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FIXTURE 5, HORSENDEN HILL 11TH FEBRUARY 2012 REPORT BY ALISTAIR AITKEN:
WOODFORD GREEN & ESSEX LADIES and HIGHGATE HARRIERS won the Senior titles after the final league race of the season at Horsenden Hill.
It was Woodford's fourth consecutive annual victory and for the women it was Highgate's eighth in the last ten years.
The Howard Williams Trophy for the first club for Men & Women combined was a tie between Highgate, Serpentine and Woodford where as, the Junior title, was more clear cut for Herts Phoenix.
In the Men's race Andy Greenleaf and Shaun Dixon disputed the lead, as they went into the final third lap of melted snow. Thirty metres behind them were Jake Shelley and Shaun Collins running together, followed by Sam Farah and then Ryan McKinley.
Dixon sprinted ahead of Greenleaf in the last fifty metres and then came Jake Shelley and Shaun Collins with McKinley out sprinting fellow steeplechaser Farah in the funnel.
Dixon said " Last year things did not go well over cross country in my build up to the marathon but have gone better this year " Dixon who has been self-coached said " Recently I have had good advice from Ben Noad and I had my best senior race coming tenth in the Southern."
Andy Greenleaf was pleased with his recent international race at Elgoibar on January the 22nd " I came 27th and it was won by Paul Tanui of Kenya, who was second in the World cross country Championships so the race was of a good standard."
In third place in the Met league senior race was 20 year old, Jake Shelley " I have not done a cross country race since the National cross country relays. I sprained my ankle at Christmas time. I am now looking forward to the 'National' cross country as Shaftesbury Barnet will have a good team and the race is a local race for us."
In the Under 17's Michael Calligari who, was third in the Southern, looked good winning from James Stockings the Stevenage Met League winner.
In the Under 17 women's race Freya Lenton, who is just 16, from Mill Hill County school, was running with Mary Gough early on but went into the lead after 1.5k to win by seven seconds from Emily Ruane. In fourth place was Molly Garden, the first Under 15 girl. However, things might have been different if Hannah Novackovic an Under 15 girl had been well. Despite a virus she came ninth. She won outright at Trent Park and Ruislip in the Met Leagues there.
In the Under 13. Boys Liam Fox, led all the way to win his third Met League on the trot. Highgate's Terry Fawden had his best ever position in second place, four seconds behind Fox at the finish. Shaftesbury Barnet dominated the team scoring in the Under 17' men and Under 13's.boys, although Hillingdon and TVH were quite close behind respectively..
In the Under 13 girls race Rosie Poole, not 13 till June, had her fifth win in all five Met Leagues. Like Canaan Soloman (Claybury winner) is coached well by John Stow of Woodford Green with Essex Ladies.
Mike Barrett of the host club Ealing, Southall & Middlesex praised Gavin Collett for his wonderful organising of the London City Metropolitan League and then handed out the trophies, on behalf of founder member Howard Williams.
As a writer of this article on the Met league I would like to say ' I consider Mike Barrett was the 'Greatest Clubmen' to ever compete as a cross-country runner in the history of the whole of the North London athletics areas, outside of the very best ' National' Champions and to prove a point in a small way.He was second in the first ever Met League in 1966, then won the event five times and was the leading veteran in the league 31 times!
FIXTURE 5, FIXTURE UPDATE
The fixture is still on despite the snow from last night and the previous week.Full details are on the fixtures page in the Horsenden Hill section
However before traveling to the fixture please check back here for any further updates.
FIXTURE 4, RUISLIP 14TH JANUARY 2012 REPORT BY ALISTAIR AITKEN:
Nick Torry and Shaun Dixon, made the senior men's race an intriguing spectacle over the tough,Trent Park course.
Torry, who had ankle problems and couple of months off in the late Summer, ran the first Met League race at Claybury in fourth place and Dixon, the previous weekend was a good second in the Middlesex.
