Fear not, Heathside, for Mighty Aldred has soothed our troubled minds...

Met League Race Three, Hillingdon, Saturday 20th December

Seventy-five senior Heathsiders and eleven Juniors made the trip to Uxbridge for the chance to run the little-known course at Hillingdon House farm. The weather was mild, if a bit windy, and the mystery course turned out to be a gem - one sharp hill, a long downhill stretch in compensation, and some pretty serious mud - definitely one for the cross-country specialists to fight over. Consequently, there’s plenty to report, including some superb individual and team performances. So relax, pour yourself a little Yuletide drinkie, and enjoy the tales of Heathside derring-do from the farmyard. But be warned: every Christmas fairy tale has its dark side!

[a smidgeon of non-Met League results are at the end of this report] 

Juniors
School’s out for Christmas! Sadly for Heathside, it seems that cross-country’s out for Christmas too. Enthusiasm amongst the Junior ranks was rather lacking from all but the Under-11s, where Heathside’s five athletes were treated to another splendid victory by Ruairi McGonagle. Ruairi has won all three Met League Under-11 races so far this season - a truly fantastic achievement. Sadly, the Under-13s have not been inspired by the new Under-11 race. I’m not sure where they all were on Saturday, but it wasn’t Uxbridge. In the Under-15 Boys/Under-17 Mens race, William Griffiths and Antanas Weston took on the course and finished 25th and 41st respectively, from 62 finishers. A better turnout from the Under-15 Girls/Under-17 Women saw four Heathsiders toe the line with Meg Naylor finishing 14th from a field of 45 (8th from 29 in the Under-15 category). Respect to all who made the trip to Uxbridge. I guess the other Juniors were at home poking the pile of presents under the Xmas tree, hoping that Mum and Dad haven’t bought them a new pair of X/C spikes this year.

Seniors
Twenty-six Heathsiders took part in the Senior Women’s race (6km, 156 finishers). Ni’ia Hothersall bowed-out of her too-brief spell at Heathside by leading the women home for the third time this season, with an 11th place finish. Ni’ia’s Met League finishes (4th, 9th, and 11th) are the foundation on which our hopes of a team podium place are founded. We shall all miss her outstanding racing, and we wish her well Down Under. It takes six to make a successful Women’s A-team in the Met League though. Therefore, we doff our stylish bobble hats to Sue Rust (16th), Rebecca Piggott (a most welcome return to the fold, in 18th place), Leigh James (23rd), Rachel Newstead (27th), and Rebecca Bunting (33rd).

Further down the field, Jane Higgins led the B-team home with her highest ever finish at the Met League (49th). Nice one, Jane! Jackie Wastell bravely battled the runners’ curse (stomach problems) to finish 62nd, and Caroline Boyle had an impressive race at 71st. Reliable as always, Jo Irwin (85th), Ruth Miller (110th), Gabi Johnson (124th), and Alison Harrow (145th), all put in performances worthy of a very merry Christmas.

Despite some good individual performances, team results for the Women were somewhat mixed. The A-team put in another impressive performance, finishing third in Division One on the day (third place overall after three races). With two races remaining, our A-team is still in with a chance of winning the Met League! However, without Ni’ia in the New Year, we’ll need everyone to step up if we are to maintain our bid for glory. Come on, Heathside! We CAN do this! Meanwhile, the B-team had a disappointing day, finishing 9th in Division One, which means that we have slipped into a relegation berth after three races. We need big turnouts and big efforts from everyone if the B-team are to avoid the drop this season. The C-team finished a solid fifth in Division Two, and remain fifth overall.

In the Vets category the women’s A-team finished 2nd in Division One, just one point behind Barnet. We are defending champions, so, once again, we need a big finish in the last two races if we are to defend out title successfully. The Women’s Vet B-team finished 5th in Division One and lies a solid 6th in the table after three meetings.

So, much to applaud in the Women’s race, but much still to be done. Better get those spikes clean and be ready to go hard at the next Met League, ladies!

