Metropolitan League 6k (women): 13 November 2010
All runners
Race photos
Race photos are at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2511325&l=a502af187c&id=61408325
Race conditions
Muddy
Report
Women's Division One Team Result
1 Serpentine RC 427
2 Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers 394
3 Highgate Harriers 334
4 Serpentine RC 'B' 297
5 London Heathside 291
6 Woodford Green with Essex Ladies 291
7 Metropolitan Police 278
8 Ealing, Southall & Middlesex 227
9 St Albans Striders 199
10 Woodford Green with Essex Ladies 'B' 50
Women's Division One League Positions
1 Serpentine RC 842
2 Highgate Harriers 727
3 Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers 670
4 Woodford Green with Essex Ladies 643
5 Metropolitan Police 627
6 Serpentine RC 'B' 585
7 London Heathside 543
8 Ealing, Southall & Middlesex 347
9 St Albans Striders 331
10 Woodford Green with Essex Ladies 'B' 171
On Saturday Serpentine hosted the second Met League XC at Trent Park, and it was with a mixture of excitement and apprehension that 34 Serpettes laced their spikes and trail shoes up before the start of the women's 6km race.
Excitement because we were currently top of the Met League table after a sensational turn out at the first Met League race at Claybury. Apprehension because it was going to be very muddy and the girls were not quite sure what the course had in store for them!
I think 3 words will suffice: MUD. HILLS. TOUGH. (or maybe 4 if you add a 'VERY' somewhere in there)
But, Serpettes are strong and we turned out some amazing performances yet again. And as a result have retained our position at the top of the table!
Highgate Harriers we thought were going to be hot on our heels and out for revenge after the first Met League, but this time around the competition came from Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers. Highgate did have more runners at this meet than were at the last but with yet another great turn out by the Serpettes we have managed to not only retain our position at the top of the table but extend our lead! It is all quite exciting and unprecedented! We finished 33 points ahead of Shaftesbury and 93 points ahead of Highgate Harriers.
Congratulations to all 34 ladies who raced - a big well done to those who were racing for the first time this season on quite a daunting course!
There were a total of 147 runners in the women's race and the Serpentine ladies finished as follows:
4th Becky Glover
6th Sylvie Lloyd
9th Mariah McConnaughey
11th Helen Branco
19th Liz Wynn
23rd Teresa Gaillard de Laubenque
27th Catherine Harris
32nd Jennifer Bradley
33rd Christine Lutsch
44th Grace Wu
45th Anna Ferguson
47th Fiona Alexander
51st Wendy Vandoolaeghe
53rd Sarah Edmunds
57th Poppy Lenton
62nd Louisa Ruderman
63rd Deanna Laforet
66th Laura Beckwith
83rd Jo Conn
85th Kiera Davidson
90th Mary Egundebi
94th Izzy Wreford
96th Cheryl Sacks
99th Valerie Metcalf
112th Catharine Sowerby
116th Jennifer Marzullo
118th Beatriz Soden
120th Rachel Brough
123rd Elizabeth Maddan
129th Bajou McCubbins
131st Nathalie Vendette
140th Carole Wisdom
141st Grainne Devery
144th Stephanie Vaatz
Well done to Becky, Sylvie, Mariah (all three of whom once again finished in the top 10!), Helen, Liz and Teresa who formed our scoring 6, closing in just 23 places! This is quite an achievement. When we look back to the Met Leagues from last year, we would have been doing well if our number 2 runner had come in 23rd place. Also, our top 6 in this match featured 3 different girls to the first Met League, showing great depth of talent which bodes well for the remaining 3 matches.
To every girl that ran, a big thank you (as you know you all count big time!) and a huge pat on the back for getting around such a tough course!
Serpettes now have an overall lead in the league of 115 points. We know, however, that we cannot be complacent, but there is a real sense of spirit building within the Serpettes at the moment so we are hoping this will carry through to Christmas/New Year and the 3 remaining Met Leagues.
Once again, many thanks to the Serpentine men who arrived early to cheer the girls on - this is always greatly appreciated. And to Jennifer Bradley for her excellent race organisation (and running, and baking ... SuperSerpette!), Sally Hodge, Malcolm French and the countless Serpie volunteers out in force to make the afternoon - Serpentine's first time as Cross Country host - such a success. And thank you to Teresa Gaillard de Laubenque who kindly stepped in to distribute the red and yellow ribbons (essential kit!) in my absence due to illness. It has been whispered that Highgate Harriers are going to start 'the ribbon thing'. I guess we should feel honoured (for a moment)!
Look forward to seeing you all for some festive red and yellow Serpette spirit at the next Met League on the 18th December at Stevenage. And no doubt once again plenty of baking to go around, plus some!
Onwards and upwards!
Go Serpettes!
Natalie Kolodziej
Race helpers
Massive numbers of Serpies!
Result queries
If you have any queries about these results please email results@serpentine.org.uk