Aldred flies over Donington mud

A busy weekend for Heathsiders, with several putting in outstanding performances, but not for the first time it is Tom Aldred who deserves top spot. His magnificent 28th place out of 1,730 finishers in the 12k (actually, nearly 13) of the senior men’s race in the English National Cross-Country Championships in the muddy, hilly fields of Leicestershire on Saturday was simply astonishing. At the age of 36, after a debilitating series of injuries, our Tom proved himself to be one of our country’s top cross-country runners. What a comeback!

There were several other eye-catching showings from Heathsiders, including James Wooldridge’s 40th place in the under-20 men’s race. James still has a year to go in this age group, so we can expect him to do even better next year. Also worth highlighting was a perfectly-judged 78th place (out of 739 finishers) for Rebecca Piggott, who was our first woman home despite her recent injury-induced layoff.

The Nationals were a rather wonderful way to end the cross-country season, with 60 of our runners taking part, most of us enjoying the camaraderie of the coach trips there and back (and for the seniors, the many bottles of Prosecco and the George-inspired beer stop). A big thanks to Captain Chris who rallied the troops with determination and grace. Here’s his report:

English National Cross-Country Championships, Donnington Park, Leicestershire, Saturday February 27

What better way to end the cross-country season than with a day out to a scrap of agricultural land near the end of East Midlands Airport runway, in Leicestershire? Ask the 60 Heathsiders who took part in The English National Cross-Country Championships on Saturday, over a course that took us through a turnip field, up hills, round hairpin bends, and on into mud stickier than when Sticky the Stick Insect got stuck on a sticky bun. I’ll warrant they’ll tell you the trip was well worth it - especially when the coach journey home turned into something of a piss-up. By the time we got back to London we were agreed that it was the finest course since, well, since last year at least. In truth, conditions were tough enough to make the hardiest of competitors yearn to be aboard the two o’clock flight to Majorca. So those who made it round the winding, spike-eating course to the finish deserve all the plaudits that are coming their way in this, the last report of the season (don’t all cheer at once).

Traveling up early for the Junior Races, our young athletes made getting out of bed before midday on a Saturday look worthwhile, if not exactly fun, with some good performances across the age categories. The fields at the Junior events can be very competitive indeed at this level, so congratulations to all who pitted themselves against the best young whippersnappers in the country.

Ruairi McGonagle capped a fine first season in the Under-13 Boys category with a 101st place finish from 420 completing the 3km course. A team of Evelyn Dumbleton (189th), Rose Garrett (199th), Matilda Heath (212th), and Lorna (?) (412th), finished 38th from 48 clubs who fielded a full team in the Under-13 Girls race.

Congratulations to Liam Garrett (312th from 367 finishers), who represented the club in the Under-15 Boys race, and Genevieve Weston (88th from 129 finishers), who kept up the Heathside end alone in the Under-20 Women’s race.

In the Under-17 Men’s Race William Griffiths, Isaac Costley, Antanas Weston, and Luke Gray secured Heathside the club wooden spoon, finishing 22nd from 22 clubs who closed out a full team. However, in a highly competitive race, the boys’ finishing positions of 117th, 187th, 210th, and 221st, from 243 finishers, were not too shabby at all.

Congratulations to James Wooldridge, who capped a fine season with a 40th place finish from 152 in the Under-20 Men’s race.

Watching the start of the Senior races at the National Champs is always a joy. With the entire field stretched across a start line that must have been 200 meters wide at Donington, the stampede when the gun went was quite a spectacle. In the Senior Women’s event, 739 competitors made it from the starting rush to the end of the 8km course, of whom 11 proudly sported the most stylish club vest in Christendom (to be absolutely clear, that’s the Heathside vest).

Anna O’Hare took up the early pace, but fell victim to the shoe-sucking mud, and lost time fixing her unruly spikes whilst Sticky the Stick Insect looked on. Rebecca Piggott, master of the well-timed run, cut through the field to finish 78th, with Sue Rust (I suspect Rebecca may have learned at the feet of the great Rust) showing again how to run the second half of a championship race, taking out one competitor after another, to finish 121st. Sue was closely followed by Celine Murray (128th), with Anna holding on to the fourth scoring position despite her footwear malfunction, in 132nd.

In the team competition, Rebecca, Sue, Celine, and Anna finished  a strong 19th from 84 clubs. Champions were Aldershot. Interestingly, those 84 clubs did not include H*ghgate, who failed to field a full scoring team. I can’t pass on without making note of the fact that despite their domination of the 5 Met League races this season, H*ghgate’s Women have failed to get the better of Heathside in any of the Championship races - London, North London, Middlesex, Southern, National. At 5 fixtures apiece, I’m happy to call it a draw this season, and agree a truce (but only until October).