Dixon and 'Clear' Surrey Championship winner, Torry, were together till just over half way when Torry tried to drop Dixon. He got a 30 metre lead but still Dixon, was able to challenge him going up the hill again. Dixon lost ground coming down the hill on the last lap. Kevin Skinner ran in third position for most of the way but Ben Pochee, the first veteran who got married on New Year's Eve, came through well for fourth and was even able to run down the hill afterwards and encourage his team mates.
It would be a great surprise if Woodford Green were overhauled in the last meeting on February the 11th at Horsenden Hill, as they have a sizable lead over second placers' Serpentine 4651 to 4284.
Sylvie Lloyd was runner up in the last two Met Leagues and went out to try and win at Trent Park. and she took the lead early and was only overtaken on the long hill as they came up to the finish by Lizzie Hall, who was making a comeback. Hall came second the previous Saturday in the Herts Championships and someone, who has run extremely well in the Met Leagues was her brother Nielson Hall, who won the Herts Men's race. After the race Sylvie learnt that Lizzie Hall had won the' National' in 2006 and so, it was no mean feat to be overtaken by her and Sylvie felt she had run well anyway. Lizzie Hall said "I had an operation for a hernia in December but before that I could not train properly".
Highgate women were only the fourth team on the day and their two 'Stars' Becky Penty and Esther Evans were unavailable, although they had third spot with Katie Meredith. Now they have a slender lead of 971 to Serpentine's so 938 so there is all to play for at Horsenden Hill.
However, the combined scores for the Howard Williams Trophy now reads Highgate, Serpentine and Woodford Green & Essex Ladies all on 40 points but, with the Howard Williams Junior Trophy it is a different matter as Herts Phoenix have a 9 points lead.
In the Under 17 Men's race it was good to see Phillip Crout gradually move away from the opposition and win well. Usually he has had to be content in finishing behind Michael Calligari and James Stockings.
Several had won successive Met Leagues. Rosie Poole the most prolific. The John Stow trained athlete, has won all her four Under 13 Met leagues. The Under 13 race went to Jamie Philpott for the second time. He lead all the way at Trent Park and remarked "That last hill was very hard. It' cruel"
Hannah Novakovic won again " I went into the lead going into the woods half way up and then down the hill the other side.'
'The last time I ran round I hated it!' She obviously has come to terms with running a true cross-country course at Trent Park, Cockfosters.
FIXTURE 3, RUISLIP 17TH DECEMBER 2011 REPORT BY ALISTAIR AITKEN:
NIELSON HALL was back to the good form he had in last season's Metropolitan League.
His recent patchy racing he can now put behind him as a bad memory and, looks like being a factor in the Southern and National again. Hall said " It was nice to get a hard run under my belt. I wanted to go off hard and just hold on. I got a bit worried when the shouts were getting louder for the boys behind me in the 2nd lap'
He added "I had a couple of Chiltern Leagues which did not go well and, as I was a bit down I had to drop out at Liverpool but back again now."
Glen Watts, who has had his best year in 2011, which includes an 8:43:08 steeplechase in September, took command in the early stages but after a mile Nielson Hall joined him at the front. Watts coach George Harrison feels he has improved and even thinks he can get down to a time that could qualify him for the Olympic steeplechase.
Regarding his 3:43.08 Watts said " I did not know about being selected to run aboard till 2 days before. I had already begun my Winter training of long hills. It was a good experience that race in Nice."
Aldershot 'Guest' Ben Moreau, who was third home in the race said he thought the Met League was good quality and gave him something interesting to do away from training for the London and the possibility an Olympic place.
Going back to the race at Ruislip.
At the half-way distance Hall had gone ahead by a valuable 40m and Watts was then running with Ben Moreau who had moved through to join him. There was another 50 meters to a large group of ' 'Quality runners' who had lost contact with the first three. The leaf strewn course of muddy twists and turns in the Ruislip woods was not a problem for Hall but Watts never gave up trying to catch him and was a good second.
Scotsman Murray Strain, the International orienteer who was second in the Snowdonia marathon and, hopes to run for Highgate in the 'National' was the fifth man home, one behind Frank Baddick who came in fourth. Baddick was helping Newham & Essex Beagles get promotion from Division 2.No doubt with Bob Smith's encouragement!.
