HERNE HILL HARRIERS

Click here to view the men's results. Click here to view the women's results.

There were some fortuitous late additions to our team, which ensured a good turn out, and a narrow victory, in the first Veterans League match of the season. Hillingdon, managed by Alan Butler, have returned to the league after a brief absence and clearly mean to challenge us strongly. Like us, they managed to fill every event.

One of the highlights was our sweeping of the board in the four 1500m races, helped by the recruitment of Bob Creed, for what I believe was his first appearance for us in the vets league. He timed his finish in the M35 event to perfection, and only our dominant A string runner, Simon Coombes, crossed the line ahead of him. Steve Knight and John Garber were our other 1500 winners.

Masakatsu Kondo held off Geoff Walcott of Hercules to win the 100m A string, and went on to take the long jump by a wide margin, with a leap of 6.11m.

M65 Allan Long confided that he developed his high jump technique in the privacy of his bedroom, using the bed as a landing area. He was well rewarded, with a leap of 1.20m to take second place in his competition. There must be even better to come and, next time, he will not need as many as twelve jumps, or attempts, over the course of the event.

Meanwhile, that master of economy, Akin Oyediran, waited patiently to win the M35 high jump with just one jump.

Des Austin achieved a first and a second place in the M35 throws and Andy Lea-Gerrard made an invaluable team contribution by taking part in all four M50 field events.

Our walkers, Andy Millbank and Micky Harran did well, but would be the first to admit that they were no match for the Hillingdon pair, who included Trevor Jones.

The 4 x 400 was an exciting, see-sawing race, with Bobby Cooper just keeping Hillingdon’s last-leg runner at bay as they crossed the line.

Dave Wilson