Behind our scorers, Colette Monahan (183rd) had another strong run, giving Ula Cartwright-Finch (207th) a club-mate to chase for the final time this season. Angela Howe (291st) made another epic trip from Scotland to represent her club, and prepared herself for her impending ultra-marathon with an afternoon of mud and turnip dodging. Congratulations to Kim Butler (567th) who, despite finishing as Heathside back-marker had what looked to me like a strong run.

Before turning to the subject of alcohol and its consumption, all the talk on the coach back to London was of Tom Aldred’s outstanding performance in the Senior Men’s race (12km-plus, 1,730 finishers). Having made a reasonable getaway from the thundering herd at the start of the race, Tom nonetheless left himself with a lot of work to do, picking off other runners as the race progressed. A top 60 finish would have been a worthy prize indeed, but Tom did better than that - a lot better - finishing a spectacular 28th in a field that, by definition, includes the very best cross-country runners in the country. Judging by the smile on his face at the end of the race, Tom surprised even himself with what we believe to be the best finish at the National Champs in club memory. Take a bow, Tom: you are an inspiration to your club-mates, and the pride of Heathside.

The measure of Tom’s performance was that he finished a full five minutes ahead of Heathside’s second place runner, Charles Hardy (267th). This is to take nothing at all away from Charles’s fantastic debut at the National Champs. In front of his parents (regular readers of these reports, I note with not a little pride - hi, Charles’s parents!), who traveled from Lincolnshire to watch their son in action, Charles showed a muddy pair of heels to Andy Barnes (279th), Kimon Doulis (another fine run, in 336th), Dave Hellard (376th), and George Stewart (399th), who formed the six scorers in Heathside’s team.

Waiting to extend a welcome on the finishing line, George Stewart and Dave Hellard both settled scores with Dan McKeown (433rd). Nonetheless, in a field as strong as this, a top-500 finish is a real prize. John Flahive (532nd), despite just missing out on this accolade, ended his season on a high note, finishing first Heathside Veteran. Pete Bakewell put in a late bid for club newcomer of the season, finishing 545th, ahead of gnarly old soldiers Steve Armstrong (556th), Martin Potter (565th), Paul Mercer (600th), and Andy Welshman (603rd), all of whom can be rightly proud of their efforts (they beat me!). Also happily exhausted on the finish line were Jonathan Litchfield (641st), Dom Jackson (658th), Nick Haward (737th), and Joe McKeown (774th).

Respect is due to the fine athletes, and great ambassadors of the club, who spent over an hour making their way round a course that we’d all happily have quit after ten minutes if we could. Andy Owen (1040th), Mark George (1061st), Pete Crockford (1094th), Alan Latham (1125th), Gavin Parish (1155th), Rob Shulman (1281st), Justin Costley (1347th), and Carl Heap (1477th), your club salutes you on your sterling endurance.

Of the 123 clubs fielding finishing teams, Heathside’s men finished an impressive 20th. Let me be clear about this: to have the 20th strongest team in the country at the National Champs is no mean feat. Men, you made Our Dear Leader very proud; and if ODL is proud, then everyone’s happy. Congratulations.

On another note, commiserations to Andrew Brooker, who had to pull out of the race, and to Allan Whatmough, who aggravated an injury and was another DNF. Encouragingly, however, Chris Shipley (815th) made it to the end again this time. There’s your inspiration, men - come back next season and finish what you started. I for one, will be there to support you.

Thanks to everyone who cheered us on - it was a real boost to hear the familiar cry of ‘Come on you Heathside!’ at so many points around the course: Heathside’s rabbling is almost as good as its running.

And so another superb cross-country season draws to a close. Our Women have a haul of trophies for their efforts (Champions of London, North London, and Middlesex), and our Men (Champions of North London) have made strides towards becoming one of the top clubs in the region. So many individuals have been a part of this success.

My records tell me than no less than 198 Senior Heathsiders represented their club on the courses of the South East this season. To all of you, I extend a hearty thanks on behalf of your club. As Captains, it has been a privilege for Cathy and I to chase you round the woods and fields of London all winter (does that sound wrong? I think perhaps it does).

Which just leaves me to remind you all of the London Heathside cross-country awards ceremony at the Lord Palmerston pub, on Sunday 13th March, from 7pm. The highlight of the evening will be the speech from Our Dear Leader, who has agreed to present the Turner Shield and Lambert Trophies on the night - two first-time winners, I am delighted to say (I’m just not telling you who they are!). Join your club-mates to celebrate the wonderful individual and collective achievements of the season. You never know, you might be a winner yourself. You might even be asked to present an award. So mark your diary now, and get your acceptance speeches polished.