After three league matches of five, It was interesting to see Woodford Green were drawing clear in the league with 3561 points to Serpentine's 3264.but in the Women's league Highgate Harriers, who won six times in the last seven years have a good chance to win their league as they now lead Serpentine RC, who won last year by 773 to 728.
Becky Penty led from the start in the women's race but again her nearest rival was Sylvie Lloyd who was a very clear second.
Penty said " I am a great advocate of cross-country running on the way to building up for the London Marathon."
The Howard Williams Trophy for the combined seniors result should have an intriguing finish to it as Woodford, Highgate and Serpentine all are on 40 points and ahead of the rest. Herts Phoenix have a reasonable lead for the Junior Trophy at the present time.
The Under 13 boys race Jamie Philpott won but only by one second. He had come 2nd in the last two Met Leagues and said " I just managed to beat Jamie Harper in the sprint to the line. " It was slippery but I love cross-country and will do the 1500 and 3000 in the Summer"
However the second runner was Jamie Harper, who at only 11 years old, is an extraordinary talent. He came 8th then 3rd and now 2nd in the Met League 'Under 13' races.He is a North West London League winner and studies at Haberdashers School
The Under 13 girls race Rosie Poole, the Woodford Green girl, lead all the way and was a winner in the previous Met Leagues. She said of the three races " This one at Ruislip was the toughest.' Despite being only 12 she has been running for three years.
The Under 17 Men James Callegari ,who won the first Met League at Claybury led all the way. Unfortunately he collapsed in a race sometime ago and with Doctors orders had three weeks off rerunning altogether then, with only 11/2 weeks of running again he came fifth in the Southern Inter-Counties at Lloyd Park the previous week and, with only another week's training he won well at Ruislip with James Stockings a clear second.
The Under 17 Women Hannah Novakovic (14 in March) went clear in the last part of the race and was delighted to win, having finished 3rd and 6th home in her previous two Met Leagues.She said " I prefer cross-country to track"
FIXTURE 2, STEVENAGE 12TH NOVEMBER 2011 REPORT BY ALISTAIR AITKEN:
RORY CHESSER outkicked Ben Noad, his nearest challenger in the last 100 metres reports Alastair Aitken
371, only 4 short of the record, finished the race over a course with fast grassland stretches and some wooded countryside that did include some slippery leaves.
On the first lap, after they came out of the woods for the first time Harun Abdi was leading a group containing Rory Chesser, Niall Fleming, Shaun Dixon, Sam Farah, Ben Noad and Nick Torry. In the second lap the pace up front increased after Nick Torry had a brief stab at leading. It was at that point Chesser and Noad were starting to dig deep but just off the pace. Chesser threw everything he could into the final third lap but Noad moved up to challenge him as they came out of the woods for the final time. Despite Chesser feeling tired at that point he managed to muster up a sprint (He is a 1.50/3:42 man) and held on to win but, one noticed that Noad has been gradually improving recently and should get back to his international form by the New Year. Niall Fleming ran well for third place in a week of heavy training for the European Under 20 trial.
Rory Chesser "I killed myself in that last lap. I had nothing left in the tank. I don't win many cross-country races so I take everyone I can get!'
Ben Noad with a lap to go his feelings "It was hurting at that stage. I can't complain as every race I got a little better. I did no running in the Summer and at 35 with the niggles and everything, it takes longer to recover but I am ahead of where I was this time last year."
Niall Fleming. "It was good quality and I was pleased as I did 80 miles this week in preparation for the trials."
Shaun Dixon " It felt OK when i was with the pack but in the second lap there was quite a big change of pace and I have not quite got the snap but I am nearly there."
The first three clubs Woodford Green & EL, Serpentine and Highgate remain the same in first three positions in the league but the joint men and women senior Howard Williams Trophy is intriguing with Woodford, Highgate and Serpentine all on 40 points at the top of the table of 20 clubs.
