Herne Hill Harriers’ round up: Improving Morgan Roberts one to watch

Among the last club races of the year was the Friday Under the Lights 5 miles road race in Battersea Park.

Morgan Roberts placed 17th in 25:04 and will be one to watch in 2024 as he has only run a handful of club races and is improving at a rate of knots.

Andrew Clarke was next in 29th with 25:24, then John Franklin 51st in 26:21.

Next was Harry Roberts, 63rd in 26:54 and even newer to the sport than his twin brother Morgan.

Tom Patterson was 72nd in 27:32, Eric Dol was 84th in 28:13 and Jonathan Ratcliffe was 92nd in 28:56. The latter was first M55 finisher.

Eight men and five women from the club raced at the South of Thames 7.5 miles cross country championship at a muddy Lloyd Park.

The men’s team placed fifth, with Simon Coombes at the helm in 25th overall and claiming the M50 gold medal on the day.

The remaining five team scorers were M40 Jeff Cunningham 27th, U20 Robin Bebbington 39th (and first U20), Scott Morrison 58th, Stephen McLeod 76th and M55 Norman Urquia 89th.

These were further backed up by Andrew Georgeson 146th and M65 Valdis Pauzers 182nd.

The women were one runner short of a complete team of six, but accomplished road racer Rowen Hughes ran her first ever cross country and led the Harriers women as 13th female on the day.

Annabelle Acres was 23rd, W50 Fran Bourne 42nd, Alex Marginean 46th and team manager W40 Jess Winfield 53rd competed the club’s turnout.
Daniel Shaw claimed bronze at the Greater Manchester County Cross Country Championships in Wythenshawe Park.