Southern Counties XC Championship (men): 28 January 2012

 Men and women:  Separate Other races:   

All runners

Pos arrow Name arrow Time arrow Cat arrow Club arrow Pace arrow
1 1 Hugh Torry 53:31 SM Serpentine 5:44
2 2 Hendrik Zietsman 54:09 V40 Serpentine 5:49
3 3 Dave Morgan 55:13 SM Serpentine 5:55
4 4 Will Green 55:26 V35 Serpentine 5:57
5 5 Richard Phillips 55:35 V35 Serpentine 5:58
6 6 Tiago Branco 55:56 SM Serpentine 6:00
7 7 Miguel Branco 56:10 SM Serpentine 6:01
8 8 Paul Hayman 57:15 SM Serpentine 6:08
9 9 Andrew Reeves 58:09 V40 Serpentine 6:14
10 10 Martin Gaunt 58:29 SM Serpentine 6:16
11 11 Wesley Harrison 59:22 SM Serpentine 6:22
12 12 Andy Robbins 1:00:00 V35 Serpentine 6:26
13 13 Jolyon Attwooll 1:00:09 V35 Serpentine 6:27
14 14 Barney Southin 1:00:23 V35 Serpentine 6:29
15 15 Ben Cope 1:01:29 SM Serpentine 6:36
16 16 Jamie Smalley 1:04:06 SM Serpentine 6:53
17 17 Andrew Taylor 1:04:15 SM Serpentine 6:54
18 18 Gavin Edmonds 1:05:04 V35 Serpentine 6:59
19 19 Craig Martin 1:05:24 SM Serpentine 7:01
20 20 Brent Plump 1:05:45 V35 Serpentine 7:03
21 21 Alex Elferink 1:06:19 V35 Serpentine 7:07
22 22 Richard Taylor 1:06:31 V35 Serpentine 7:08
23 23 Joshua Paparo 1:07:45 V35 Serpentine 7:16
24 24 Simon Ray 1:08:38 V35 Serpentine 7:22
25 25 Chris Saunders 1:09:51 V35 Serpentine 7:30
26 26 Bradley Cobb 1:10:07 V50 Serpentine 7:31
27 27 Justin Lock 1:11:49 V35 Serpentine 7:42
28 28 Paul Fromme 1:14:00 V40 Serpentine 7:56
29 29 Mark Palmer 1:17:50 V40 Serpentine 8:21

Report

Our A team all finished in the top 100 leaving us eighth A-team and only a small distance behind Newham and Herne Hill. This is our best ever result in this championships.
Our B team were 15th out of all the teams, the second best B team behind only Highgate Harriers and ahead the A teams of many clubs. When combined with our A team, in the 12-to-score competition we were second, behind only Highgate Harriers.

On Saturday 28 January Serpentine cross country runners travelled to Stanmer Park, near Brighton for the South of England cross country championships. These championships are one of the highlights of our annual racing calendar, partly because they are so historic and partly because at 15km it is the longest cross country race we do. It is also a race which other clubs in the region take very seriously and if we want to improve as a club it should be one of our key targets.



The main men's team event is the six-to-score race, although the 12-to-score positions are also calculated. Last year at Parliament Hill we were 12th in the six-to-score race and 5th in the 12-to-score race. We'd never finished in the top ten in the six-to-score race but we did think we might have a chance to improve on that this year. Stanmer Park was also to be a new destination and course for us, the reports we got in advance were that it would be very hilly.



With Nick Torry stuck in the office and Andy Greenleaf running for his first claim club, Hugh Torry was our first runner home in a very good 35th. Hendrik Zietsman ran close to Hugh a lot of the way, slipping back a little on the final lap to finish 49th. We've now come to expect quality cross country performances from Dave Morgan who came 78th just overhauling Will Green in 81st before the end. Richard Phillips who is still coming back from injury came in a relaxed 85th while Tiago Branco, racing about 13.5km further than his preferred distance, came 94th. Our A team thus all finished in the top 100 leaving us eighth A-team and only a small distance behind Newham and Herne Hill. This is our best ever result in this championships.



Miguel Branco lead home the B team in 101st, while Paul Hayman in 128th showed that the marathon training really is paying off. There was a fine battle between Andy Reeves in152nd and Martin Gaunt in 160th while Wes Harrison, recently returned from Australia came 196th and Andy Robbins, continuing his return back from injury came 212th. Our B team were 15th out of all the teams, the second best B team behind only Highgate Harriers and ahead the A teams of many clubs. When combined with our A team, in the 12-to-score competition we were second, behind only Highgate Harriers which is a very good result.



Jolyon Attwooll, on his return to racing after getting married, came 218th, Barney Southin was 226th, Ben Cope (another one in marathon training) was 255th, Jamie Smalley, in his second race of the seaon was 317th, just ahead of Andrew Taylor in 320th while Gavin Edmonds was 345th, leaving our C team in 30th. Craig Martin, another who has just returned from getting married, was 355th, Brent Plump was 361st, Alex Elferink was 389th, Richard Taylor was 393rd, Josh Paparo was 424th, Simon Ray was 445th, Chris Saunders was 474th, Brad Cobb was 488th, Justin Lock was 538th, Paul Fromme was 577th and Mark Palmer was 633rd.



Congratulations also to Serpentine second claimers, Andy Greenleaf (Winchester and District) in 11th, Huw Lobb (Bedford and County) in 57th and Tony Bourne (Horsham Blue Star) in 153rd, just out-sprinted by first claimer Andy Reeves.



The course was extremely hilly but again not very muddy. Many thanks go to Malcolm French who was one of the race officials, Amy Cope who did most of the work organising the trip and the post race celebrations all of the marshalls and officials and people who set up the course. Thanks as always to the Serpentine ladies who cheered us round after their own race had finished and congratulations to them on their very deserved silver medal.

E Phillips

Result queries

If you have any queries about these results please email results@serpentine.org.uk