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FEBRUARY 2 - Meadows Route
Ladies lead the way
After having our lead cut to 4 points at Hadleigh, our strongest challengers Ipswich hosting this match and the team having many absentees, the 53-12 fixture looked like it was going to be a huge effort to limit our losses. What wasn’t forecast though was the bouncebackability factor of the ladies team who in one fixture probably countered for the biggest reduction in an overall total this season and overturned Hadleigh’s 5th place with a remarkable 1st.
Leading the troops was June Allen who continued her series of wins with another excellent run, getting stronger as the race went on for a clear margin of victory., Sarah Colbert returned to show the team what they were missing with a superb 3rd place. Lucy Neale wasn’t far behind with another great performance in 5th place but probably the performance of the day was Vic Curren with her best result storming to 10th place and taking a noticeable large step forward.
Yet again the women’s team had strong support, with the ever consistent Nikki Pyle in 13th, the day after running at Brighton and Lynn Tanner who was a potential doubt in the week with wisdom teeth hassles finishing in 17th. Skipper Hammond after putting her body through the Southern Cross Country champs at Brighton the day before ran well to finish in 22nd and Allison Cook in 31st had one of her strongest runs this season picking up through the race. Kirsty Williams confirmed her progression through the season with her lowest 53-12 placing in 38th and showed no ill effects after having to sprint to the start at Brighton before tackling the tough Southern xc course. Sarah Knowles had an excellent run in 41st after also doubling up with Brighton and having a battle with Kirsty through the race. Sandra Stanton had a very good run 52nd demonstrating that a hard work out the day before only makes her stronger. Nicole Callaghan also had a fine run in 56th.
The end result was that the women came 1st with a brilliant total of 19 points, far ahead of nearest challengers Ipswich on 40 and Great Bentley in 66th.
The men’s team came into the match with on paper their weakest team this season with a number of noticeable absentees; Paul Molyneux ,Tristan Windley, Gary Chandler , Malcolm Muir, and Paul Dobson all regular scorers were missing for various reasons.
To offset the above, we drafted in top Striders Fell Runner Roy Scott, who travelled over from Hertfordshire and proved the journey was every bit worthwhile with an excellent 1st place. Mark Newton proved he had no stamina problems with a great 4th place, outkicking Gavin Allen of Halstead.
James Smith took another step forward with his best finish of 6th place. Lee Martin revelled in a course that was closest to his road running links again with his best result of the season in 10th place and ever dependable Kev Harris who always scores well for the team, did so again in 16th. Chris Burgoyne had a spirited run to finish a solid 19th. Next in was Ian Cardy who had by far his best run of the cross country season and arguably male performance of the day. Ian started quickly and held it together throughout the race for an excellent 24th.
Stuart Raven not only showed great durability after running at Brighton but also that his travelling speed has increased for a strong 30th completing the scoring team. Mark Waine was next in finishing 31st.. Paul Anderson, another runner who raced both days, was next in 35th. Phil Claydon was another runner who ran strongly throughout the race for a quality 37th. James Wright followed in 44th, Chris Snowdon put his legs through the mire running both days and did well top finish 50th. Andy Mason had a good run in 79th on a course that was nothing like he would have favoured, even accounting for the extra incline. Richard Taylor and Gary Wright were next in, in 81st and 89th both improving by over 20 places from their previous runs. Rob Rodie continues to shine in 92nd and Malcolm Savage again did well in 102nd as he continues his recovery. Finally Ray Charlton who has been an ever present all season ran well in 145th after running at Brighton the day before.
The end result was that the men's total of 110 was well clear of Ipswich 162 and Harwich 188.
The Striders need to avoid last place in the final fixture at Notley Park to win the trophy for the first time in three years.
More information on the chat board
Success at Benfleet
The Benfleet 15 is a multi terrain race which includes the Hadleigh Downs as well as sea wall and road sections. June Allen won the ladies race by four minutes beating team mate Nikki Brockbank into second place. Tracey Alexandrou finished 8th to easily lay claim to the team prize. June also took the V35 prize and Tracey the V45.
The men were even more dominant with first, second, fourth and sixth placed teams. Individually Mark Newton was second overall. Paul Dobson was fourth and second V40 with James Smith fifth. The B team was headed by Gary Chandler in sixth and also third V40. The strength in depth saw 12 Strider men in the top 40.
Full results at www.benfleetrunningclub.com/benfleet15
Striders win at Box Hill
Conditions were good for this 12k fell race on the North Downs. Harold Wyber had a particularly good day, his only disappointment being his failure to break the 50' mark, as he came home 2nd in 50'13". Neil Mcgouan was next home, 13th in 56'35", followed by Paul Jeggo, 24th in 58'57". Eleven other Striders ran, with notable efforts from Jo Gemmill, 177th in 77'41" and Darren Hull, 217th in 84'17", having arrived at the start a little late. Watching fellow Striders enjoying the last few hundred metre downhill run in, it seemed that the 2nd place for Harold and a possible age prize for Paul would be the height of our success. At the Prizegiving Harold received his prize, Paul a deserved 2nd V50; then the team prize, 1st place, Springfield Striders; well done Harold, Neil, Paul and 4th team member Jon Legge, 83rd in 67'02". Other results will be at www.Sloweb.org.uk There will be a number of trips to the fells in the coming months; details will be in the Fell section and on the chatboard.
Tristan on top form
A busy weekend of cross country with the final Essex League fixture at Loughton and a 53-12 event at Hadleigh in Suffolk saw some fine performances.
At Loughton, Tristan Windley came fourth in a closely fought race to cement fourth place overall for the season. Lynn Tanner and Nikki Pyle both took gold overall in the V55 and V45 categories respectively. With many other commitments the Striders have not targeted this league this season so were highly delighted with both the men and women finishing 7th in their respective tables.
The men’s squad was too strong for the rest on Sunday at Hadleigh with Tristan winning with ease on a hilly but dry course. Good runs from Paul Dobson, Mark Newton, Gary Chandler, James Smith, Lee Martin, Kev Harris and Steve Moore ensured first place. The ladies missing all the top runners were ably represented by team captain Sarah Hammond, Nikki Pyle, Lynn Tanner and Vic Curren as the club were just pipped by Ipswich on the day. With two events remaining we have a healthy four point lead.
Great turnouts on both days and special thanks to those that made both events.
CC2GE Another Success
The bi-annual Cold Christmas to Good Easter off road marathon was again an unqualified success with many compliments from the 100+ competitors.
Allen Smalls of Colchester Harriers and Tracey Woodyard of the hosts Springfield Striders were the winners on a fairly dry course considering the recent rains.
The route wended its way through Green Tye, Sawbridgeworth, Sheering and White Roding before finishing at the Good Easter village hall where a well-earned hot meal was provided.
Pete Tremain enrolled a large contingent of helpers to cover parking, check points and tlc at the end. Theresa Tremain was also helped by a large group of Strider ladies in the kitchen. Thanks to all that helped and made this an event that almost every runner wants to return for in 2014.
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