Surrey Cross Country League Race Report - Newlands Corner 12/02

Richmond Park was the venue for the final cross country race of the Surrey league season, with Guildford and Godalming still holding slim hopes of promotion back to Division One. A quick course and dry conditions suited the Emerald Greens, used to training on the speedy flats of the Spectrum Track, but the top two of Ranelagh Harriers and Clapham Chasers were sure to field high calibre squads in their local race to fend off Guildford’s late charge.

Soon after the mud began to fly it became clear that runaway leaders Ranelagh would have too much class, and with the Richmond club holding the top three positions after the first lap it was left to Guildford and Clapham to fight for second place. A massive point swing would prove enough to push Guildford into the second promotion spot, and there was a buzz of excitement when Ben Evans and Adam Stirk crossed the line in fifth and sixth in ultra quick times of 31.55 and 32.03 for the 5.75 mile course, however on the day their South London rivals proved too strong. Ian Durrant’s exceptional performance of 33.52 for seventeenth, and Andy Eakins, Mark Tennyson and Mark Woodall’s reliable support meant six runners came home in the top thirty, but Clapham were close behind with five, and the efforts of James Adams in 37.52, Paul Sanderson 37.36, John Earnshaw in 39.11, Patrick Angell in 40.06 and Alistair Gibson in 40.49 were all in vain

Guildford were unable to close the gap to second and will spend another year in the second tier next season. Expect thundering feet to be heard through the Surrey Hills from next September.