Overall the league is growing in popularity as the best one to do in the UK, which is thanks to Gavin Collett and his team but of course with such numbers there are difficulties with the funnels at the end, particularly as there are so many good standard runners coming in fast well down the field!
Guest competitor, Emily Pidgeon ran away with the Women's race from start to finish but declared " I missed the Summer as I got injured in June'
She added ' I knew at Stevenage there would be some good runners and I needed the race before the European Trials. That was ideal as it was near to home and the Metropolitan League is the best league in Britain besides the Midland's so, I felt there would be good competition. "
Sylvie Lloyd was second for the whole of the final lap and Becky Penty in third place. Penty was coming back to the form she had before a nasty fall at the National road relays, when cutting her leg that necessitated stitches and she was pleased Highgate held on to the lead in the league despite Serpentine winning on the day.
In the younger age groups it appears Shaftesbury Barnet and Herts Phoenix have more top of the table teams than any clubs in the league at the moment.
The Under 17 Boys race was won by James Stockings of Woodford Green who pointed out his Father Paul Stockings, who ran in the senior race and Charles Stockings his Grandfather are life long members of Woodford Green.
The race for James " I felt comfortable on the grass. I thought I would kick in the forest and did so and carried on going. I was with Phil Crout but when I looked round in the forest he was not there."
Under 17 Girls race Amelia Barrett was in the first two, sometimes dropping to second but eventually won well.
Amelia, who was 15 in September said that cross-country was her favourite event and she was second in the last Met League. She trains three times week under the watchful eye of her coach John Stow, who was once a reasonable club half miler and Insurance Champion.
FIXTURE 1, CLAYBURY 8TH OCTOBER 2011 REPORT BY ALISTAIR AITKEN:
Woodford Green & Essex ladies Men's team set out their stall early on to try and gain their fourth consecutive victory in the league with 45 runners competing for them reports Alastair Aitken
Organiser Gavin Collett would be pleased that, last year in the first meeting at Claybury 338 men finished but this year 355 completed.
After a mile completed on the dry undulating course, Mohamud Aadan, Harun Abdi and Nathan White were at the front of a group of a dozen. That was just before they turned up the steeper climb for the first time. Aadan with Abdi had just come back from a couple of month's spell in Ethiopia. At that stage Niall Fleming was running steadily but several positions further back. Aadan, studying petroleum engineering at South Bank University,eased away in the closing stages but Fleming came through for second ahead of Abdi, who had been suffering with Achilles tendon trouble. Huw Lobb and Nick Torry moved up to their final positions late in the race ahead of Ryan McKinlay who had his best position in the league. Ben Pochee was easily the first veteran in ninth place.
Becky Penty, who improved her marathon time of 2:42.21 last year to 2:36.19 in Berlin, on September the 25th, appeared to have no ill effects running on her favourite surface and, going away from the start.She was followed for over a half a mile by successful tri-athlete Esther Evans (won the W35-40 'half' Iron Man in Antwerp). Sylvie Lloyd moved into second place after one lap and stayed there till the finish, ahead of new name in the league Lorna Russell.
Highgate Harriers, who won the Women's league half a dozen times consecutively, till Serpentine took over last year but Serpentine already look in a good position to win the Combined Men's and Women's ' Howard Williams Cup' at the end of the season and Herts Phoenix are also doing well for the Junior accolade..
In the Under 17 race, Michael Calligari, who had some good wins last year in the Met League was again a winner. He had run personal bests of 3:57/8:28 for 1500/3000 in the summer. The race for second place was a little more intense as the 'Under 15' Asgodom brothers tried to get on terms with Phillip Crout but Crout went away in the final stages for an overall second place with the Asgodom' content with being first and second Under 15 runners.
Canan Solomon was impressive in the Under 13 boys race and his coach John Stow said wryly " He was good enough in what he needs to do."
FIXTURE 5, HORSENDEN HILL REPORT BY ALISTAIR AITKEN:
The Final Metropolitan League at Horsenden Hill had muddy patches, from time to time, to negotiate reports Alastair Aitken
In the Senior Men's race 277 completed, which was a bit lower turn out than the previous two meets but still good as 277 completed. Credit should go to hard working organiser Gavin Collett and his team.
