Middlesex XC Championships – Report
This years Championships took place in Trent Park in conjunction with Hertfordshire which mean’t the race numbers were boosted. With snow forecast later in the day the ground was frozen first thing but thawed into a thick layer of mud which provided a suitable challenge for all the runners. For the first time Chip timing was used.
The Senior Mens race saw Terry Fawden (Highgate) retain his title he won last year crossing the line behind two Herts Phoenix runners. Terry was 19th at the re-arranged National XC Championships and will be looking to do even better at the Championships in March on home turf of Parliament Hill. The team race was intriguing with Michael Cameron and Petros Surafel (TVH) completing the Mens Podium. However they were followed by two Highgate runners. Out on the course London Heathside had been packing well and they had 4 runners in the top 15. The 5th TVH runner crossed in 17th place and the 6th Heathsider in 20th place, however Nelson Gordon in his first senior race completed the TVH teal finishing in 22nd to ensure the Senior Title was retained by the West London Club with Heathside 2nd and Serpentine taking the bronze medal. Queens Park Harriers won the 12 to Score Competiton.
The Senior Women’s race saw Hannah Viner (Highgate) who last won the title in 2022 retain her title. She had come into the race having won the last Met League race in Uxbridge and was part of the leading group from the start crossing the line just behind the Herts winner Annabel Gummow. They will no doubt renew their rivalry next week at the Met League in Welwyn. Lara Sterritt (TVH) took the silver 30s behind the winner with Rebecca Piggott (LH) 3rd out sprinting Nicola Douglas (Stragglers) and Katy Casterton (Serpentine). With TVH only having 3 runners London Heathside easily upgraded last years silver taking the title with all 4 runners in the top 15. The other team medals were closely contested with Trent Park eventually taking silver only 2 points ahead of Hillingdon. The Corlin Cup was won by Serpentine.
The Women’s U20 & U17 races were a combined event. Last years U17 Champion Allegra Massey (TVH) was part of a leading group of Herts runners winning the U20 title over 1 minute ahead of Issy Watkins (LH) and Emma McCluskey (Barnet & District). The U20 Team title was exceptionally tight with TVH just piping Heathside by 1 point. The U17 race however was a convincing win for VPH&TH whose 3 scorers were in the top 4. With no real favourite Ruby James (VPH&TH) took the title, upgrading last years bronze medal, 30s behind silver medallist Leoni Delvendahl (Highgate) with Lyra McDonald (VPH&TH) who last year had won silver ahead of Ruby completing the podium. Highgate took the team silver medal.
The U20 Men’s race saw Shaftesbury spread their athletes between both Herts and Barnet with Samuel Greenstein (SBH) who had finished 6th in the London XC Championships a convincing Middlesex winner and clubmate Gianleo Stubbs taking the Herts title. Samuel pulled away over the last lap from Felix Kent (Highgate) who finished 2nd and Ethan Jackson (Trent Park) in 3rd. The team race was a close competition with Highgate’s 2nd and 3rd scorers in 4th and 6th places enough to pip Shaftesbury to the team title. Harrow took the bronze medal.
The U17 Men’s race saw a commanding run by Harris Austin (Highgate) who had finished 2nd at the London Youth Games XC. Behind him were U15 medalists from last year Tom Mythen and Daniel Jelfs (SMR) however with only 2 runners they were not in contention for Team Gold which went to Highgate but only by 3 points ahead of Enfield and Haringey whose 3 scorers were in the top 11. This was a welcome return to the podium for the club and the effort of coach Peter Scott. Team bronze went to London Heathside.
Jorjia March (Barnet & District) who had recently set a new U15 UK Mile Road Record at Battersea and was hot favourite but did not have it her own way with a group of 3 close together as they entered the finishing straight. Jorjia however was able to kick for the line hard finishing 1s ahead of Sonny Allen (Highgate) and Alya Johnson (ESM). In a close team race St Mary’s Richmond took the title 5 points ahead of Ealing Southall & Middlesex with London Heathside 3rd.
The U15 Boys race saw Arjuna Pflug (Highgate), who has won 3 Met League races this season take the tile convincingly. The other form runners Dylan Lewis (Hillingdon) and Khalid Hussein (VPH&TH) took the silver and bronze medals. VPH&TH had 3 finishers in the top 10 which was enough to take the team title with London Heathside 2nd and Highgate 3rd.
The U13’s saw a slight upset with Ben Kasper (SBH) out sprinting club mate Dennys Pascal, who had 2 race wins this season to the title however they both took home gold in the team competition ahead of VPH&TH and Highgate. Alexander Pettican (Highgate) was 3rd. The U13 Girls race however followed the form book with Violet Muralidhar (ESM) adding the title to her 3 Met League wins this season. Marni Keam George (TVH) took silver ahead of Eve Johnson (ESM). ESM had a bit of a nervous wait before their 3rd scorer crossed the line in 14th to win the team title with St Mary’s 2nd and London Heathside 3rd.
With some absentees the U11 Boys race looked to be wide open and so it proved with 10s covering the first 5 finishers. Edward Polubryukhov (ESM) finished strongest to win by 2s from Louie Bruce (Harrow) and Zayn Ahmed (VPH&TH). The team titles however went to last years winners Shaftesbury ahead of Highgate and Harrow in 3rd. The Girl’s race went to the pre race favourite Sophia Davies (TVH) who has won all 3 Met League races. Last years bronze medallist Alice Clements (E&H) went one better taking silver with Cisse Bootman 3rd. The team medals however went elsewhere with home club Barnet & District taking the gold in a closely contested competition 2 points ahead of Highgate Harriers and 4 points ahead of London Heathside.
Many thanks to organising Club Barnet & District as well as all the Officials, Marshalls who helped organise the event and in particular Malcolm French and Rob Scott.