time of 39 minutes 40. Nicky Atkins had a pleasing run and, despite an initial anomaly with the

results, was credited with 81 st place (40:46). Liz Richardson was next home in 97th place (44:29), with

Avelline Deighton completing the team in 108th place in a time of 47:51. The field was slighter

smaller than usual with only 114 athletes completing the course, with K&P senior team finishing in

15th place overall.

There were fewer junior athletes competing, with K&P unable to field a complete team for the

combined U17/U20 race. However, it was pleasing to note that Rebecca Keddie and Kathryn Bartle

both ran well to finish in 11th place (27:06) and 30th (27:46) in their respective U20 and U17 fields.

Surrey Ladies League Cross Country, Match 3 – 13th January 2018

Our third match of the season, taking place along narrow tracks at Wimbledon Common, reverted

back to separate Division 1 and 2 races. This meant our senior and veteran ladies had a later 1pm

start in the Division 2 race.

Conditions, though cool and breezy, were less harsh than the previous week and the course was

generally good underfoot – though longer than anticipated, as the actual distance measured almost

5.4 miles! Daniela Jantschy was again on great form, repeating her 9th place finish of the previous

match with a time of 36 and a half minutes. Another strong run from U20 Rebecca Keddie meant she

was also able to repeat her performance from match two - finishing in 27th place in a time of 39:18,

over a distance that she is not accustomed to. Our committed veteran team regulars completed the

scoring team: with Nicky Atkins running well and pleased to finish in 66th place (42:14), Liz

Richardson continuing her return to full fitness with an improved performance in 102nd place (44:16)

and Nicki Murphy chasing hard to finish with a time of 45:10 in 118th place.

Avelline Deighton was next home for K&P in 180th place (49:58) and Caroline Jeffcote again saved a

strong finish to sprint past fellow competitors in the final straight and finish in 238th place (60:28). In

another large field of 248 Division 2 athletes, it was pleasing to see a squad of seven complete the

course and give K&P a 10th place finish (of 24 teams) on the day, this consolidates our mid-table

position.

In the earlier junior races, it was pleasing to see 3 girls run in the joint U15/17 race. Alix Baccardax

(U15) was again first in K&P colours home in a time of 20:34 for 53 rd place. Esme Cerilli, also U15, ran

well to finish in 61 st place (21:31) and she was tracked closely by Imogen Busa (U17)who finished in

21 minutes 44, just one place behind. Evie Priest was again our sole K&P representative in the U13

race and ran strongly to finish in 20th place (11:39).

Our final league match will be held at Richmond Park on 10th February. New members to the team

are always welcome and in particular, we would like to see more junior club members competing in

the league - anyone interested in competing or that would like more information about the league

should please contact Liz Richardson.

***** STOP PRESS *****

Congratulations to Phoebe Law! In her first GB Senior selection at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country

international event on 13th January, she was the second GB athlete home and finished in a very

impressive 6th place overall.

Liz Richardson