After 500 metres, Scotsman, Chris Smith, took the lead over from Harun Abdi and never looked like being headed again. Harun Abdi slipped back to fourth place before coming through again to finish second. The 19 year old had learnt to control his pace, running possibly the best cross-country of his life so far and, another person pleased with his result was Mohmud Aadan who came in third. He usually expects to finish between 15 and 10 so, his improvement through hard training has paid off.
Chris Smith has run well this year, after the threat of redundancy in the Civil Service had passed and, feels training at lunch times has been good. He also thought training with Frank Horwill's group had been beneficial. His club TVH made a concerted effort to stay in Division One, coming third at Horsenden Hill but unfortunately, they were still relegated to Division 2. The club did have the satisfaction of topping the Under 13 Boy's league table and were top of the Under 17's on the day.
In the Seniors Woodford Green (6305) held on to first place in the league for the third year but Serpentine (6227) were threatening behind them with good points in the first three league races.
Serpentine had 71 runners in the race at Alexandra Park and 53 at Horsenden Hill which was truly amazing. Serpentines' men 'combined with the Women' won the coveted Howard Williams Trophy ahead of Highgate and Woodford Green.
Shaftesbury Barnet won the Howard Williams Trophy for Juniors.
The Women's race had four runners racing together till over half way, then Sylvie Lloyd edged ahead, followed by Becky Glover, Esther Evans and Helen Branco and, as three of those were Serpentine it helped them win the league for the first time.
Michael Calligari (16) who won at Alexandra Palace was a convincing winner again in the Under 17's before he came 7th in the Southern. His goal is to be in the first 8 in the English Schools.
Calligari was not interested in athletics at school till, quite suddenly found he could run well in a schools race. His main interest was playing the trumpet, which he does in school concerts, jazz concerts and even in church. .
In the Under 13's Danny Rowden went into the lead, after he came through the rugby pitches with three other runners.
He was at the back of the group but then went down the hill in the lead. 13 year old, Rowden did sprinting for several years at Primary school before he took up running longer distances. He likes track and has run 2:19 for an 800. He has won several Chingford League cross country races but it was his first victory in the Metropolitan League.
NOTICES:
Any thoughts on improving the League for next season should be forwarded to Gavin Collett to raise at the next AGM in April. League Administrator: Gavin Collett, 11 Breakspear Road, Ruislip, Middlesex, HA4 7SB. Tel: (01895) 678505. E: gavin.collett@jti.com
Check out those trophy cabinets, mantelpieces and cupboards - could all League trophies please be brought to the last fixture at Horsenden Hill.
The Middlesex Veterans Cross Country Championships will now be held on Saturday 5th March 2011 at Mad Bess Wood in Ruislip, hosted by Hillingdon AC. Further details at www.middlesexaa.org.uk
Running the London Marathon? The Finchley '20' miles road race will be held at Ruislip on Sunday 13th March. Enter online at www.hillingdonac.co.uk
FIXTURE 4, ALEXANDRA PALACE REPORT BY ALISTAIR AITKEN:
NEILSON HALL, the 2010 Southern Champion, had a comfortable victory with his second Metropolitan League win of the season reports Alastair Aitken
The three lap course at Alexandra Palace had one horrendous muddy hill in it, for each of the three laps, that had people slipping and sliding in the mud.
On the first lap going down the hill Hall was moving quickly. He had a 40 metre advantage over a trio of Shaun Collins, Glenn Watts and Paul Marteletti. At the end of the second lap Hall had increased his lead and was followed by Glenn Watts, Marteletti, Collins, Orlando Edwards and Henry Dodwell.
Hall's ambition, after the first Met League, was to win the Abbey Dash 10k on the road, which he duly did and, as he goes so well on severe courses he hopes to have another good run in the Southern at Parliament Hill, on his diet of 70 miles a week.
