Hercules Wimbledon AC round-up: Four South London clubs in action in 5k race

BY TOM POLLAK

Hundreds of runners enjoyed the experience of racing for the first time this year when they took part in Hercules Wimbledon’s 5km team races at Wimbledon Park on Sunday morning.

Apart from Hercules Wimbledon, there were runners from four South London clubs – Clapham Chasers, Herne Hill, Belgrave and Kent AC.

Six days after taking the honours in the Ardingly 5km event in Sussex, Aldershot’s Ellis Cross continued his winning form with an impressive win in the men’s category.

Cross quickly took control of the race from soon, storming past the All England tennis club and up the steep hill on the edge of Wimbledon Village before re-entering Wimbledon Park some 30 metres clear of his nearest rival Tim Lefroy, from Thames Hare & Hounds. Andy Coley-Maud of Clapham Chasers, who eventually finished 10th in third place. Lefroy was 80 metres down as Cross reached the finishing line on the Wimbledon Park track in 14:34 with Cross’s Aldershot club-mate Josh Grace just one second slower.

Fred Slemeck led the Hercules Wimbledon team home, finishing 20th of the 122 runners in 15:21.

Just one second behind in 22nd place was team-mate Richard McDowell, who was first veteran over 40. Rhys Boorman (35th in 15:40), George Mallett (38th in 15:42), Ed Mallett (43rd in 15:53), Adam Blythe (44th in 15:55), Ross Murray (55th in 16:09), Howell Harrod (61st in 16:19), Robbie Hynes (66th in 16:27), Joe Elliott (74th in 16:35) and Joe Toomey (83rd in 16:47) completed the 10-strong Hercules Wimbledon scoring team.

Belgrave’s Australian Michelle Pearson improved on her third place in the October edition of the Hercules Wimbledon races to cross the line well clear of Guildford’s Suzie Monk to win the women’s race in 17:00 where runners were set off one minute apart in six waves of 14. Monk clocked 17:44 with Aldershot’s Emily Wicks, who like Monk was having her first race since competing in the UK Inter-Counties cross country championships in March 2020, third two seconds behind.

Teenager Ellen Weir, fourth in 17:58, led the Hercules Wimbledon team to third place. Gina Galbraith, first over-40 finisher taking 22nd place in 19:10, teenager Georgie Clarke (25th in 19:12), Grace Batchelor (34th in 19:47), and another teenager Lulu Weiss (39th in 19:56) completed the Hercules Wimbledon team.

The third race of the day for older competitors was won by over-45 veteran Andy Bond (Dulwich Runners) in 16:39, well clear of the Herne Hill pair Ben Paviour (17:15) and Robin Jones (17:18).

Leading Hercules Wimbledon finisher was over-45 veteran Andrew Davies, 24th in 18:57. Jim Carrington was 27th (19:32) and over-55 veteran Richard Evans 36th (20:13).