The first match of this year's Surrey Cross Country League was held at Wimbledon Common on Saturday. It was lovely to see a large turn out from the RPAC Juniors with 25 Juniors competing

The first race was the U12 and U14 boys. In the U12 boys first home for Reigate was Grayson Dwyer in 28th place, closely followed by Arthur Eggleton in 30th. In the U14 race Seb Wilkins ran well to be first Reigate runner home in 35th place. In the younger girls races Isla Chohan was our first U12 Girl in 20^th and in the U14s Jessica Jupp was first home in 27^th place, with Imogen Leung second in 40th . Ralph and Harry Cranfield, Georghe Chohan, Joshua Lisle and Freddie Koskela all coped well in the boys race and similarly Alexandra Nixon, Amira Jaffar and Lucy Kirkpatrick in the girls race, with their first run in the league and over the 3.3km distance.

In the U16 boys George Duncton was our highest placed runner on the day coming home in 6^th,  , a strong run but still one place lower than his mum the following day, with Calum Johns having a great first run in the Surrey XC League coming in 17^th out of the 63 runners competing. In the U18 boys River Selwood was first back in 50th place closely followed by George McRae.

In the U18 girls Yasmin Mitchell had the run of the day coming in 12th, with Neve Macgregor and Olivia Aries supporting her well in 17^th and 28^th respectively. 

Downs League - Match 1 - Sunday 1 November

The first match in this year's Downs Cross Country League takes place on Epsom Downs on Sunday 1 November. There are races for U12s to U18s with separate boys and girls races. Sadly there will be no race for the School Year 4s contrary to original expectations.

The older age groups race (combined U16/U18/U20) will start at 10:45am and the younger ones, U12s  at 11:30am. All races will be over 3km.

Please let Mike Gent know if your son/daughter would like to compete. There is usually a small entry fee. Last year it was £3. Once this is confirmed we will communicate to those signed up how to pay it.

Thankyou to the Helpers

Last Saturday saw Reigate Priory AC hosting their biennial fixture in the Surrey Cross League featuring three races including the Men’s Division 2 in which our mens’ team ran.  The races all ran very smoothly so a big thank you to everyone involved, from those helping with the pre-race organization, the setting up and dismantling of the course and the marshalling and officiating.  A special mention to Horley Harriers, Ful-on-Tri, Runneymede Runners and the Surrey Officials for providing a large proportion of the personal required on the day and without whose help the fixture could not have been staged.

Surrey League XC Match One: Wimbledon Common – Women’s Report

By Ruth Willis - Team Captain

And in the blink of an eye, the summer is gone and autumn is upon us! So out with the sunscreen and in with the spikes. And yet … as always, the very last drop of summer was wrung out for the first cross country match of the season, lulling us all into a false sense of security, with hard ground and blue skies.

Wimbledon Common was the venue for our triumphant return to Division One, where we ignored the alarming army of Belgrave Harriers and focused on our small but mighty team. What we lack in numbers, we make up for in experience. Changes to the women’s league mean that there are now 7 scorers in a team, B team runners are excluded from point allocations, and the divisions will be all mixed up again next year anyway. The upshot of which was that everyone had a lovely run and worried less about shoes and positions than we might have previously done! Hopefully encouraging everyone to commit to next month’s match immediately and bring their friends too.

As well as better chances of sunny weather, the first XC matches mean shorter distances for the women’s league, a situation which is objected to in principle yet secretly relished in practice. Two short laps of Wimbledon Common, 6.6k total distance to ease us in, on a straightforward route, with limited elevation and no sign of any mud. Definitely the easier of the two league races, although it did mean that we missed running on home ground with the men’s team in Priory Park.

And how did we do? Without some of our usual suspects, we were somewhat depleted in numbers, but we did manage a full team plus two extras. Our 7 scorers were Laura (72), Jo (141), Emily (145), Hannah Wright (166), Linda (172), Jamilla (177) and Hannah Williams (187). Followed swiftly by Catherine (192) and Kerry (228). Brilliant running from everyone as ever, despite the huge competition in Div One, and whilst we did come 13^th out of 15, there is still plenty to play for in the rest of the season.

So please do come and join us! Whilst I can’t promise endless hard ground and sunshine, I can commit to endless shoe discussions, plenty of team spirit and awesome cake, courtesy of our resident Master Baker, Linda (even if the odd soggy bottom is also inevitable). Everyone welcome, get in touch for more details.

