Cross-Country Results
                    2007/2008

Sat 29 Mar

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

A course best for John, shaving 14s off his previous best.

Sat 22 Mar

Compton 20/40 Mile Challenge

Results Index   Full Results

Andy reports: "Allan and I set off for the 12th Compton 40 Mile Challenge, in Berkshire, in a snow storm. Thankfully that only lasted for the first four miles; then it was sleet, wind, drizzle, rain, more snow, hail and sun (for a couple of minutes). The weather got worse during the second half!

Allan had the Tough Challenge from last Sunday still in his legs and did not a have a good time over the hills and through the mud. He was not helped by a fall, when he tripped over a secret mole hill after 12 miles. He wisely took the decision to just do the half distance and so completed the 20 mile route in 3 hours and 51 minutes.

I carried on into a real blizzard on top of the hills. Unfortunately the route was marked with white flour, which was great until the snow started to lay and make following the route somewhat difficult. I finished in 6 hours and 55 minutes.

Allan was disappointed not to receive a medal, but did get a hat and a cream egg instead!

A good course, undulating with a few hills, quite scenic. Well marshalled with 8 drinks stations with food, tea and coffee. A good event and one for the diary. In good weather, this would be a really good race."

Sat 22 Mar

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Sun 16 Mar

Wendover Woods Marathon

Results Index

Allan reports: "On Sunday morning Andy Stalley, Steve Cooney, Melanie Johnstone and Allan Rumbles took on what is claimed to be Britain’s toughest marathon in Aylesbury. The 26.2-mile course is set over 21 laps of Wendover Woods.

During the race the four runners were met by a 6000ft climb and 6000ft descent, which is situated in the middle of the course. This monster climb is lovingly referred to as “The Hill”. With the recent rain the conditions started out terribly and just got steadily worse as the event went on & more rain fell. The Hill got so muddy that the organisers had to put out 3 ropes just so that the competitors could get up it!

With the worsening conditions Andy had to withdraw after 5 laps when he turned his ankle following an attack by an errant squirrel! The other 3 went on to complete the course with Melanie taking 2 tumbles & Allan falling down one of the smaller slopes on the course cutting his leg on some stones. Steve had a good race finishing in the respectable time of 5hrs 5mins, Allan followed him in with a time of 5hrs 47mins and Mel came home with a time of 5hrs 59mins winning a trophy as the first lady.

Mel has now won the first lady prize in both Wendover Woods & The Picnic, two events that both claim to be Britain’s hardest marathons, so that is quite an achievement."

Sat 15 Mar

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Andy did a course best by 15s, and John by 4s. 101 ran.

Sun 9 Mar

Leith Hill Half

Results Index

Sat 8 Mar

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Steve ran a course best by 6s, and John by 34s. Rachel, Andrea and Katharine were all making their course debut. Chris FitzGerald was also present, cheering on all in his usual vociferous style. 120 ran.

Sun 2 Feb

Steyning Stinger

Results Index   Full Results

Andy reports: "A lovely day for the Steyning Stinger; gone was the mud, torrential rain, gales and mud of last year. Sun and nicely warm, but still very windy on top of the Downs.

Steve made off into the distance early on as usual, with me trailing behind. Allan and Mel, started together and split up after about 6 miles, with Allan forging ahead. Mel was sporting a huge bandage on her injured finger from an industrial accident at work. An A&E visit was required and a sling worn initially. Unable to train all week, she wins the bravery award for competing.

Much to my surprise and Steve's, I caught up with him and went ahead after about 14 1/2 miles. More surprisingly, I stayed ahead. With the threat of Steve's legendary downhill ability, I decided to do the last downhill with my eyes closed to stay ahead.

I was first home in 3.41.00, an off-road marathon PB by 20.37, in officially 9th! I had said to Steve that I had a good run in me this year, but I did not expect it to be today! Steve cruised home in 3.48.42 (11th), Allan in 4.31.29 (58th) and Mel in 4.58.47 (92nd). 114 finished.

Allan was disappointed not to receive a medal and was threatening to drill a hole in his memento, a shot glass, to wear it as a medal."

Sat 1 Mar

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Dave beat his course best by 35s, and Andy by 2s. John celebrated his recent retirement with his first appearance in the race. 105 ran.

Sat 23 Feb

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Another course best for Steve. 127 ran.

Sat 16 Feb

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Also running was hopefully soon to be member, Lisa Shennan 87th in 30:24

Sun 10 Feb

Punchbowl Marathon

Results Index   Full Results

Andy reports: "On the 2nd February 2003, Mel ran her first marathon at the Punchbowl, in a time of 8:41, in muddy conditions. Five years later .......
Mel set out in chilly & frosty conditions this morning on route to her 50th marathon, in Witley, accompanied by Steve and I; The 40th Punchbowl Marathon. Conditions improved quickly into a lovely bright and warm day, with no wind. Conditions under foot were also excellent, with only the odd wet patch, around a scenic and undulating course. We passed Rob, Tom and Doug, who must have started with the walkers. Five minutes later, we passed them again having taken a short detour to inspect a lovely farm yard; OK we took a wrong turn!

