Veterans See the Summer Warmth & Sun Out with a Fair Show in Richmond Park.

Surrey Veterans Cross Country Championships, Petersham, Richmond Park, 20th October 2018.
A good Splodge of Red and Black, a fair Splodge of Medals on a sunny and warm day in Richmond Park. The heat (for October) was still on, in both senses of the word, but fortunately, not the exceptional October burn of last week’s Surrey League at the same venue using a different course, but shared route. The dry and cracked mud course displayed the conditions occurring from the hottest and driest summer’s history since ’76 with dust rather than mud being the stain on the athletes’ weary limbs. Nonetheless, the fury of the races was evident as our first Championship Veterans race of the season kicked off.
Ben Paviour was our man of the day, first M45 and second overall, just eclipsing birthday man (77 years on the day) coming 2nd in his M75 category. Great achievements, for both of you.
Women and M60’s+ took on the first race, with Karen Ellison starting her comeback and a welcome entry to veterans XC, leading home a W35 team coming second overall, with Jes Winfield and Jenny Morrison getting the placings that counted for the team. (Both Jes and Jenny profiting from good consistent training for this success.) Rebecca Barrow was our 2nd woman home just edging away from a race within a race between herself, Waldy Pauzers (M60), Jes Winfield, Mary Setyabule (W50) and Sam Whiting (W40), who finished in that order but exchanged the lead amongst themselves several times before finishing within 4 seconds of each other! New woman, Patty Kirkman had another XC racing experience to savour, whilst ever-presents Sarah Allen and Sonia Williams closed our women’s account for the day with fine efforts displayed all round. Our women 45 team was 7th. Meanwhile our summer track 1st claimer Mike Mann, took 1st M70 on his way to recovery from injury and in his first winter in his new age category, a lot to come from there yet!
Subsequently, the Men 40 & 50 kicked off their 9.3km two course. The Thames man Martin Shore led early and stayed there once he had fought his way from Ben Paviour, who took his M45 first by a good margin. Ollie Morrison, not to be outdone by wife Jenny, ran a rejuvenated race as 4th man M40 and Gavern Newsum deservedly closed out the M40 team who earnt second place and silver medals. Dan Hallam and James Ward were fine support and look like they can challenge that scoring team as the season progresses.
The Mighty Joffah Ratcliffe, so unlucky to miss out on an individual M50 medal was compensated by leading the HHH M50 team to bronze medals, and if he stays fresh will do another damn good marathon next weekend, even a personal best…. .. . New man Derek Lee was M50 2nd scorer, despite still learning the melee and complexities of cross country racing every weekend, whilst returning regular Vic Maughn hit the 3rd spot for those team medals, using his age old 800m pace to deny the unfortunate next runner in, Trevor Chilton of a county team medal. An under the weather Tony Harran closed out our racing team with determined aplomb, not his best run but he was there for the team and club combined.
Well done to all, now we need South of England veteran commitment for the 8th of December. That is when our men veterans are at our best. So, ladies, come and join us at Horspath Oxford on the 8th of December. Helen Hadjam would love your company this year!
Up the Hill.
Waldy.

full Results attached.

Surrey vets XC 2018 M40_M50 Results

Surrey Vets XC Women-M60 Results