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SURREY LADIES CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE FINAL RACE

Saturday 6th February Wimbledon Common

Seniors 8k

Hopes of returning to division 1 were high on Saturday morning as we had 8 athletes for our final cross country race of the 2009/2010 season. After a few issues with finding the correct course (bit of an issue when there are 2events going on in the same locality), all 297 runners lined up in a squashed mass of bodies waiting for the whistle and then charging to get a nice spot to run through the narrow woods at the start. If you didn’t succeed here you could easily get stuck and not able to progress as you so wished.

The course was varied and ranged from these narrow, twisty parts to open, wide but boggy horse rides with a stretch of sodden playing fields to add into the mix. Personally I enjoyed it but for those who had the misfortune to stumble, I could see why they didn’t.

Maddy finished first for K&P in a fine 3rd spot (31.40) followed by Jenny in 9th (33.58). I caught up with Gaby and made 19th (35.06) while she finished in 23rd (35.49) after a true test to endurance as this was the first time she had run 8k and is still only an u17. So well done to her. Avelline concluded our A-team effort in 36th (37.38). Our other members were close behind with Susanne 40th (37.55), Nicky A 48th (39.11) and Johanna 65th (41.16). We actually came 1st team on the day and all our runners finished in top half of Div 2 so great effort by all and I am really chuffed.

However, this was not enough to make up our deficit from the race in December, when we struggled to even have enough for a team. We finished the season in 4th and remain in Division 2 for another year. Next year, we can build on this and prove that we can make it back up, while enjoying ‘no pressure’ to stay up!!!

Juniors 4k/3.5k

Our usual 3 arrived, eventually, after I did a mad dash around the common on a bike looking for them and relatives. They must put more signs up. There were 19 in the joint u15/u17 race but ours were in the u15s. Jenny Miles was 9th (6th), Layla Thompson 10th (7th) and sister Mae 17th (13th) after a fall which injured her foot. The team finished 2nd on the day but at the end of the season were 5th. Mae had the helpful St Johns staff tend to her foot. A lot of toe squeezing and attempts to joke. Well they may as well be used. We wish Mae a speedy recovery and hope no lasting damage.

While the injury was being addressed, Laura Cook was running in the u13 race (come on other u13s, come and join her). Laura finished in a respectable 17th of 35 in 14.27.

I wish you all a successful and healthy summer season whether it be on the track or road and look forward to our first match in the new season. Seniors, look out for Dave Dentons Surrey races. It would be great to get a bunch of us ‘doing’ The Tour.

http://www.runningwithdavid.com/section/events/run_surrey/index.php

A HUGE thanks to our cheerleaders and also to my ever faithful sister for helping me out in times of need with each race.(Do we detect a teensy-weensy bit of sarcasm here? Surely not! Ed).