Reports and Results
Cross-Country
2000/01 Season

Surrey Men's Cross Country League, Lloyd Park

3 February 2001

In Holland Sports AC's last Division Three Men's Surrey League Cross Country fixture at a very muddy Lloyd Park on Saturday, the club chalked up successes with both the colts team and the boys/youths team winning the overall trophies in their categories. What's more, the seniors managed to avoid relegation!

In the younger age groups Ed Soane was again first home in 5th in a time of 17mins 51, followed by Jonathan Dine 8th in 18-27, Tom Soane 12th in 19-20, John Patrick-Laide 14th in 20-12, Ollie Blake 16th (Hollands 1st colt) in 20-43, 18th Leslie Scott (2nd Colt) in 22-43, 19th Danny Coster in 24-38, 21st Gareth Scott (3rd Colt in 28-27), and Tom Hurley 22nd in 29-40.

In the seniors race Steve Bishop did exceptionally well in his first race of the season to finish 12th in 34-15. On his debut Paul Slattery running in flats (a distinct disadvantage) finished a suberb 29th in 36-05, just ahead of Rob Hall 30th in 36-06. Tony O'Brien ran well for 44th in 37-10 with Dave Drummie 47th in 37-20. Mike Chappell on his debut, also in flats, ran excellently to finish 72nd in 40-42. Paul Byrne was just behind in 73rd in 40-47. Martin Berry was 75th in 41-23, Graham Pullen 78th in 41-52 and Holland's last scorer, Martin Jackson 85th in 43-28. Nigel Bongers came next in 88th in 45-02, Andy Martin 93rd in 47-38 and Andy Thornley was 97th in 50-23. Click here for team results and final league positions.

Holly Run, Reigate Priory Park

17 December 2000

Maggie Statham pleasantly surprised herself after a week of training in which she had struggled for speed by coming third overall and first W45 in the traditional Christmas Holly Run at Reigate Priory Park. In doing so she broke the over 45 course record which had stood since 1992. She covered the three mile course in 19 minutes and 27 seconds.

Earlier, Maggie's 12 year old son Andrew, running for Oxted School in the under 13 boy's event, had a good run to finish 9th. Andrew only started running when he started his first year at Oxted School in September, and has already represented Surrey at an inter-counties cross-country event.

Surrey Women's Cross-Country League, Lightwater

2 December 2000

The Holland women's team was a member short of a full scoring team for the second fixture of the season at Lightwater country park, but nevertheless performed creditably to finish eighth out of ten, but remain in the relegation zone of Division One in ninth position. Over a four mile course Sara Stodart finished ninth in the division in a time of 24:41, with Maggie Statham 14th in 25:15, followed by Paula Bongers and Joan Wingfield.

International Veterans' Cross-Country Champs, Navan, Ireland

18 November 2000

Maggie Statham helped the England team to first place and gold medals at the British and Irish Veteran Cross-Country Championships at Navan, Ireland.

Competing against runners from the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, Maggie was third and final England scorer in the over 45 age group, coming in fifth in the age group and 26^th overall. Her time over the heavy-going 5K course was 20:03. Ahead of her in her age group were Karen Marshall (Northern Ireland) in 18:40 and sixth overall, Carmel Parnell (Ireland) in 19:34, Chris Kilkenny (England) in 19:40 and Janet Ross (England) in 19:49. Fourth and non-scoring England team member Josie Heffernan trailed in behind Maggie in 20:38.

Afterwards, Maggie said she was pleased with her run, even though she was feeling off colour on the day.

Surrey Men's Cross-Country League Match, Wimbledon Common

The Holland men moved up a place in Division 3 of the league after the second match at Wimbledon. The youths and boys again did well. Click here for detailed report and results.*

Like It or Lump It 9K, Horsham

12 November 2000

Maggie Statham easily won the women's section of this low profile but pleasant cross-country race which started from Horsham Cricket Club. Extremely wet weather overnight meant some last minute changes to the course, which ended up closer to 10K than 9K.

Maggie finished 13^th overall in a time of 40:53 and was very pleased with her performance ahead of the veterans' international in Ireland.

Surrey Veterans' Cross-Country Champs, Richmond Park

21 October 2000

Maggie Statham had a disappointing run to finish in tenth position in the Surrey women veterans' championships, run over a wet Richmond Park course. Troubled by a long-standing problem with sciatica, she also felt weak and faint, and was never in contention as she would normally have expected to have been. Nevertheless Maggie, who was Holland's sole representative in the race, won a medal for being second over 45, behind Sally Young of Dorking & Mole Valley. Click here for detailed results.*

Martin Berry and Graham Pullen competed in the men's championship but finished well down the field. Martin, who finished in 42:12, at least was gratified that he improved his time over the course by two minutes compared with last year. The race was won by Barry Attwell (SLH, M45) in 34:31, with M Coker (Ranelagh, M40) second in 34:33 and T Harran (HHH, M40) third in 34:44.

