Archive for Cross Country
Grand Prix & Mob Match: Blackheath and Bromley Open 10k
Posted by Nolan in Cross Country, Grand Prix, Races & Reports on January 16th, 2011
Saturday 15th January 2011 will go down in the record books as the Grand Prix with the highest ever Beckenham turn out with a mighty 41 runners, and almost led to mob match upset. Beckenham took on the establishment, Blackheath and Bromley Harriers at their Open 10k race and gave them a close run contest.
B&B crept over the finishing post with 1366 to Beckenhams 1563. Despite the loss we still gave a good account of ourselves with 6 runners in the top 10. Chris Minns was outsprinted by a youngster in the final straight to claim 2nd place with Jim Addison not far back to finish in 3rd.
Having completed her Dulwich Surrey League duties earlier in the day, everyone’s favourite 2nd claimer Clare Elms made use of her status to bolster the Beckenham score by comfortably finishing as first lady in 10th place.
Thank you to everyone who took part, especially to those who’ve not been running much of late and not feeling particularly racing fit. And to those that just hate running in mud and up hills on a bleak January afternoon.Your efforts were very much appreciated.
Results are now up on their website here
And finally a big thank you to the Bromley and Blackheath Harriers for being such good hosts. It was a great afternoon, but just watch out for us next year!
For various stile hurdle, stepping and falling techniques please click on the photo below. (Thanks Simon for the pictures
Beckenham Running Club 2011
Kent Cross Country Champs
Posted by Nolan in Cross Country on January 9th, 2011
Although as a club we didn’t enter this year (entries had
to be in so early!), there was some Beckenham interest in the race
held at Wilmington. Stuart Scott ran a respectable 48:08 (84th
place) for Kent AC in the 11970m mens race. Clare Elms (2nd claim)
had a good run and won the senior 8050m ladies race in 30:07, 10
seconds ahead of her nearest rival.
South of the Thames XC: Wimbledon
Posted by Nolan in Cross Country, Everything Else on November 29th, 2010
There was also some proper high quality racing going on Saturday. In arctic conditions, Beckenham men just scraped together a mens team and came a respectable 10th out of 29th at the 5.3 miles race around Wimbledon Common. (The results below are incorrect so you’ll have to trust me that we were 10th!)
SOTT Results: Wimbledon, 5.3 Miles
Well done to the scorers Chris Minns, Jim Addison, Nolan Wilkens, Will Withecombe, and also the non scorers Andy Hinds, Mel Burdett and Nicky Howard….
The next race is at Coulsdon on the 18th December a 7.5 mile XC, please email me if you want to run. Nolan.wilkens@yahoo.com.
Kent League Cross Country Race no.3 (Ladies Only)
Posted by Nolan in Cross Country on November 15th, 2010
Beckenham’s ladies were in action over the weekend at Danson Park. 1st in was Mel who finished in 15th, followed by Anika (30th), Helen (32nd), Kate (37th), (Gail 49th) and Nicky (56th). They finished a respectable 4th team on the day and lie 6th overall in the League…… much better than the men (ahem)…. Results
Overall in the individual standings Mel is 3rd in the V35 cat, with Anika in 8th. Can they both claim individual prizes like last year? With one race left, there’s plenty to… er… run for.
V35 league table.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | Jennie Butler | Blackheath & Bromley AC | FV35 | 5096 |
| 2 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 3 | Jane Bradshaw | Blackheath & Bromley AC | FV35 | 5095 |
| 3 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 3 | Melanie Burdett | Beckenham RRC | FV35 | 5030 |
| 4 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 3 | Cara Oliver | Dartford Harriers | FV35 | 5058 |
| 5 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 3 | Bernadette Harrop | Medway & Maidstone AC | FV35 | 5087 |
| 6 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 3 | Sara Elmqvist | Blackheath & Bromley AC | FV35 | 5161 |
| 7 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 3 | Pippa Blackstone | Tonbridge AC | FV45 | 5038 |
| 8 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 3 | Anika Jones | Beckenham RRC | FV35 | 5033 |
| 9 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 3 | Sarah Kenyon | Medway & Maidstone AC | FV35 | 5091 |
| 10 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 3 | Stephanie Wood | Dartford Harriers | FV45 | 5065 |
South of the Thames Cross Country
Posted by Nolan in Cross Country on November 8th, 2010
There are two South of The Thames Cross Country Races coming up over the next couple of months, which are also in the Beckenham Cross Country Grand Prix.
http://www.beckenhamrunning.co.uk/grand-prix-2010
The first is a 5mile race on the 27th November at Wimbledon Common at 2pm for both men and ladies. We have to enter names in advance for this, so please could you email me nolan.wilkens@yahoo.com if you’re interested in running and I’ll put your name down on the entry forms, should only cost £1-2, bargin! But sorry they’ll be no free t-shirts 
I’ll post up more information regarding the 2nd 7 mile race in Coulsdon 18th December nearer the time.
Thanks
Nolan
Cross Country Kent League Race 2.
