Click here to access the full results (hyperlink to Surrey County AA website).
Herne Hill Harriers' athletes braved sub-zero temperatures to compete in the third match of the Surrey league over a frost-bitten Farthing Downs. As James McDonald commented at the time, the conditions ‘ looked more like Switzerland than Surrey’.
The U15 girls and U17 women were the first of the young athletes to run. Despite having to hang around on the start line waiting for the start official, and for the late arrival of a runner who had to do up her shoe laces, the race finally got under way. Out of the 29 U15 girls competing, 4 of the athletes were Herne Hill. The team consisted of Maisie Hilliare, Lelia Abandar, Tamsin Cornelious and me, Katie Snowden. The U17 team was slightly more depleted due to injuries and others being wiped out by 'flu', but Julia Wedmore and Avril Robinson took part and represented their age group, against the 5 other U17 athletes.
The course was slippery throughout, and the steady inclines made it all the more challenging. However, the Herne Hill runners showed their strength and determination over the 4.5km, and all finished promisingly.
The U15 girls finished 3rd as a team, putting them 4th overall in the league table. Individually, I finished first, followed by Maisie who ran superbly to finish 15th. Leila was next to cross the line in 20th, and closely behind was Tamsin who came 24th. The U17 women also ran extremely well with Julia finishing 2nd in her age group, and Avril not far behind in 6th. This result leaves them 2nd in the league table overall.
It was a great performance by everyone. Hopefully for our last league match in Lloyd Park our other athletes will be back fit and ready, and can help us improve on our final position.
The boys ran just the one race. Lewis Lloyd was first in the U15 race but finished 2nd overall to Hercules Wimbledon U17 Liam White - who Lewis will no doubt be racing on the track this season. Lewis was well supported by Daniel Willmott who was 11th in 17:23, the ever-improving John Tayleur in 13th place in 18:06 and Billy Holmes in 15th in 18:13. In the Colts' race 11-year-old Lascelles Brandon-Hussey finished in 1st place in 15.04, ably supported by Michael Brown in 6th place in 18.13. Lascelles again ended up beating boys who were selected ahead of him for the Surrey squad, having also outpaced them at the Surrey Championships.
Katie Snowden
