Opening Statement

The Senior Men's team laid down the gauntlet in Richmond Park last Saturday (16 October) with a decisive victory in the first match of the Surrey Cross Country League, winning by 164 points over Belgrave (319), with current League Champions Kent in third place on 345 points. Eight of the scoring ten packed into the top twenty; while the B team were also winners, again over Belgrave and Kent.

With the men's and women's opening matches taking place at the same venue, the Club showed strength across the board as the U13 Girls also won their match, the U17 Women were second in their competition and the U15 Girls and U13 Boys were third. The Senior Women's team, something of a work in progress as the Club's talented teenagers settle into the senior team, finished in ninth place, led home by W40, Claire Grima.

Whereas the U15 Girls and U17 Women run together but score separately, in the Men's League these two age groups are combined, so while the U15 Boys scored highly enough to have finished fourth, only one U17 – big shout out to Isaac Lutaya – turned out, meaning that the combined team finished in seventh.

First home for HW in the Senior Men's race over the two-lap course (approximately. 8.3K) was Charlie Eastaugh, who finished a fabulous fourth in 26:11, only 14 seconds behind Belgrave's second-claim winner, Dylan Evans; while Tom Jervis underlined his current formidable form, coming home in 6th in 26:25. Alex Robinson, on the comeback trail, was 9th in 26:34, followed by the superhuman M40 Richard McDowell, who finished in 10th, less a fortnight after crossing the finishing line of the London Marathon in 2:23:06. Andrew Penney who, like Alex Robinson, has pushed and persisted to get back in contention following injury, was rewarded with 12th place in 26:39. Team Captain Fred Slemeck was hot on his heels, finishing in 13th in 26:42. Oli Carrington (26:55) finished 18th and George Mallett 19th in 26:57, with Alex Milne, following illness and a determined run in the London Marathon, coming home in 27th in 27:27 (great symmetry!). Herc warrior-in-chief, Finn Johnson (28:27) – another who has been busily battling injury – delighted himself and his team-mates by finishing tenth scorer in 46th position.

Success in this league is all about strength in depth and underlining just how far this HW squad has come under coaches Ben Noad and Keith Scofield, Joe Toomey, the first man in for the B team, was only 12 seconds behind Finn in 28:39. He was followed by Jack Bibbings (28:52), Sam Todd (29:09), Jamie Bannister (29:19), and M40 Simon Wade (30:00). Richard Jones and Dave Grima, M40 – another who ran the London Marathon – finished in 30:34 and 30:40 respectively. Andrew Merry followed in 30:54, M35 and former team captain Rob Tuer clocked 32:06, and U20 Ed Newton, making his debut for the senior team, completed the scoring team in 32:10.

Above: Charlie Eastaugh leading the HW charge. Photograph by Faye Lynam.

'I was really proud to lead the team home on Saturday', says Charlie Eastaugh, who has enjoyed a great series of PBs on road and track this year, but has always insisted that he doesn't like cross country! 'A storming performance and an extremely big win (possibly even better than back in 2018 when we won the league?). Personal highlights', he says, 'were the return of Alex Robinson to the scoring 10 and Finn Johnson fighting his way into that team after a long return from injury.'

So has the achievement changed his mind about cross country? 'I’m still far from converted', he admits, 'but pleased with my performance, so I'm considering my options going forward! I really never thought I’d be as close as 14 seconds behind the winner in a Surrey League race but was inspired by Ben Toomer’s marathon prep and wisdom to go hard (and then go home) — paraphrased!'

Below: Richard McDowell, Alex Robinson and Tom Jervis

Tom Jervis's form has continued to build and build over the last few weeks – first a 5K PB of 14:39 set in Battersea Park on 16 September, followed by the fastest HW leg at the National Road Relays on 9 October, and now 6th place in the Surrey Cross Country League. 'I have really surprised myself with my runs' he says, 'but maybe it is a case of happiness with my set-up that has bought me the consistency I have desperately needed.

'The squad success is less of a surprise', he stresses. 'In the past 24 months the coaches have put a huge amount of effort into sessions in a difficult time; we have brought quality and depth into the squad; and created a real camaraderie in which each individual’s momentum has propelled the team.

'I think if members old and new continue to support and learn from each other, and there are big turnouts for sessions and runs, big successes are just around the corner. It is a very exciting time to be a Herc member!'

Below: always an impressive sight. Over 240 athletes line up at the start of the Senior Men's Race in Richmond Park.

Below left: Finn Johnson pushing towards a hugely popular finish in the scoring ten; and right: strength in depth is what this league is all about (photo: Faye Lynam).

Above: the Senior Women's team is aiming to combine experience and youth.

Above: The U13 Girls not only won their match, with first athlete home, Ava McAndie, finishing second, but were able to field three scoring teams. Below: the U17 Women finished second, with the U15 Girls third.

Below: the U15B and U17M race. Photographs by Maarten D'Haese

Below: The U13 Boys kicked off their season with third place in their match, led home by Sam Dyson, who also finished third.