Surrey Men's Cross-Country League Match, Richmond Park

14 October 2000

Holland Sports succeeded (just) in fielding a team of ten men for the first cross-country league match of the new season at Kingston Gate, Richmond Park. Now that Holland have been promoted into Division Three of the Surrey League, the competition is proving tougher, with such teams as Epsom and Ewell, Striders of Croydon, Wimbledon Windmilers and Dorking and Mole Valley to contend with. In the event, understrength Holland finished a disappointing eighth out of nine, ahead of only Sutton, who fielded three runners. John Bowers was leading Holland man, and the only one in the top 30, finishing 18th (third Under 20) in 31:04. Unless we field a stronger team for the next match at Wimbledon Common we are in danger of getting stuck in the relegation zone! Click here for detailed results.*

Good news though for the younger teams, with the Colts winning their match, and the Youths finishing third.

Surrey Women's Cross-Country League Match, Tilford.

Despite being one runner short, the Holland women's team put up a fighting performance on this hilly, sandy course to finish in seventh position out of ten in division one. The team was led home by Sara Stodart, followed by Maggie Statham, Paula Bongers and Joan Wingfield. Click here for detailed results.*

Ardingly Open Cross-Country Meeting

15 October 2000

Maggie Statham had an easy win in the senior women's race at this popular Sussex event, organised by Haywards Heath Harriers. The race took place over a hilly, wet and muddy course which started at Ardingly college and went past the reservoir. She covered the 5,750 metres (3.57 miles) in a time of 23:54. She was followed by Chris Naylor (over 45) of Arena 80 in 24:43 and Carole Edwards (over 35) of Haywards Heath Harriers in 26:28. There were 37 runners.

Martin Berry was fifth over 45 in the men's race, and 30th out of 85 overall, covering the 7,100 metre (4.4 mile) course in 30:31, an improvement over the previous year's result, when ground conditions were better. The race was won by veterans superstar Nigel Gates (Brighton & Hove) in 24:02, an age category record (45-49). Second was Tom Burke (Haywards Heath Harriers), in 25:09 and third Peter Tullett (Chelmsford) in 25:59.

Other people ahead of Martin Berry in the over 45 category besides Nigel Gates were Colin Simpson (Phoenix), 10th in 27:39; Tom Crossly (East Grinstead), 18th in 28:45; and Jeremy Carmichael (Crawley AC), 24th in 29:50

This event takes place as a series of fun runs and races organised in a series of age groups and distances, starting with short fun runs for the under 9s and culminating in long races for the seniors and veterans. There were an impressive number of participants in the children's and youths' races, and the whole event is a relaxed, pleasant experience in attractive surroundings. Recommended.

Vets AC Cross-Country

7 October 2000

Maggie Statham and Graham Pullen both ran in the Veterans Athletics Club 10KM cross-country at Wimbledon Common. Run in fine conditions, the course included 3 climbs of the challenging horseride. Maggie, who has been suffering from sciatica, finished in third place behind Clare Pauzers and Carole Evans.

Serpentine 5K

29 September 2000

Maggie Statham took a long lunch break from her office to run in the Serpentine 5K in Hyde Park, finishing as first woman in a time of 19.21.

Croydon Switchback 5

23 September 2000

Holland members Martin Berry and Graham Pullen took part in this cross-country race which as usual involved some runners taking a detour. Martin got lost with a small group of runners soon after crossing into the Addington hills, disappearing down a track after an unmarshalled turn that became more and more narrow and overgrown. Eventually taking a route upwards through the undergrowth they rejoined the other runners somewhat further back than before!

The race attracted only a small entry, with only 50 finishers. Martin Berry finished about 15th in 34:16. We don't have a time for Graham but he finished further back, having been suffering from a cold.

Eridge Park 10 Mile Trail Challenge

17 September 2000

Maggie Statham finished as third woman and first over 45 at the end of this gruelling 10 mile trail race over the hills of the Marquess of Abergavenny's estate south of Tunbridge Wells. She ran well in the circumstances, her time of 1:15:47 little different from that recorded two weeks previously for the easier Dry Hill 10. She finished 29th overall and was headed by Michelle Flaxton (Dartford RR) who did 73:45 and Tracey Apps, 75:30.

Martin Berry trailed in 45th in a time of 1:20:03, tired and emotional after a difficult run. David Millen of Oxted Runners finished in 65th in 1:25:46. For comparison, the race was won by Anthony Webb of Ashford AC in 61:33, and the leading veteran, Mark Taylor of organising club Tunbridge Wells Harriers, who finished third overall, recorded 63:42.

Dry Hill 10

3 September 2000

This multi-terrain race (well-organised by Lingfield Running Club) was run in fine, sunny if cool conditions over a challenging and attractive course. Members of sister clubs Oxted Runners and Holland Sports took part, as well as friends from Striders of Croydon. First club member home was Paul Byrne - a good run.

The overall winner of the race was Trevor Fairhurst (M1) in 1:02:25, second was Glen Morgan (M1) in 1:04:03, and third was Walter Hill (Crawley AC, M2) - first male veteran - in 1:04:32. There were 173 entrants and 153 finishers.

Maggie Statham, running on this occasion for Oxted Runners, was second woman and first veteran female in the race. First female was Julie Johnson (Datchet Dashers) in 1:13:09.

Detailed results follow.