In the Metropolitan League where the number of women competitors have increased each season, the league as a whole, is arguably the largest in numbers in the UK . This season in the Men's three races the number of finishers have been 338, 375, and 345.
The 12 to score in the Men's race has meant Woodford Green will have to work hard to hold off an 'Ever' improving Serpentine team in the last venue at Perivale on the 12th of February.
Highgate Harriers women won their league for six years, till last year and, although they are likely to win the Vets section they will be hard pressed to overhaul Serpentine this year.
Becky Penty (Highgate) made it 3 wins out of 3 by taking victory again in the Women's race. However Jess Sparke led fro the first half of the race but as she had only been training for two weeks since illness and had quite a few injury problems before that she felt she could not expect miracles. She just wanted to put herself on the line again and see what happened.
In the a the younger age groups there were convincing victories. Michael Calligari in the Under 17's, sped round the final muddy corner and went sprawling at the turn into the finish but immediately picked himself up to win well.
16 year old, Lissie Bird, won all her three Under 17 Met League races. At Alexandra Place it was after sitting a mock GCE in the morning at Haileybury School . She looks back to her best performance as being third in the English Schools Intermediate 1500 Final. She is coached by Simon Doyle who is keen not to over-train his charges at an early age. He also coaches Liam Dee and his brother Jamie Dee. The latter won his second, Under 14, Met League at Alexandra Palace . Dee 's Ex-International parents Billy Dee and Nicky Morris encourage their sons with their running but Doyle points out " I don't want them peeking too early. All our group start with 2 sessions then later progress to 3 before going on to do more."
STEVENAGE CANCELLED:
The Stevenage fixture was called off due to snow on race day.
All league clubs were asked to vote on as to whether they would be happy for the fixture to be held on a new date on 19th March. The response was 8 against, 7 in favour, 6 no reply. This means that this season will only have 4 fixtures.
FIXTURE 2, TRENT PARK REPORT BY ALASTAIR AITKEN:
Herts Phoenix runner, Nielson Hall, who won the Metropolitan League senior race at Claybury on November the 7th 2009 before going on to win the Southern at Parliament Hill in January 2010, showed again how well he reacts on tough courses reports Alastair Aitken for the Met League website.
Over the undulating terrain at Trent Park, where there were patches of mud perilously camouflaged by slippery leaves, Hall, who had tight hamstrings in the week, was dominant in the second half of the race. However, he had gained a tremendous boost recently from being in the winning National relay teams for his first claim club Bedford & County.
After a very fast start Shaftesbury had several runners spearheading the field up front, which included Tom Bedford, Stephen Murphy and the Watts ' brothers. Harun Abdi had a stab at leading before Tom Bedford went ahead in determined fashion. It was not till about a mile that Nielson Hall reeled him in but it was obvious that Bedford had vastly improved since his seventh place in the first Met League at Claybury, helped by his training for the Florence Marathon.At the half way stage the leaders were spread out. Hall was leading, next came Bedford followed by Nick Torry, who had come through. Behind that came Steve Murphy, road specialist Paul Martelleti and Rory Chesser. The order stayed the same till the finish.
Woodford Green and Shaftesbury had a good turn out and relegated Serpentine to third spot in the table. It was interesting to note with 375 men finishing and 147 women in the other senior race would be a combined Metropolitan League record for the ever popular event!Highgate's Becky Penty followed up her victory at Claybury with another good win over the course. Penty went off quickly and never lost the lead. From half way Cardiff 'Guest' runner Ava Hutchinson, who was running in the race because her Gwent League fixture had been cancelled was catching Penty in the second half of the race but Penty held on well to win by three seconds.
Serpentine RC have built up a good lead in the table but in the Under 17's, won by Lizzie Bird of Herts Phoenix, Shaftesbury, Woodford and Herts Phoenix are close on points.Shaftesbury's 16 year old Richard Charles from Cardinal Wiseman College had not run a cross-country for as long as he could remember but in the summer did personal bests for the 800/1500. He went into the lead going down the hill and kept it going to the finish untroubled. Till two years ago his main sport was football.
