Reports and Results
Cross-Country
2002/03 Season

ECCA English National Cross Country Champs

22 February 2003

Maggie Statham and Emily Tawse were Holland's sole representatives in the final major cross-country event of the season, the English national championships, being held this year at Parliament Hill, London.

Racing over a very tough hilly, muddy 5 mile course, Maggie ran strongly to finish in 137^th position out of 398 finishers in a time of 41:58. She was pleased with a run which marked a further milestone on her return to fitness, finishing ahead of runners who in previous races in the Surrey league she had finished behind. Emily Tawse also had a good run, finishing in 325^th position in a time of 50:43.

The race itself was won by Hayley Yelling, who finished way ahead of the rest of the field in 32:18.

Holland Men Seal Promotion to Division 3 of Surrey XC League

1 February 2003

Holland's men won their final Division 4 fixture of the season at Lightwater Country Park on Saturday. This fourth victory in a row confirms them as champions of Division 4 of the Surrey cross-country league, and with it they gain promotion to Division 3. Steve Bishop led the way, winning the race. The team's total of 279 points brought the final league standings to Holland, first with 877 points, followed by Tadworth, second with 1269 points, and Lingfield, third with 1768.5 points. Holland were also second on the day in the vets category with 296 points.

This was another good turnout with 14 runners taking part for the club. Individual results were as follows:

Everyone agreed this was the a really good cross-country course. Lots of variety, good parking facilities and a pleasant leisure centre to repair to after the event.

Holland Ladies' Strong Turnout for Final XC Match

1 February 2003

Holland Ladies turned out in force for the final match of the cross-country season over a long and very muddy course at Lloyd Park, finishing in 8th position. Maggie Statham led the team home, finishing 6^th in Division 2 and 30^th overall. Individual results (overall positions in brackets) were as follows:

POS	RUNNER		TIME
6  (30)	Maggie Statham		31.21
21 (63)	Joan Wingfield		33.24
31 (79)	Paula Bongers		34.45
60 (128)	Emily Tawse		38.14
68 (68)	Karen Farnham		39.06
70 (70)	Sue Sellers		39.08
80 (80)	Jane Shrubb		40.58

Sue Sellers promises to wear more suitable shoes next time!

For photos of the ladies' team before and after their trek round Lloyd Park, click here

Vets AC Champs

18 January 2003

Three Holland athletes took part in the annual championships of the Veterans' Athletics Club at Wimbledon Common. Best performance came from Paula Bongers, who finished as third Over 50 lady. She was 48^th overall in a time of 41:28. Among the men, Nigel Bongers finished in 29^th position in a time of 39:08, while Graham Pullen finished 45^th in a time of 41:18.

Holland Men Win Again in Surrey XC League

11 January 2003

Steve Bishop came home first in Division 4 at the third of the four Surrey league cross-country fixtures at a frozen Farthing Downs as Holland's men cross-country team confirmed their position as leaders of Division Four of the Surrey league, with promotion to Division 3 now a certainty.

Holland results were as follows:

There were 89 Finishers in Division 4.

Click here for results (scoring runners only shown).

Holland Ladies Visit Richmond Park in Surrey XC League

11 January 2003

Maggie Statham, returning from injury, led the Holland women's cross-country team home over a wet and icy Richmond Park course at Petersham, which had been modified because of recent poor weather conditions.

Click here for individual results in division 2, and here for team results and league positions.

For comparison, division 1 individual results are here and the team results here.

Holland's Day Out at the Surrey XC Champs, Nork

4 January 2003

Holland Ladies had a creditable outing at Nork Park in the Surrey champs, although they finished last team. Individual results were:

In the men's champs, Paul Rodgers of Crawley was the overall winner in a time of 40 mins 20 secs. The Holland men collectively had a fairly good run on a tough, four-lap, 12 kilometre course on the Surrey downs. Tony O'Brien was first Holland athlete home in a field of 196 runners. The team finished 17^th out of 18. The Holland results were:

Keith Towers did two laps then had to pull out. Hard luck Keith.

Click here for the complete senior men's results for the championships, here for the complete senior women's results and here for some photos of our star runners at the champs!

Holland Men Strengthen Grip on Surrey XC League

16 November 2002

Despite missing two of our top three runners, Holland Sports strengthened its position at the top of Division Four of the Surrey Men's Cross-Country league in the second league fixture of the season at Lloyd Park, Croydon.

Darryl Hilliar, on his debut, finished a superb second in 33 minutes 20 seconds, followed by the ever reliable Rob Hall in fifth (34:05). Other results were Tony O'Brien (34:33), Gary Spring (35:15), Nigel Jarvis (35:37), Paul Bowen (37:07), Les Huitson (38:18), Dave Drummie (38:39), Graham Pullen (38:53), Nigel Bongers (39:15), Richard Timmis (40:50), and Alex Roux (42:35).

Click here for league table following the men's Division Four match.

Holland Ladies One Short for XC

16 November 2002

On the same day the club's women athletes were competing at Wimbledon Common in the Surrey Women's Cross-Country League Division Two. Unfortunately, the team were one short as their previous winner, Sara Stodart, was injured, and as a result they finished 13^th.

Joan Wingfield had a fine run for 29^th in 29:06, with a welcome return for Maggie Statham (29:37). Other results were Paula Bongers (30:05) and Karen Farnham (33:07).

Click here for complete results of the women's Division Two match.

Successful Start to the XC Season!

12 October 2002

Holland Sports AC had an excellent start to the cross country season on Saturday 12th October with individual victories in the Surrey women’s league Division 2 fixture and the Surrey men’s league Division 4 fixture, both held at Epsom Downs.

Holland's female winner was Sara Stodart, who was only beaten by nine runners from Division 1. Sara's time 28 mins 43. Joan Wingfield, after her excellent recent marathon debut, had another fine run in 32 mins 34secs. Next in was Paula Bongers 22nd in 33 mins 6secs. Debutant Karen Farnham finished strongly in 71st in 36 min 59, closely followed by Barbara Towers 72nd in 37 mins dead. Holland’s final scorer, Emily Tawse was 81st in 38 mins 6 secs. Click here for complete results of the women's Division Two match.

Holland’s men comprehensively won the team event by 134 points, with Steve Bishop gaining victory in the race in a time of 31 mins 25. He was followed by Rob Hall, 6th in 34 mins 3secs, 13th was Tony O'Brien in 35 mins 29 secs, with Andy Dunstan 16th in 35 mins 50. Michael Chappell, who had a storming second lap, was 20th in 36 mins 8, with Paul Byrne 24th in 36 mins 34. New debutant Nigel Jarvis was 25th in 36 mins 35, with Paul Bowen 32nd in 38 mins 6, Les Huitson 37th in 38 mins 50 secs, and final scorer and Holland’s third debutant, Steve Filewood, 38th in 39 mins 38. Evergreen Graham Pullen was 51st in 41 mins 43, Keith Towers Holland’s 4th debutant 52nd in 41 min 46, Richard Timmis 55th in 41 mins 55, Martin Jackson 63rd in 43 mins 20, Alan Roux 68th in 44 mins 28. Last finisher for Holland but not least was Terry Read in 80th in 55 mins 4 secs who did an amazing somersault as he finished (not recommended!).

Click here for complete results of the men's Division Four match.