Muddy Good Fun: Cross Country at Alice Holt
Alton Runners put in a strong performance at the second fixture of the Southern Cross Country League (SCCL) season on Sunday, 23rd November, facing off against over 500 competitors in the challenging terrain of Alice Holt Forest.
The event, which was the second of six races in the SCCL calendar, saw 21 clubs from across Hampshire and the South of England—including Alton Runners—converge on the beautiful 247-hectare royal forest near Farnham, which is also part of the South Downs National Park.
Despite a late venue change, the race was superbly organised by Farnham Runners, with support from all member clubs. Conditions were perfect for cross-country; the overnight rain had cleared by the start, leaving the five-mile, undulating course wonderfully muddy and slippery in places.
Alton Runners were incredibly well-represented, fielding a fantastic team of 43 runners, including two runners making their club debut! The supportive atmosphere was noted by all, with finishing runners lining the straight to cheer on their teammates still on the course.
New club runner, Caroline Bartholomew, commented on the supportive atmosphere: "It was my first run for the Club, and even though I am not an experienced runner, I felt really welcomed and encouraged by the other club members to take part. It turned out to be a lovely sunny day and not as much mud as I was expecting."
Alton Runners’ Cross Country Captain, Benny Roddis, praised the effort: "Fantastic Alton Runners turnout for today’s cross country. An especially muddy course following this week’s weather!"
The club's eight scoring runners (four male, four female) delivered excellent results. Leading the way was James Perrett, who finished a brilliant 12th overall. He was backed up by men's scorers Alex Hall, Steve Drydale, and Christian Coles. The women's scoring team consisted of Samara Kelleher-Jacobs, Debbie Rhodes, Wendy Kilner-Smith, and Nicola Fitzpatrick.
Provisional results from the Alice Holt race show an improvement for Alton Runners. The men's team finished 6th on the day, and the women's team finished 9th. This combined for a joint 7th place finish overall for the fixture. Going into the weekend, the club was placed 9th in the league, and the improved team performance is hoped to propel them up the overall league table once results are officially updated.
A special note of thanks goes to Lola Powell and Xavier Ibbs. Although they were unable to compete due to new age limits, they still turned up on the day to provide support and carry out essential club race results admin.
The SCCL season continues on Sunday, 21st December, at Lord Wandsworth College in Long Sutton.