Women’s report

The women’s team was out in force on Wednesday 17 May for the first instalment of this year’s Midweek League races. Not wanting to ease us in gently, we started off with one of the tougher courses at Chingford (does That Hill ever get any easier?!).

Kat Alpe stormed round to make it 5th lady overall and first TP lady home. She was followed by Cara Huckstep (11th), Anja Greenwood (12th), Poppy Allwright (24th and first U20 – what a run!), Emily Clarke (25th), Claire Goldfinch (34th), Emily Jeanes (49th and brilliant to see her back running!), and Sue Thomas (71st) to complete the scoring team.

Our scorers were supported brilliantly by Francesca Bull, Foulla Green, Sarah De Los Rios, Rachel Walker, Sue Cross, Celine Ledbury, Nancy O’Mahoney, Kristina Petrou, Christine Hawker, Deana Lawla, Julie Mimnagh, Ann Marie John, Jo Allen and Michele Watters. For a team who has got used to easily winning the women’s league in the last few years, our overall standings after the first race in 5th place overall and 4th place for the Vets seems a bit alien. But it is still all to play for, and I’m sure the best is yet to come for all our runners.

Men’s report

The 2023 Midweek League season kicked off with the challenging course at Chingford in Epping Forest. We ended up with 43 men running which is great but still well short of the numbers who were taking part pre-pandemic. The competition looks even stronger this year and we will have to really step up to challenge for titles.

Our team was not significantly below par in spite of missing Dougal and Alessio. Our scoring team was Jimmy Barber, Matt Hogsden, Charlie Bruce, Ben Allen, Jim Arrowsmith, Scott Aiken, Francis Mannion, Ethan Jackson, Carl Redondo, Will Rowley, Ed Rios and Paul Brennan. The team finished 4th just pipping North Herts. The vets team made up of Charlie, Jim, Scott, Carl and Ed finished 2nd behind North Herts. Special mention to our Under 20s – Ethan, Ben Halstead and Max Kercher and also Poppy Allwright for the women. All 43 of our men did well but we need many more for the 31st at St Albans and we need to go smash it.

Thanks to everyone who ran!

Emily Clarke & Chas Taylor