Until October then, when another season will kick-off, congratulations on reading this far! Over and out.

Tokyo Marathon, Sunday February 28

Jim Connell began his marathon season in Tokyo with a good warm-up in Tokyo and a promising time of 3.04.12. Another Heathsider was I believe Francois Barou who finished in 3.58.24. Here is Jim’s report:

‘Having had zero kip on the plane over, I arrived on the Friday morning and got the expo out of the way. A Spanish marathon tour group took pity on me and ferried me to the expo which was a bit out of the way, and then they ferried me into Shinjuku, which is like Piccadilly circus, Soho, The West End, Times Sq NY and the financial districts of London and New York all rolled into one, times one thousand. It's huge and there are billions of people everywhere. I did a bit of tourist stuff on the Friday and Saturday and in between that I had to try to get some sleep before the marathon on Sunday.

‘The race was superb, a fantastic fast route with a wonderful atmosphere - potential here for PBs although I had no real aspirations to challenge my own PB, as I was coming in off a "half a plan" spring marathon campaign. I'd loosely targeted circa 3 hours but that was probably a little hopeful. I'd had an early start -1.30am (not by choice just insomnia). Prep was my usual and I went out at 3 hour pace for as long as possible - it's a great course for keeping your rhythm going but as it got a bit lumpy from about 25k onwards and fatigue set in I lost my rhythm and found it harder to maintain that pace. I got through half in 1.30 spot on but would ultimately finish at. 3.04.12 with the gradual fade in the last 5 miles.

‘I'm very lucky to have had the chance to be part of this race, and if I'd had a week to acclimatise I'd have fancied a few more minutes off that time. It did warm up towards the end - I picked up a little sun tan, and also I kept tipping cups of water over my head to stay cool, which led to bleeding in the moob area.  Thank god I wore a red vest.

‘Francois Barou also took part despite his injury-disrupted training and managed to finish with some walking in the later part of the race. When you go this far for a race you have to finish.

‘What was even more rock&roll was that I'd managed to run a marathon having had 10 hours sleep between Thursday morning to Sunday evening. After the race I probably walked another 5 miles before reaching my hotel room.

‘I really recommend this race, and Tokyo as a city, though 4 days is not enough time there. That's 4 of the 6 majors for me complete now and New York is up next in November. I'll just get The Paris/London double out of the way this Spring first.’

Roding Valley Half Marathon, Sunday February 28

The rapidly-improving Alice Hosking bagged another PB (1:31.26) and came in as the fourth senior woman in the Roding Valley Half, which she described as ‘a well-organised although not particularly scenic race, with lots of lovely hills’. Another Heathsider, Kat Maskell also completed the race in a time of 1:50.51.

Brighton Half Marathon, Sunday February 28

Also on the PB trail was Monika Newton who was delighted to finish the Brighton Half in 1:28.50 – her best-ever. She was joined by Louise Le Ray, whose comeback from a long injury-induced layoff is picking up pace to finish in 1:43.

Lou reports: ‘It was cold bright, and not too windy (although there always seems to be a head wind the last 3 miles back along the seafront). I stuck rather dully to my planned time and completed in 1:43, secretly hoping for sub 1:40 but not to be unless I run faster.’

Kingston Run the Streets 10km, Sunday February 28

Four Heathsiders ran the Kingston Run the Streets 10k at 8am on Sunday – to help Hannah Carmichael celebrate her birthday. Louisa Pointon was the first Heathsider home in 44:47, followed by Daniel Wrapson in a PB of 45:30 and, a second later, Catherine Doherty, who also pulled off a PB, and then Hanna in 47:50.

Louisa reports: ‘Not the most exciting of courses with lots of sharp turns but on the whole flat. Catherine and Dan had a sprint finish and both managed PBs. We then celebrated by having a bottomless brunch in the Roundhouse.’

The Terminator Race (12-miles), Pewsey Vale, Sunday February 28

Phil Hogg ran this one, which he described both as his ‘new favourite race’ and as an ‘awesome race with amazing scenery’ and also as ’12-miles off-road that makes the Ally Pally cross-country look like small beer’. He came an impressive 26th out of 406 finishers in a time of 1:34.46.

Brooks Serpentine Last Friday 5k, Friday February 26

Jacob Howe warmed up for Saturday’s cross-country by running an impressive 17:45 in the Brooks Serpentine Last Friday 5k, putting him in 13th place. Among the Heathsiders he was followed by Gareth Marshall who put in an impressive PB of 18:05 (22nd place). Mike Abrahams took 20th place in 20:39 and Leo Pemberton was 112th in 21:02.

