Eric Beale's fine performance in the ATW Cross Country

Sadly new restictions curbed the opportunities for Heathsiders to get some last compettive action in before the end of the year.. A large number were due to compete at the BeFit Open at Dagenham which had to be called off with less than 24 hours notice. Their indoor open in early January at Lee Valley sadly also looks unlikely and with 300 athletes having signed up demonstrates the demand from young Athletes to get competing again, they hope to hold the event once Tier 4 restrictions are lifted. However there were some Heathsiders who did get to savour the sensation of mud underfoot.

The latest restrictions mean the club have to suspend activities for Seniors again but please check Facebook for Lenny’s Strava Challenges and if you are looking for a running partner (exercising with one other is permitted) your coach may be able to put you in contact with another Club Member. Anyone interested in Virtual races there is a free to enter England Athletics Virtual Club Race from 26th December. Details Here.

Otherwise all is left is for us at London Heathside wish you and your families a safe and enjoyable Christmas Break and hopes that the New Year will see the return of normality with the Olympics, Marathons, Cross Country and Track & Field to look forward and compete in.

ATW Cross Country Race 2, Merchant Taylors School, Northwood. 19.12.2020

As it transpired the ATW Cross Country proved to just pip the deadline of new restrictions. The Competition had already been shorn of the Senior Race due to London and Herts entering Tier 3 the previous Wednesday. U18 Sport is still permitted and a very high quality field of over 500 enthusiastic Juniors arrived at Merchant Taylor’s School, Northwood.

This is the 2nd of a series of races with the next currently planned for the 10th January. They are well organised with plenty of car parking, social distanced registration, an excellent marshalled and marked out course and starting waves to reduce overtaking on the course.

Eric Beale has taken great strides this year and Saturday saw another great run to finish 17th in the U13 race with the top places taken by athletes from Chiltern and Windsor & Slough who have been able to train and race without the restrictions in London. This is Eric’s 2nd year as an U13 so he has missed the opportunity to test himself in races hopefully the new year will give him the opportunity. Elkie Baker also ran her first race since March and first as an U13 but found the undulating course tough finishing 57th Girl and 117th overall.

The U11’s saw Charlotte Beale take part and finish 76th overall and 35th Girl running against both boys and girls a year older.

At £12 these races are not cheap but are excellently organised and offer very competitive racing with clubs repesented from Wolverhampton, Bedford, East Anglia as well as the northern Home Counties.

ATW XC Series Race 2, Northwood, 19.12.2020

U11 Race 2,000m

1st T Ford (Chiltern Harriers) 8:11

75th Charlotte Beale 10:29 (35th Girl)

U13 Race 3,000m

1st J Meyburgh (Windsor Slough and Eton) 12:23

17th Eric Beale 13:57

117th Elkie Baker 17:32 (57th Girl)

Eric heading up the Hill at the start (Source: ATW)