Herne Hill Harriers: Women have bigger turnout than men for first time in a championship event

BY GEOFF JERWOOD

Herne Hill Harriers had a smaller than usual turnout on the men’s side for this year’s South of Thames Cross Country Association Championship races.

It meant the women fielded more athletes at a championship event for the first time.

The seven men achieved the higher team position, going one better than the eight women who finished fifth in Beckenham Place Park on Saturday afternoon.

Harriers men were fourth in the six to score contest in the annual fixture that dates back more than 100 years. Mike Cummings (20th), Simon Coombes (21st), Jeff Cunningham (24th), Jonny Whittall (41st), Ben Millar (47th) and Eoin Brady (54th) were the team counters. They were backed up by M50 Jonathan Ratcliffe in 75th after he had also raced the night before in Battersea Park.

The women were led by Grace Leyland, who finished ninth female. Suzanne Swaine (19th), Jenni Nandi (38th), Samantha Whiting (48th), Alison Beck (70th) and Penelope Cummings (75th) completied the scoring six in the team.

Other club finishers were Flora di Carlo (80th) and Eibhlin ni Bhradaigh (85th).

The night before saw another big race – the Friday Under The Lights 5 Miles road race in Battersea Park. The first Herne Hill man was actually second claim George Withers, wearing his red-and-black colours and recording a big PB of 26:16.

Next man was Ryan Willmott, who ran 26:50. Jack Brotchie and Eric Dol clocked 27:08 and 27:33 respectively.

Sophie Harris went out hard and had to hang on during the final lap, but she rallied well in the last kilometre and finished fourth female (27:55).

Robin Jones raced less than two weeks after his recent marathon PB in the USA and returned a decent 28:21 as third M45 finisher and Jonathan Ratcliffe ran 29:04 as second M50.

PICTURE: MIKE HOOKWAY