Old Deer Park Half Marathon, Sunday February 21

Jakub Kozel and Katerina Fistova completed this one. His time was 1:34.15 and her was 1:56.02.

Park Runs, Saturday February 27

Thirty of our runners took part in 16 Park Runs on Saturday. Best of the bunch included a win for Stuart Meiklejohn in Oak Hill (18.39), second places for Rich Macaulay (17.16) and Noelle O’Regan (23.31) in Grovelands and a second place for Daniel Johns in Valentines (18.16). Here are the full Heathside results: http://www.parkrun.com/results/consolidatedclub/?clubNum=2017&eventdate=2016-02-27

Results

English National Cross-Country Championships, Saturday February 27

Under-13 Boys (3km, 420 Finishers)

101. Ruairi McGonagle 14.17

205. Jake Evans 15.05

359. Oliver O’Connor 16.26

Under-13 Girls (3km, 449 Finishers)

189. Evelyn Dumbleton 16.04

199. Rose Garrett 16.10

212. Matilda Heath 16.14

412. Lorna (?) 18.18

Under-15 Boys (4.5km, 367 Finishers)

312. Liam Garrett 20.58

Under-15 Girls (4.0km, 354 Finishers)

158. Meg Naylor 19.16

295. Lily McKay 21.07

Under-17 Men (6.0km, 243 Finishers)

117. William Griffiths 22.43

187. Isaac Costley 23.54

Under-20 Men (10.0km, 152 Finishers)

40. James Wooldridge 40.00

110. Jacob Phillips 44.08

Under-20 Women (6.0km, 129 Finishers)

88. Genevieve Weston 27.18

Senior Women (8.0km, 739 Finishers)

78. Rebecca Piggott 34.32

121. Sue Rust 36.00

128. Celine Murray 36.08

132. Anna O’Hare 36.16

183. Colette Monahan 37.39

207. Ula Cartwright-Finch 38.28

291. Angela Howe 40.16

294. Jennifer Wing 40.21

313. Jess Vinluan 40.47

350. Jackie Wastell 41.45

567. Kim Butler 47.51

Senior Men (12.0km, 1730 Finishers)

28. Tom Aldred 44.32

276. Charles Hardy 49.57

279. Andy Barnes 50.04

336. Kimon Doulis 50.53

376. Dave Hellard 51.33

399. George Stewart 52.01

433. Dan McKeown 52.26

532. John Flahive 53.58

545. Pete Bakewell 54.13

556. Steve Armstrong 54.23

565. Martin Potter 54.31

600. Paul Mercer 55.06

603. Andy Welshman 55.07

622. Chris Hartley 55.22

641. Jonathan Litchfield 55.41

658. Dom Jackson 55.52

737. Nick Haward 56.55

774. Joe McKeown 57.17

797. Jake Spencer 57.33

815. Chris Shipley 57.45

875. Tony Killilea 58.31

913. Jacob Howe 58.58

927. Gavin Evans 59.11

963. Norman Mitchell 59.45

1040. Andy Owen 1.00.59

1061. Mark George 1.01.18

1094. Pete Crockford 1.01.48

1125. Alan Latham 1.02.15

1155. Gavin Parish 1.02.37

1281. Rob Shulman 1.04.39

1347. Justin Costley 1.05.56

1477. Carl Heap 1.09.15

Tokyo Marathon, Sunday February 28

Jim Connell       – 3:04.12

Francois Barou – 3:58.24

Roding Valley Half Marathon, Sunday February 28

Alice Hosking – 1:31:26 (PB)

Kat Maskell – 1:50.51

Brighton Half Marathon, Sunday February 28

Monika Newton – 1:28.50 (PB)

Louise Le Ray – 1:43

Kingston Run the Streets 10km, Sunday February 28

Louisa Pointon 44:47

Daniel Wrapson 45:30 PB

Catherine Doherty 45:31 PB

Hannah Carmichael 47:50

The Terminator Race (12-miles), Pewsey Vale, Sunday February 28

26th (out of 406) Phil Hogg – 1:34.36.

Brooks Serpentine Last Friday 5k, Friday February 26

13 Jacob Howe 17:45

22 Gareth Marshall 18:05 (PB)

100 Mike Abrahams 20:39

112 Leo Cador Pemberton 21:02

Old Deer Park Half Marathon, Sunday February 21

Jakub Kozel Gun time - 01:35:14, Chip time - 01:34:13

Katerina Firstova Gun time - 01:57:02, Chip time - 01:56:02