opportunity for Esther to demonstrate her good form by winning the race. With Anna in third,
the team was completed by a strongly running Jenny Turner and the most dedicated of
our runners, Natasha.
Despite now having two young boys to look after, Natasha hardly missed a race and even managed
to bake cake for us on several occasions. She was again in action in the London Championships,
taking place as usual on our home course on Parliament Hill.
For the second consecutive year, this race was run in combination with the Southern Women's
Intercounties Championships. Unfortunately - due to the fact that some runners competed in
the Intercounties as well as London competition, complicated by the different age groups that
had to be considered - the organisers were unable to provide individual results for the London
Championships. While our team was beaten into second by a very strong Havering and Mayesbrook team,
I was eventually awarded the medal for first London veteran for what turned out to be my
strongest performance of the season.
After Christmas, the season continued with the Middlesex Championships on a tough course in
Trent Park. After a few short-notice cancellations due to injury or illness, we just about
managed to scrape the four required women for the team together. By now being almost un-stoppable,
Esther took the Middlesex title for the first time and the team came second behind Hillingdon.
Still struggling to activate some of our top runners, we were beaten again by Garden City Runners
in the Metropolitan League race on Horsenden Hill. However, thanks to the effort of all of
those who ran, including ex middle-distance runner Rhonda Munnik, who ran her longest cross country
race ever, we didn't lose too many points before the vital, final league race.
All's well that ends well
By the time the South of England
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Championships were held, persistent rain had turned the Parliament
course into the famous mud bath that runners either hate or love. Esther, who is one of those who
usually hate the course, coped surprisingly well, taking 12th place in a very strong women's field.
While Anna and I did not exactly enjoy the race, we managed to get around in one piece, closely
followed by Jo, who somehow manages to run through the mud without spikes. Anne, meanwhile,
who had lost some fitness due to illness, discovered that she really does not enjoy sliding up
and down steep hills in ankle-deep mud. Overall the team did quite well and we hoped for bronze.
Unfortunately, the high quality of the competition meant that we only came fifth, but we beat
Garden City Runners on this occasion, demonstrating that our performance as a team was certainly
improving.
Having to gain 40 points over Garden City Runners to win the Metropolitan League title, we knew
that the last league race had to be a major team effort. Looking around at the start line to
check out our rivals' team, it became clear that Garden City were keen to win. However,
I had always believed that we could beat them if only we could motivate most of our good
runners to race. Fortunately, Svenja decided after long injury that she would have a go.
While Esther never looked in danger of conceding her leading position, Svenja - despite having
done hardly any training - bravely battled on to second place. With Anna 4th, Kate 6th, Anne
7th and Jo 10th, all of Highgate's scoring six finished in the top ten and, as a result, we beat
Garden City Runners quite convincingly in the overall team competition. For the first time,
we also won the veteran's league title. Whether this is a good or bad omen is debatable;
sometimes our team now entirely consists of veterans and some young blood is urgently required.
continues on next page ...
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Saningo Martyn, as an under 20 runner, comfortably won the North of Thames cross country
Championships on the 17th of November at Kingsbury. Henry Dodwell won the Fraternity Cup race
on the 1st of December and on the 8th of December Highgate Harriers had a field day at Parliament
Hill Fields, taking first and second place with their 4 to score teams (Henry Dodwell,
Saningo Martyn, Glen Saqui, Johnny Henderson, Chris Beecham, Ryan McKinlay, Dale Bickham
and Tasmanian Chris Chapman).