In the Senior Men’s race (8km, 383 finishers) things didn’t quite go to plan, largely owing to absences amongst those who ought to be vying for an A-team berth. Things also went awry for somone who did turn up unfortunately, and for the first time at that - newcomer Kimon Doulis slipped in the mud and twisted his ankle. All the best for a speedy recovery Kimon, and do come back.

Of the 12 who made-up the A-team at Claybury, only five raced on Saturday. Likewise for the Stevenage A-team. Indeed, only Tom Aldred, Andrew Brooker, and James Wooldridge have scored for our A-team at all three Met League races so far this season. That’s not the way to ensure good results. Our inconsistency at the front end of the men’s field is costing us this season. 

More of that anon, I’m afraid. Meanwhile, however, some good news. Tom Aldred had the race of his cross-country career on Saturday, storming to a fourth place finish. Tom’s previous best finish this season was 10th at Claybury. Anyone who has taken part in the Met League will know that there is a race at the sharp end of the field that is so far out ahead that the rest of us simply wave them goodbye at the gun. Once out of sight, out of mind! But Tom actually gets involved in these races, and on Saturday he was really in the mixer. His incredible time of 26.54 meant that he could warm down, have a cup of tea and take a shower before most of us arrived at the finish some eight or ten minutes later! Congratulations, Tom.

Major plaudits also to Martin Potter, who showed just why he has earned so much respect as a cross-country specialist over the years, finishing fourth for Heathside on Saturday, 82nd overall, and second V-45. Ryan McCrickerd, Matt Collins, Ed Samuel, and Andy Barnes all stepped up to deliver solid A-team performances. Ryan and Matt, in particular, are improving with every race.

My second pick of the day in the Men’s race has to be Jonathan Hopkin, whose unconventional training on the dance floor at the Heathside Christmas party clearly worked wonders. Jonathan nailed his race brilliantly on Saturday with a turn of pace up the hill on the second lap that built the foundations of an A-team berth and a 110th place finish overall. Andy Welshman also showed a handy turn of pace, just pipped into 111th by Jonathan’s sprint finish. Further down the field, Dan McKeown continued his impressive comeback, and there were solid runs from Stormin’ Norman Mitchell, Stuart Meiklejohn, Tony Killilea and Pete Crockford, amongst others. A special mention to Rob Shulman who raised himself from his sick-bed to ease to a 199th place finish. Ken Townson made up the rear of the Heathside field with a solid and very welcome 355th place finish. Sadly, Ken missed the team photo this time. We’d like to give him an incentive to sprint that last few hundred metres next time out. Come on, Ken!

[More photos from the Met League can be viewed here. Thanks for the pics Steve!]

On to the team results, and it’s not such great news, I’m afraid. Short of several of the club’s quickest runners, the A-team finished a slightly disappointing fifth in Division One, and now lies fifth overall after three races. Men: our fastest 12 at the Met League should not rely on three V-45s and one V-50, no matter how sprightly us oldsters are! We need to improve our race register if we are to avoid mid-table obscurity. Also, a weakened A-team drew talent out of the B-team (Jonathan Hopkin, Andy Welshman, etc.), which meant that the B-team’s performance on the day was a somewhat disappointing fifth in Division Two: our promotion hopes have taken a blow as a result, and we are now fourth with two races left. The Men’s C-team finished seventh in Division Two and sits just above the relegation places.

In the Men’s Vet category, the A-team continued to go well, finishing first in Division One. How did we do this? (Clue: the quick Vets turned up!). Further down the field the B-team finished fifth in Division One. However, the C-team finished a disappointing last place in Division One and dropped to 8th place after three races, perilously close to the relegation spots.

There’s an old saying that goes something like this: ‘Ninety per-cent of success is just showing up.’ This time we can perhaps allow for Christmas holidays and other seasonal commitments. But when the next Met League comes round, in less than three weeks time (on Saturday 10th January, at Perivale), our success will depend 100% on our taking part. So, let’s enjoy the festive break and then get back to business!

Many, many thanks to all who took part on Saturday, to all our supporters, and to Our Dear Leader and Pete Holland for help with numbers and collecting disks.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY MUDDY NEW YEAR!

