Middlesex Championships – Saturday 7th January 2017
Where to start with our Fab 14 at the Middlesex reports Donna Nash
Headline has to be Gemma Barry’s individual 3rd place completing the course in 30:26. Gemma has been invited to represent Middlesex at the inter county Championships. Strong, determined run from Gemma who judged the race perfectly and has put in amazing performances at all races for Hillingdon – making Gerry Archer a very proud coach. She said she really enjoyed the course – although was slightly surprised that it wasn’t as ‘flat’ as the map suggested and this was her first experience of the infamous ‘ski slope’!
It was a close run result whether Hillingdon A team were to achieve gold or silver award and for those that may not have been on FB on the day, the colour was GOLD! This was thanks to the 3 following Gemma across the finish line:
Ciara Williams – 9th place in 32:59. Fantastic progress from last year’s appearance at the Championships at Wormwood Scrubs when she made the top 20.
Hannah Wells – 10th place in 33:09. Same position as last year’s Championships but 41 seconds quicker on arguably the more challenging course.
& Kate Shockley, (in Olivia Janke’s spikes!) inside the top 20 at 18th in 33:59.
I was very proud to stand in for Kate to accept her medal
News of our other 10 competitors:
‘B’ Team comprised Karmen Pardoe (24th in 34:36 and running despite recent op in the week to have a wisdom tooth removed); Zoe Dobbs – literally flew across the finish line in 39th place (37:19) and whilst our main concern was Zoe’s health, the first question was whether she had crossed the finish line before falling; next came Alex Longton (40th in 37:26) and who managed a little extra distance having taken a wrong turn. A welcome return to racing for Alex who suffered injury at the start of the season. Mel completed the B team in 52nd place in 38:50 (marshals at the top of the ski slope may still be reeling from Mel’s ‘Death Stares’).
‘C’ Team comprised Lesley Conway (59th in 40:02), Pauline Fischer (60th for Angela Duncan in 40:14) Lucy Duncan (63rd in 42:04) and Boo Smith (74th in 44:17) who also put in that ‘extra ‘mile – in the wrong direction.
Lyndsey Browne and Christina Benjamin finished 79th and 80th in 46:29 and 46:46 respectively – working well together.
A truly fantastic performance from everybody and top team spirit as ever.
Well WELL done