smrac distance make running a habit; consistency brings success

London Met League XC, Ruislip – Rebecca 1st, Jivendra 2nd, Jamie and Ella 3rd

Firm underfoot conditions and some testing hills were the order of the day.  It was warm too... far too warm for XC if you ask me, bring on the wind and the rain I say!!

Race Highlights
U13 boys - 3km - Our 800m star Jivendra Singh (4th in the country) continued his rapid improvement over the longer distances with 2nd here.  Jamie Finnegan followed with another strong run in 3rd.  County medals must be on their minds now....... Ollie Penney and Jacques Hyde-Tissier fought all the way to the line to complete the team.  Team 1st.

U13 girls - 3km - Rebecca Killip scored her maiden Met League win with a powerful and mighty impressive run.  We saw her power up the steep hill as she broke the rest of the field.  Ella Widdop-Gray had a great run in 3rd and promised even more next time.  Team 3rd.

U15 boys/U17 men - 4km - This race was stacked at the front end - the first three were all England internationals! Ross Franks had his best XC run to date in 4th.  He was slightly down about it afterwards but this is a big step up and the start of the XC season - you won't get many 800 runners mixing it with runners of this quality.  Hot on Ross' heels was Bradley Goater in 5th, and Jack Killip who just missed out on 6th place in a sprint to the line.  Bradley and Jack will both be happy with the scalps they took when they look at the results.  I was out on the course so didn't see everyone finish, but Taylor Nunn looked to be having a solid run as he continues to come back from his 'rubber dingy' accident.  Luke Penney just pipped Eoin O'Brien in a battle for our first U15.  Tommas Daborn, Ollie Garner and David Peacock set their markers for the rest of the season to complete our runners.  Team 2nd.

U15 girls/U17 women - 4km - Maddie Garner lead our runners home in 5th, it looked like she had to run a long way on her own after the lead group pulled away.  The extra runs are paying off and this was a step up from the road relays.  Christina Hall followed in 9th, just losing a couple of places in the final run in, again strength is improving rapidly.  She'll be waiting for the results to see where she was among the U15s.  I'm not sure of the finishing orders here so bear with me.  Faye Holder (the U13 winner on this course last year) looked to be having a much better run than in the relays, Molly Riglin and Katie Bryant were close together on the fast downhill, and Nina Harding did well in her first XC race out of the U13 age group.  Team 2nd (could our grip on this trophy end this year? - let's hope not)

U20/Senior/Vet Women - 6km - Liz Killip had the third of three fantastic runs for the family with 29th place up 22 on last year.  Lucy Edmunds was 62?nd in her first run as an U20.  Rebbecca Townsend had her first run in a Met League race, recognising the positive effects the miles will have on her track performances.  108th this time so it has to be top 100 at Claybury!

U20/Senior Men/Vet Men - 8km - Tim Haughian was 59 places higher than last year in 52nd and I (Noel) was 66 places lower than last year in 82nd!  Tim's training with the boys is obviously paying off and I'm going to have to buck up my ideas to close that gap!!  Stu Penney achieved his target of improving on last year, moving up more than 20 places from last year's 156th.

Overall, a great day at the races and an early indicator of what could be a good winter for the club.  Next up is Mansfield - try to get out for the race as it it is a good laugh and a lovely little course.  Next local race is Claybury on 7th November.  The big targets are still the counties on 9th January and Southerns at the end of January.  Check the Winter Tour page for more details.

Full results HERE

Well done everyone, Noel