Medals for the Girls at Guildford

The Club’s youngsters were among the medallists for the second successive year in the Surrey County Bruce Judd Junior Relays at Guildford’s Stoke Park last Saturday (October 27th).

The U13 Girls team took the bronze medals while the U15 Girls just missed out, finishing in fourth place. In the U13 relay Ore Adewale came in 12th at the end of the first leg in 8:37, handing over to Lauren Armitage who ran a superb second leg in 8:29 to lift the team to fourth place. On the final leg Bailey O’Leary gained a further place in 8:49 to secure the bronze medals.

Ellen Weir got the U15 team off to a good start handing over in second position at the end of the first leg in 7:51, the fifth fastest time of the day. Millie Doyle finished the second leg in third place in 8:29, and despite clocking 8:05 on the anchor stage, Georgie Clarke was overtaken by the Aldershot, Farnham & District runner who finished 17 seconds ahead.

The U17 team saw the return after a six months’ absence of Madeleine Orenstein who finished 10th on the opening leg in 9:25. Georgia Hanley, making her debut in the event, clocked 9:18 to hang onto 10th spot before Selma Hegvold lifted the team to sixth place with a fine 8:27 anchor leg.

HW javelin and discus coach John Webster was in action in a throwing pentathlon competition at Ewell Court where he won the M75 category with 2382 points. He threw the hammer 26.48m, the discus 17.77m, the javelin 21.80m, the heavy weight 9.31m and the shot 5.88m. “I was short of practice and a bit below par after a walking holiday in Greece,” confesses John.

Tom calls time on Surrey Chairmanship

Tom Pollak, one of HW's longest-serving members and the Club's Press and Publicity Officer, has stepped down after almost 10 years as Chairman of the Surrey County Athletics Association (prior to his Chairmanship he was Surrey President). He hands over to Frances Ratchford of Ranelagh Harriers and St. Mary's Richmond, whom many HW will know well as in her role as an official she has been a loyal supporter of events staged at Wimbledon Park.

Former Wimbledon AC athlete Tom (pictured right at the 2012 London Olympics), was a founder member of Hercules Wimbledon AC when Wimbledon AC and Hercules AC merged in September 1967. He has sat on the Surrey committee since 1997 when he first organised the annual County Road Relay Championships at Wimbledon Park. He continued to organise this event until the management was taken over by the County Association.

'Surrey is one of the top counties for athletics and being President and Chairman gave me a great insight into the enormous effort that is put in by a whole army of people to deliver our sport for the many athletes that are involved in it', he says.' One event which stands out for me is Sportshall. The noise and the enthusiasm of the youngsters taking part is something to experience – ear muffs are recommended! I hope HW soon returns to competing in this competition which is staged in Guildford. It’s great fun and the boys and girls taking part clearly enjoy the experience.' 

RESULTS

Bruce Judd Young Athletes' Relays (inc Surrey County Championships)

U13 Girls: 1. Guildford & Godalming; 2. Epsom & Ewell; 3. Hercules Wimbledon   

U15 Girls: 1. Herne Hill Harriers; 2. Guildford & Godalming; 3. Aldershot Farnham & District; 4. Hercules Wimbledon  

U17 Women: 1. Guildford & Godalming; 2. Walton; 3. Camberley & District;  6. Hercules Wimbledon  

Full results    Power of Ten

Parkrun

A week after competing in the Amsterdam Marathon with husband David, Claire Grima warmed down by running with their young son Jasper in the Wimbledon Common 5km parkrun last Saturday. “We are just about recovered from Amsterdam and pottering around the parkrun with Jasper was good fun,” she said. Claire and Jasper were among 16 HW runners in action on the Common. Best of the bunch was teenager Henry Silverstein who was second of the 521 runners in 17:30. Lisa Thomas was second women’s finisher in 21:13.

Elsewhere, Jonny Cornish headed home a 337-strong field on his debut appearance in Swansea Bay in 15:56 and Gina Galbraith was top woman finisher in Chichester in a pb of 19:17.