Surrey Men's League Cross Country - Match 1

Surrey Men's League Cross Country Match 1 - Richmond Park 8th October 2011

The sun shone, the parakeets sang, young fawns nuzzled against their mother’s ribs. A pair of lovers stood watching the Thames meander into glowing horizon, their hands interlocking and their voices mute in romantic bliss. Nothing moved. The end of a beautiful summer’s day.

'Where’s the start again?'

'I hear Kent have a good line-up.'

'God, I'm not looking forward to this.'

'Give us a sip of that Relentless.'

As the sky darken and the woods thicken, a small patch of emerald green takes shape amongst the garishly coloured forms. From within a voice booms.

'Come on boys, its the first race of the season ' we're going to annihilate them!'

'Go!'

Deers turn and run. Branches crack and snap. The wind blows through the trees. Summer lovers part for a final time. The Cross Country season begins.

Slamming their feet through warrens of hibernating bunnies came a trident of Guildford runners - old foes Stirk and Evans, intersected by Tom Griffiths with a final surge to the line. 24th and 26th for the former pair - 25th for the latter - separated by just 7 seconds around the 30 mins barrier. A good battle bodes well for fast times later in the season.

Close behind, came Josh Nice in 36th and Mark T in 41st in 30.40 and 30.52, their fluid natural style working through the foliage like well-oiled chainsaws.

As the field deepened the G's war effort merely intensified. Elbowing through lost deers and a couple of young Epsom fledglings came first Wes in 31.40, then Monks in 31.52, for 51st and 58th; before a further the grass was further ripped out by the reliable feet of Woodall in 31.58 and Justin in 32.00 dead. 60th and 61st accordingly.

Rob Myring laughed in the face of the courting couples of Walton and Dulwich, splitting long term bonds to rip home in 32.30. Andrew J and Matt Lythell threw mud in the face soon after for 94th and 108th places in 34.24 and 35.31.

Eat that mother nature. 

Guildford finished fourth on the day, building momentum for the next race in Croydon in November.