Match 2: 14^th November @ 2pm, Beckenham Place (5k)

Match 3: 16^th January, details TBC (8k)

Match 4: 13^th February, details TBC (8k)

Surrey League XC Match One: Reigate Priory – Men's Report

By Ewan McKay - Team Captain

The cross country season kicked off in fine style at Priory Park on Saturday as we hosted the first fixture. The course was dry to the point that Vaporflys were being worn. Greenery had only recently returned to the lawns of Priory Park after what proved to be one of the hottest summers on record. Straight from the beaches of Torremolinos and Benidorm, our sun-drenched lads climbed into their tiny run gear to show off tanned bodies like Matt Damon’s crew mates in this summer’s other epic, The Odyssey. 

Thankfully for the nightclubs of Reigate & Banstead, most of this group were already taken otherwise there would be too much brawn for one borough to cope with. I should flag that there are still a number of single men in the group but they can be quite choosy. I polled them for their requirements:

Age & Appearance

• Age: Nobody older than 25 (though one of our V60 noted that 28 or 29 ‘could work’). The group noted that dating someone their own age would look "weird".
• Appearance: A "worldie". Keely Hodgkinson ‘would do’.

Career

• Running Career: For females: must never have beaten an RPAC male in any race, ever. For males - must be a legend.
• Travel Schedule: Be able to support at each cross country fixture. No exceptions for Lloyd Park in February.
• Travel Style: Enjoys travelling in a Ford S-Max that struggles to clear the windscreen on the M25 when full of runners.

Daily Life & Preferences

• Cooking: Must love cooking, specifically preparing gels on race day.
• TV: Loves the Diamond League.
• Driving: Insists on a car share where possible.

Relationships & Boundaries

• Social Media: Only if you’re a sponsored athlete.
• Trust & Friends: No complaints when doing shots from Rob Wigley’s thighs.
• Nightclubs: Must have Platinum membership to The Ivory Lounge.

That was an abridged version of the lads’ requirements but if you had been in Priory Park on Saturday, seeing these heroes do their thing, then you’d know that they are worth it. DM me for the full criteria.

The gun set off on what had a been a delightfully sunny morning and didn’t our boys deliver? Just back from altitude and representing GB in the 100K world champs, Tom Almond-Bishop cruised into 1st place for RPAC and 10th overall, Harry Mullard just behind in 13th. It shows the quality, even in Div 2, at the top end. I’m told that SLH were running in Div 2 for the first time ever and it showed as they racked up 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Indeed their first ten runners were all home and hosed before our third runner crossed the line. 1st place will be assured for these whippets. 

Sams K and R packed closely with Max Smithson (Felix has been injured - hope you can make it back soon). It must have been a right old dust up when you three came in as you were part of ten runners all within 6 seconds.

Paul Wateridge came in 6th for the team with a strong performance. That said, I can’t figure out if he’s a better pool player or runner. We’ll need another outing on the baize to find out. Gavin Pollock came in 7th, completing his first XC run in years. Having given us loads of excuses over the years, not only was he out of ‘round to-its’ but he was in prime form having recently returned from representing GB in the World Champs Triathlon in Spain. Gav- you’re on for the Vet trophy if you can complete the fixtures. See you in Mordon Park on the 14th Nov?

Joe Gale, Jack Yates and Ben Stanton rounded out the top 10 and that concludes a super strong first 10 runners. Commiserations go to Al Moses who came in 11th. He said he wouldn’t have tried as hard if he had known he wasn’t going to score.

Clapham Chasers were relegated from the 1st division last season and did not have a good day by coming in 6th in Priory Park. Unless they can turn it around then that leaves the second spot wide open for promotion to the big time. We’re currently in 2nd place.

Good work all. I hope you can all make it to Mordon Park on the 14th Nov.

PS A special mention of thanks to Wayne Lineker

Priory Relays - Saturday 7th November

Its almost time for the Priory Relays  - save the date in your diaries for both runners and volunteers - more details to follow

Kelly Mason finally secured  her 6th start at Chicago - in 6.10.58 - by all reports I think it was a warm one !! -  for those who are around she is starting club celebrations at 7pm in the Market, Reigate this Saturday .

Siubhan Clines also competed in Chicago (where's the RPAC vest:))

Zagreb Womens Masters Marathon 

More Long Distance Successes...

Kate Knight completed the Kent downs 25 km on Saturday, stunning views, and fantastic company, then went over to Chelmsford for Chelmsford marathon. So pleased to have completed both, my 10th marathon post op from back surgery. 11 months ago . Now 2011 in total.

Jim Vince was out and about again using his airmiles - this time at the Sofia Marathon in Bulgaria... Jim reports it was reasonably flat just lots of long shallow inclines & declines… great conditions initially although a little warm at the end. 

and finally Richard Friar ran the Marato Pirineu the Saturday before last after and injury lay off -  a mountain trail marathon in the beautiful Parc Natural del Cadí-Moixeró, northern Spain. Finishing in 5h 37. Well done!

Notes and reminders