Jamie Dee of Herts Phoenix won the under 13 race and went ahead when the leader fell over going down the hill but never looked like losing first place after that . He has some pedigree as his parents were internationals Billy Dee and Nicky Morris and his brother Liam was the fastest Under 17 runner in the National cross-country relays.
FIXTURE 1, CLAYBURY REPORT BY ALASTAIR AITKEN:
Gavin Collett, the Administrator of the Metropolitan League for arguably, the most popular League in the country, must have been delighted with the Senior Men's field of 338 finishers over the tough Claybury course.
It is great credit to the Founder of the League Howard Williams, that a Cup will be presented in his honour 'The Howard Williams Cup' for the combined winners at the end of the season, out of 21 Clubs. Howard himself had told me how pleased he was with the addition and then, increase in the numbers of women that wanted to compete in the League (145 completed at Claybury).writes Alastair Aitken.
Nick Torry of the current top team Serpentine had two Met League victories last season (Claybury/Wormwood Scrubs) and obtained his first international vest when running a 66 minute half marathon in Denmark in May.
Torry was obviously one of the favorites for the race at Claybury but a junior called Richard Goodman, with a massive talent, toed the line too.
After the start Torry went ahead and set a good tempo. After a short while Goodman, tagged on behind him for the first of 3 laps. Then he wanted to go ahead so he could run at his own pace, as he liked running out in front. Although Torry was good on the downhill stretches Goodman, stole quite a few yards in the ascents and kept the momentum up on the flat, right to the finish for a convincing victory. Sean Collins, who was running in a good third spot for much of the way, after coming through early on was overtaken by Orlando Edwards, who had been running well in hill races recently. Behind that but close together were Henry Dodwell, Andy Greenleaf and Tom Bedford.
Goodman said straight after "It was hard!" I pointed out that one of his Shaftesbury club men, Ex-10k World record holder, Dave Bedford, used to enjoy local races when he was a top international and that included some Met Leagues amongst those (Back in the '70's). He agreed with that philosophy " I enjoy running as much as I can even when it is hard. If you don' t enjoy it when it is hard your morale goes down".
Serpentine, Woodford Green and Shaftesubry are pulling away at the top of the table with Highgate fourth, who may have quite a lot to do to get in the frame by the end of the season..
In the Women's race Serpentine have a narrow lead over Highgate and Woodford. Highgate's women veterans' lead their league and include two interesting veteran scorers achieving other things in the year.
Esther Evans won the 35-39 World Duathlon Championships in France in May and Gayelle Le Bray won the Triathlon World sprint title for 35-39 in Budapest in September.
After the start at Claybury Esther Evans, set a furious pace as they went down the hill.By the end of the first small lap she had been joined by Becky Penty, who was 15th in the National cross country, and ran a 75.58 half marathon in Bristol in the Summer. Penty pulled right away in the second lap for a very clear win. Shaftesbury's Sophie Connor, an 'Under 20', moved into second place on the final lap ahead of Becky Glover of Serpentine, from the club that had three in the first six home!.
In the race immediately before that was the 'Under 17 and Under 15' Boys and that was won by an interesting future talent from T.V.H. He was James Murdoch, who is only 15. He is at Latymer Upper School . He is a tri-athlete as well.
He decided to go to the front at the start of the second lap at Claybury and held on well. "This is my biggest win so far!" He remarked and said that he was coached by James Beckinsale and Roy Carridge"
Best Wishes from an 'Old' Met League performer Alastair Aitken
Key stats from the weekend races. 145 finishers was a league record for the women and Serpentine recorded 39 senior/veteran women and 66 senior/veteran men in the results which may well also be records.
WEBSITE ONLINE:
Welcome There is currently no league news other than to say that the website is now live and it will be a great new addition to the league and its development in the coming years. It is run by Hillingdon AC volunteers but it is an independent league website. If anyone would like to do general race reports for this site or know of information throughout the season that should be shared with the league and its participants please click on the "email your story" link below and send the information. It is intended that this site will develop in time with new features as and when time permits the volunteers to implement them.
