Dulwich Runners round-up: Men’s team finish fourth in opening cross country fixture of the season

BY JONATHAN WHITTAKER

Dulwich Runners returned to another season of cross country racing in Surrey League Division 1 on Saturday with the men running 8.5km and the ladies 6.6km.

Despite a number of runners participating in England Masters cross country trials the club still fielded an excellent group of 40 runners with many impressive debuts.

Even with some recent rain, Richmond Park still offered firm conditions for runners with many fast times in competitive racing.

The men’s team finished an excellent fourth behind fine showings from Belgrave, Hercules Wimbledon and Herne Hill.

Max Milarvie was making his cross country debut for the club and enjoyed a strong showing at the front of the field.

By the second lap climb of Sawyer’s Hill, Milarvie and Belgrave’s Ian Crowe-Wright had forged a discernible lead over the chasing pack. The Belgrave runner had just enough in the tank to win but Milarvie’s superb second place (26:02) was still one of the best individual performances by a Dulwich Runner in Division 1.

Ed Chuck (10th, 26:58) and Jack Ramm (12th, 27:03) built on this platform with typically strong showings.

Aaron Wilson (39th, 28:08), Max Bloor (43rd, 28:19), Ben Howe (44th, 28:25) and Rob Armstrong (48th, 28:33) provided some good packing in the upper echelons of the race.

Excellent runs from Joe Hallsworth (78th, 29:38), Sean Cordon (148th, 31:20) and Jack Leafe (150th, 31:24) completed the team scoring.

In the earlier ladies race club captain Katie Smith (112th, 28:18) was the first team scorer just ahead of an impressive cross country debut from Helen Shannon (114th, 28:19).

Laura Vincent (141th, 29:18) paced her run well to provide the impetus for a fast finish.

Ola Balme (149th, 29:43) and Michelle Lennon (153rd, 29:55) completed the scoring with two of the best V50 plus performances on the day. Dulwich’s A team finished 22nd out of the 30 A and B teams on the day.

PICTURES: JONATHAN WHITTAKER

Main Pic: Ed Chuck (122) leading out Cameron Reilly (259), Jack Ramm (160) and Henry Silverstein (348) after the final climb of Sawyer’s Hill.