- Captain Chris Hartley 

Under-11 Boys and Girls (1500m, 53 finishers)
1. Ruairi McGonagle 6.48
20. Arthur Read 7.59
21. Oliver O’Connor 8.03
24. Rose Garrett 8.08
37. Thomas Latham 8.44

Under-15 Boys/Under-17 Men (4,000m, 62 finishers (34 U-15))
25. William Griffiths 15.36
41. Antanas Weston (21st U-15) 16.37

Under-15 Girls/Under-17 Women (4,000m, 45 finishers (29 U-15))
14. Meg Naylor (8th U-15) 18.00
21. Phoebe Crockford (13th U-15) 18.27
24. Genevieve Weston 18.56
34. Sidney Tucker (21st U-15) 20.21

Senior Women (6,000m, 156 finishers)
11. Ni’ia Hothersall 23.11
16. Sue Rust (3rd V35) 23.33
18. Rebecca Piggott 23.42
23. Leigh James 24.12
27. Rachel Newstead 24.36
33. Rebecca Bunting 24.56
49. Jane Higgins 26.05
50. Colette Monahan 26.18
56. Eilidh Wagstaff 26.30
60. Bridgit Napleton 26.39
62. Jackie Wastell 26.46
71. Caroline Boyle 27.25
74. ? - running as Cathy Jeremiah 27.29
78. Emilia Vynycky 27.46
82. Alice Lighton 28.05
85. Jo Irwin 28.08
99. ? -running as Katharine Daish 28.54
104. Edyta Szot 29.13
110. Ruth Miller 29.40
113. ? - running as Claire Morrissey 29.55
124. Gabi Johnson 30.49
132. ? - running as Gina Heiss 32.20
140. Laura Boothman 34.20
141. Sandra Buckton 34.32
142. ? - running as Karen Levene 34.38
145. Alison Harrow 35.47

Senior Men (8,000m, 383 finishers)
4. Tom Aldred 26.54
46. James Wooldridge 29.28
80. Andrew Brooker 30.49
82. Martin Potter (2nd V45) 30.50
86. Ryan McCrickerd 31.01
94. Matt Collins 31.18
102. Ed Samuel 31.31
106. Andy Barnes 31.40
110. Jonathan Hopkin (5th V45) 31.45
111. Andy Welshman (6th V45) 31.46
117. Chris Hartley (1st V50) 32.01
119. Sergio Di Noto 32.03
122. Richard Macaulay 32.08
142. Sam Thompson 32.40
144. Dan McKeown 32.41
147. Norman Mitchell 32.45
156. Stuart Meilklejohn 32.59
157. Andrew Dunderdale 33.00
158. Alan Whatmough 33.00
165. Tony Killilea 33.16
170. Paul Jarman 33.26
177. James Lynch 33.42
178. Paul Mercer 33.42
179. Jonathan Litchfield 33.43
185. Dom Jackson 33.47
187. Adam Ibrahim 33.53
197. Tom Griffiths 34.18
199. Rob Shulman 34.22
201. Jacob Howe 34.50
213. Tim Marshall 34.57
218. Phil Hogg 35.00
226. Joe McKeown 35.20
231. Daniel Szajna 35.29
234. Lee Connor 35.38
242. William Wagstaff 35.57
248. Alan Latham 36.09
259. Pete Crockford 36.38
265. Will Whitaker 36.59
266. David Hallam 37.00
272. Brian Boyle 37.11
280. Mark George 37.30
286. Elliot Reed 37.41
309. Ed Byne (guest) 39.05
315. Chris Hewertson 39.22
317. Leo Pemberton 39.23
320. Andrew Hudson 39.32
339. Marco Maserati 40.58
346. Simon Bailey 41.37
355. Ken Townson 42.54

Apologies for errors and omissions, especially with the Women’s results. The official Met League results did not reflect number reallocations. Get in touch with lheathside@gmail.com to fill in the gaps!

Not all of our clubmates were able/chose to take part in the Met League, so here a record of their efforts:

parkruns: http://www.parkrun.com/results/consolidatedclub/?clubNum=2017&eventdate=2014-12-20

Portsmouth Coastal Waterside Marathon, 21/12/2014

114 Daniel Johns 03:27:44 
149 Philip Hogg 03:33:42