Reports and Results
Cross-Country
2003/04 Season

Surrey Men's Cross Country League, Wimbledon Common

7 February 2004

Not being helped by being unable to field a full team of ten men, the Holland men's team failed to avoid relegation to the fourth division of the Surrey cross-country league, after just one season in Division Three. A disappointing conclusion to the season.

Click here for Wimbledon Common scores and final league positions.

Surrey Men's Cross Country League, Farthing Down.
Women's Cross Country League, Richmond Park

10 January 2004

Holland Sports just managed to scrape together a full team, with runners such as Mike Chappell arriving with only minutes to spare yet despite this acquitting themselves very well in the 3 lap, six mile race at Farthing Down, Coulsdon. Unlike a year ago, conditions were mild and the ground in generally good condition. Unfortunately, despite everyone's best efforts, the team finished in ninth and last position on the day, and after this third of four fixtures, the team's position in the league looks threatened by relegation.

Click here for complete individual and team results and ...here... for photos.

In the women's league race over two laps of Richmond Park, starting near Petersham gate, three

Surrey Cross Country Championships

3 January 2004

Three Holland women took part in the Surrey Cross-Country Champs at a cold Lloyd Park on Saturday. First home on the 8 km (5 mile) undulating course was Maggie Statham, in a pleasing 20^th position overall in a time of 36 mins 5 secs. Second home was Tracy Mustoe, who finished strongly in her first competitive race for 18 months after the birth of her fifth child, showed she is coming back to form by finishing 32^nd overall in a time of 37 mins 51 secs. Last but not least was Emily Tawse, not yet back to full fitness, who finished in 72^nd position in a time of 45 mins 47 secs. The race was won by Jo Kelsey of Woking, in 31 mins 27 secs. There were 83 finishers.

There was a disappointing turn-out for the 12 km (7.5 mile) men's race, when only 3 ran out of a possible 11. Paul Bowen led Holland home in 114^th position, in a commendable time of 55 mins 5 secs. Second Holland runner was James Carr, 145^th in 60 mins 47 secs, and finally Richard Timmis, 154^th in 64 mins 18 secs. The event was won by Dave Taylor of Herne Hill Harriers in 40 mins 22 secs. There were 169 finishers.

In the Under 13 race, John Fitzpatrick ran well and ended with an electrifying finish to complete the race in 44^th position in the Under 13 Boys' race in a time of 15 mins 43 secs.

...Pics!...

Surrey Cross Country League

13 December 2003

Click ...here... for complete results of the men's Division 3 match at Richmond Park.

Click ...here... for complete results of the womens' Division 2 match at Lightwater Country Park.

Gatliff Marathon

30 November 2003

Paula Bongers, Maggie Statham, Andy Thornley, Graham Pullen, Martin Berry (all representing Oxted Runners) and Linda Daniel (from Striders of Croydon) took part on Sunday in the 20th edition of the Gatliff Marathon, a challenging long-distance cross-country event for walkers, joggers and runners organised by Croydon Outdoor Pursuits and Social Events (COPSE).

Running as a group and opting for the "short" 20K course, the intrepid runners ran from base camp at Edenbridge Rugby Club and followed the hilly course up to Mariners Hill and Chartwell, reaching as far as the outskirts of Westerham, before returning via Limpsfield Chart and Froghole to the control point at Crockham Hill, where welcome Xmas refreshments including mince pies and red wine awaited them. After that rather extended stop, it was difficult to get going, but at least the run back to Edenbridge was relatively short and straightforward!

The group's official time for completing the course was 3 hours and 23 minutes. This included numerous stops to read the detailed route instructions provided by the organisers and to negotiate the many stiles. Fortunately, the weather was pretty good, the forecast rain holding off until after the runners had got back to Edenbridge, and ground conditions weren't too muddy. It was overall an enjoyable run.

We'll be back next year, I'm sure, when the course will - as is the custom - be entirely different. Hopefully other Oxted Runners will come along. Will we be tempted though by the 37K or 50K (torches recommended) alternatives? Wait and see.

Beachy Head Marathon

25 October 2003

Four Oxted Runners took part in the second running of the Beachy Head Marathon, the successor to the Seven Sisters Marathon, on Saturday 25^th October. All completed the course and finished close together. This marathon has been a magnet for members of Oxted Runners over the years, and this year it took place in glorious weather, the downs crisp under clear blue skies: ideal conditions for running.

Times don't really matter on a course as hilly as this, where the test over the gruelling Sussex downs is more of endurance than speed. Maggie Statham and Martin Berry, running together, were simply pleased to finish the course after having had so little training because of long-term injuries, with their longest distance runs in preparation for the event having consisted of two hilly 10 mile races each in the preceding four weeks. They reached the halfway point in two hours; they had been running conservatively and they thought quite well. However, Martin started to suffer badly in the second half and he lost a lot of time negotiating the final part of the race over the Seven Sisters. They finished, side by side, in 4 hours 44 minutes. This was Martin's first ever marathon. As he passed over the finish line he was heard to say "Never again!" but it's understood he and Maggie are now looking ahead to the next Beachy Heath Marathon, on 23^rd October 2004! ...Pics!...

Graham Pullen had his usual consistent race and was close to catching Martin and Maggie when he finished, in a time of 4 hours 46. Behind him Sue Sellers ran very well to finish in 4 hours 51 minutes, beating the 5 hour target and thus pleasingly for her confirming her as a runner rather than a jogger in Beachy Head Marathon terms! Finally, Richard Timmis did very well to recover, after suffering in the second half of the race, to finish in 5 hours 2 minutes.