Posted by Nolan in Cross Country on October 24th, 2010
Out of the 33 who entered for Beckenham only 6 people (and chauffeur Ben) could be mustered for the Kent League on Saturday (come on guys & gals, it wasn’t even muddy!). Fortunately for the ladies team they were bolstered by last minute super sub Clare Elms who finished a brilliant 2nd place in the ladies race, not far behind was Mel in 14th and Anika in 30th. Somewhat outdoing the men that puts them in a crediable 6th place overall after 2 races.
The men with a long absentee list and Reims hangovers struggled along… bolstered by a great run from Stuart who had his highest placing for some time in 49th, and saved by Paul Browning who made up the 4th scorer, Beckenham now sit in 14th place……the only way is up.
Full results are on the Dartford Harriers Website.
From Sparrows Den to Croydon via Petts Wood
Posted by Nolan in Cross Country, Grand Prix on October 10th, 2010
Lots of Beckenham action took place this weekend with Cross Country, Beckenham Grand Prix and title defences all in the space of a hectic 2 days….
So starting with Saturday, the first Kent League Cross Country race got under way with the ladies race, solid performances from Mel (12th), Anika (31st), Gail (43rd) and Nicky gave Beckenham enough points to leave the women in 8th place. Women results
Ben took some photo’s which he might add here at some point. ***Update, apparently Ben’s photography is not as good as his running skills so they came out blurred****
The men’s race followed despite having a weakened team and a few absences because of Sundays grand prix race there was sill a good turn out. After a frenetic first lap Chris Minns had to pull out after tweaking his hamstring leaving Nolan (43rd), Will (66th), Stuart (72) & Ben (80th) as the Beckenham scorer’s, which left us 12th overall. There’s plenty of scope to build on that one at the next race on the 23rd of October. Mens results & Overall team results
Sunday 10/10/10 at 10:10am saw the Croydon 10k and Beckenham’s next Grand Prix fixture, again there were a few absentees (some were saving themselves for a marathon, on holiday, MIA, or were at the 9th best race in the country as voted by runners world!). Craig finished a creditable 10th place in 37:40 (chip?) closely followed by Richard Selway in 38:30 and 13th place. Helen was the first of the ladies, with Gail next in (and first v50?). Croydon Results
And finally, well done to Mel who chose not race to race at Croydon so she could defend her Petts Wood 10k crown. And what a wise move, she only went and won it again! Congratulations, enjoy spending those vouchers….
While it was Williamson vs Selway at Croydon, it was Scott vs Lydon at Petts Wood. Despite Scott running at Sparrows Den the day before while Lydon stood on the sidelines resting up, Stuart managed to carve out a victory over his vet rival by 8 seconds! PW 10K Race Results 2010
Coming soon…. Beckenham does Reims.
Herne Hill 6 mile (or 4.9!) XC
Posted by Nolan in Cross Country, Races & Reports on October 2nd, 2010
Reporting live from Streatham common!
Ken was disappointed that the race was short, so did an extra loop while the rest of us did 4.91 (6 miles was the advertised distance). Ok I’m being nice, he actually got lost!
The course was a hilly park course dominated by Herne Hill (well it was their own race!) well supported by Will who devoured around 700 calories whilst watching…
Results
Nolan: 32:40 (loads of effort required during final lap so not to get chicked!)
Craig: 33:26
Pat 41:54
Ken:46:05…..Inc extra lap at the end!
Edit: Monday 4/10, results are now out 02.10.10 Streatham xc results
Coach Helen’s Race Report: Switchback 5
Posted by Nolan in Beckenham Photo's, Cross Country, Races & Reports on September 27th, 2010
An elite team of 2 Beckenham Runners took part in the Switchback 5 on Sunday. The race, organised by Striders of Croydon, is an undulating off road 5 miler advertised as a warm up for the cross country season. Jim finished an excellent 2nd place despite being his third race in three days. In my first non track race since pulling my hamstring at the Eltham 5, I finished much further down the field! (10th Lady in 37:09) I’ve walked round Addington Hills before but I didn’t appreciate how up and down the hills are or how steep. As I stumbled up the last one to the viewing platform, I made a mental note to schedule some hill training sessions before cross country season properly underway.
More hill training required!
The race was probably the best value I’ve entered – free t-shirt, tea and home made cake all for four pounds! It’s also very close to Beckenham, on Sunday morning roads it only took me 6 minutes to drive there. Definitely a race we should consider including in the Grand Prix for next year.
P.S. There were 3 Beckenham runners but one was running in his 2nd claim vest so doesn’t get a mention! (see below post!)
Helen Garrett.
If anyone else wants to write up a brief report on there racing then please feel free, you can either email me nolan.wilkens@yahoo.com or if you can work it out yourself you could always post up your own.
Will Bolton Relay
Posted by Nolan in Cross Country on September 19th, 2010
Posted by Jim
Results are up for the Will Bolton Relay
Well done everyone. Great to get 5 teams out and to do well compared to last couple of years. Out of 54 teams the mens teams 7th (only beaten by Tonbridge A-D and BandB AandB) and 18th and 38th and the women’s teams 45th and 51st (9th and 14th out of 15 women’s teams).
Looking at the last couple of years each of, Chris L, Ben, Stuart, Gail, me all did a minute quicker than our last outing.
Edit: It should also be noted that mens A team beat a fair number of other clubs A teams, and also well done to Hazel and Rachel who lost their cross county cherry.