Haywards Heath Harriers 37^th Open Cross Country Meeting, Ardingly

19 October 2003

Maggie Statham was the sole Holland Sports representative at these cross-country races held at Ardingly College and organised by Haywards Heath Harriers. Maggie ran conservatively but still finished 4^th overall and first in the female 50-54 age group in a time of 24:34 over the undulating 5,750 metre course which includes a 200 foot climb up from Ardingly reservoir.

Cross Country: A Disappointing Start to the Season

18 October 2003

Disappointingly, Holland Sports AC were unable to field a full team at the first fixture of the cross-country season at Epsom Downs. Consequently, they finished last team in Division Three of the Surrey league, to which they were promoted last year. Individual performances were as follows:

There were 106 runners.

In the Colts, John Fitzpatrick came 4th in 22:13 and Charlie Davies 5th in 22:20. Holland is now the leading Colts team. ...Pics!...

Cuckmere House Trail Challenge 10

12 October 2003

Martin Berry and Graham Pullen were the Holland Sports / Oxted Runner representatives at this undulating and challenging two-lap off-road event organised by Seaford Striders. Martin finished in 31^st place out of 72, and as 8^th over 50 in 78:37, with Graham not far behind - 35^th overall and 9^th over 50 in a time of 80:56.

The course climbed up and down the chalk downs of Seaford Head and then dropped down to run alongside the Cuckmere River before climbing back up to Seaford. Weather conditions were once again sunny and pretty mild, though there was a very strong easterly wind on Seaford Head which blew back the runners as they descended towards the Cuckmere river valley, with the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs gleaming white in the distance.

This was a very well marshalled, friendly low key event run over fantastic countryside which deserved a bigger turnout - we were told it had been much bigger in previous years but this year for some reason, perhaps competing events, the numbers were fairly low. ...Pics...

Surrey Vets XC Championships

11 October 2003

Maggie Statham, Graham Pullen and Martin Berry were the Holland Sports AC representatives at Richmond Park.

Easily the best result was produced by a resurgent Maggie Statham, who finished as first female in the 50-54 age category and in 15^th position overall. She was pleased to finish again ahead of fellow age grouper Ros Tabor, but Maggie felt her performance was put into perspective somewhat by that of rival Jane Davies, who finished first in the over 55 age group in a time that was much faster than her own.

Lewes Downland 10

5 October 2003

Martin Berry was the sole Oxted Runner representative at this very undulating and testing off-road event held over the South Downs on a very sunny day that was tempered by a chill north-west wind. Martin was simply pleased that he was able to complete the run without any major injury worries. This was his first 10 mile race for a long time, and his time of 78:42 was at least better than the time he recorded on the previous occasion he ran this event, in October 1995. He was 144^th of 303 finishers. ...Pics...

Veterans AC Cross-Country

4 October 2003

Maggie Statham took part in the Veterans' AC cross-country fixture at a sunny Wimbledon Common. She was pleased with her performance in this tough, three lap event, finishing as first woman in a time of 39:53. This was her best time on this course for four years, signalling some recovery from the persistent knee and other injuries that have kept her out of the top flight of veterans athletics.

Striders Switchback 5

20 September 2003

The Striders of Croydon Switchback 5 was held in fine autumnal conditions at Lloyd Park, Croydon on Saturday, 20 September. Maggie Statham was first finisher, coming 35^th overall in a time of 36:57. She was sixth female and second vet, behind Viv Mitchell of SLH. Maggie's running better now, and she swears that sustained use of an ice pack is making a real difference to the healing of her persistent knee injury! Also competing was Graham Pullen, 44^th in 38:32. ...Pic!... The field was quite small this year, with 80 finishers.

Eridge Park 10

14 September 2003

Three Holland Sports members running in the colours of sister club Oxted Runners took part in the Eridge Park 10 Mile Trail Challenge. This is a testing (1,475 feet of ascent) multi-terrain course which provides - courtesy of the Marquess of Abergavenny and the Nevill Estate - what Tunbridge Wells Harriers call a "unique and privileged opportunity to run across one of the finest deer parks and ancient woodlands in Kent".

Maggie Statham again placed 40^th overall in a time of 1:22:09, finishing as 6^th woman and second vet. She got a plastic silver medal as a reward for her efforts! Steve Woods and Corinne Foad also took part in the race, Steve finishing in 61^st equal place in 1:27:10 and Corinne finishing in 129^th position, in 1:43:07. There were 188 finishers.

Dry Hill 10

7 September 2003

Six members of Holland Sports AC / Oxted Runners took part in the Dry Hill 10, a hilly 10 mile plus 200 yards multi-terrain race organised by Lingfield Running Club and held in fine weather conditions.

Maggie Statham finished in 40^th place overall - and 7^th woman - in a time of 1:18:39. She won a prize - Jog Shop vouchers - as second veteran O45 woman, less than a minute behind Hazel Imeson of Tadworth AC. Nigel Bongers was top Oxted Runner, placing 30^th overall (and fourth O50) in a time of 1:16:08. Other Oxted Runners taking part were Steve Woods (49^th in 1:20:25), closely followed by Graham Pullen (50^th, 1:20:29), Karen Farnham (95^th in 1:33:00), and Corinne Foad (106^th in 1:35:20). There were 131 finishers. ...Pics...