In the best Collingwood tradition, I took Mel and Steve down two other slightly wrong paths, to make the finished distance 30.66 miles, instead of the official 30 miles. Given Steve's recent races, this was a result. They got their revenge; Steve trapped my foot under a kissing gate, Mel hit me in the head with a branch and Steve hit me in the leg with a holly branch!

Mel arrived in style at the finish in 5 hours and 44 minutes, with Steve and I still in support. Allan who unfortunately missed the run, was at the finish to greet Mel with a bottle of champagne! The champers went down well with the beans on toast at the finish.

Another great LDWA event; tea and biscuits before the start; four checkpoints with drinks and food; meal and drinks at the finish; with a certificate; all for £5.50.

Top marks to Mel, who can now be an official "wannabee" member of the 100 Club.

Rob, Tom and Doug had yet to finish when we left."

Sat 9 Feb

Surrey League XC - Fix 4 - Wimbledon Common

Results Index   Full Results

Division IV
Match Points: Full On Tri 117, 2 Holland 277, 3 Collingwood 334, 4 Haslemere Border 358.5, 5 Waverly 460, 6 Lingfield 435.5, 7 Dulwich Park 503

Final standings: 1 Full On Tri 409, 2 Holland 957, 3 Haslemere Border 1335, 4 Collingwood 1642.5, 5 Lingfield 1720, 6 Waverly 1800, 7 Dulwich Park 2076.5

Collingwood managed to move up a place ahead of Lingfield in the final fixture.

Sat 9 Feb

Surrey Ladies League XC - Fix 4 - Richmond Pk

Results Index   Results

Unfortunately we had no ladies running in the final fixture. The final table had Woking in 1st, Sutton Runners in 2nd, Collingwood A in 27th (3 fixtures), and Collingwood B bringing up the rear in 42nd (1 fixture).

Sat 9 Feb

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

The spring-like conditions obviously suited all as Steve ran a course best by 11 sec, Andy by 14 sec, and Ruth equalled her best. Lisa Shennan who's been training with the club recently and will hopefully soon be joining ran 29:13, a course best by 74 sec.115 ran.

Sat 2 Feb

East Surrey League - Wimbledon Common Relay

Results Index   Individual Results   Team Results
4 x 1.87 miles. * Keith ran 11:51, but was given 10:52 in the official results.

Sat 2 Feb

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

It seems conditions were favourable this morning as Steve, Andy, and Graham all did course bests.

Sun 27 Jan

The Perch

Results Index   Full Results

Sat 26 Jan

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Sat 19 Jan

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Sun 13 Jan

Winter Tanners

Results Index

Andy reports: "Four Collingwood runners set off for today's Winter Tanners, which was officially 30.2 miles around Leatherhead. The route was amended due to flooding in two places, which was not surprising given the mud, water, mud, puddles and mud on the course. I forgot to mention earlier, it was really muddy. Not sure that I'll ever be able to clean the mud out of my socks again and I am not looking forward to cleaning my shoesthis evening!

Anyway, Mel, Steve, Allan and I set out together and took the customary Collingwood detour off the prescribed route; so what's half a mile extra! I must stress that we were never lost, however we might not have been sure where the correct route was.

After that Mel and Steve made off into the distance, with only a couple of very minor detours to finish in 6.51, with Steve's Garmin showing 31.85 miles. Why they ran so quickly puzzled Allan and I, as Allan was driving and had his car keys on him.

Allan (who was running his first marathon since Loch Ness, with little training and the cross-country in his legs from yesterday) and I took a more leisurely 7.18. I'm not sure of our actual distance, as I managed to turn my Garmin off for 48 minutes in the middle of the run and therefore the readings are incomplete.

Steve and I completed our triple, Banstead Woods Time Trial, Lloyd Park Cross-Country and Winter Tanners. Steve easily beat me in all three!

£2.50 for three checkpoints with drinks and biscuits, the route description, with results and certificate being posted in the week. Great value and a really good event."

Sat 12 Jan

Men's Surrey League XC - Lloyd Park

Results Index   Senior Results  Juniors + Table

Sat 12 Jan

Ladies' Surrey League XC - Reigate Priory

Results Index   Full Provisional Results

Sat 12 Jan

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Sat 5 Jan

Surrey County XC Champs Men (12 Km)

Results Index   Full Results

Sat 5 Jan

Surrey County XC Champs Ladies (8 Km)

Results Index   Full Results

Sat 5 Jan

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Tue 1 Jan

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Sat 29 Dec

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Sat 25 Dec

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Sat 22 Dec

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Sat 15 Dec

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Welcome to Ben and well done on the race win. We thought you'd do well at Banstead but not quite that well. Ben started fast and lead from the front all the way.

Sat 8 Dec

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Sat 1 Dec

The Pirie

Results Index   Full Results

Sat 24 Nov

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Sat 17 Nov

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Sat 10 Nov

Five To Go

Results Index   Full Results

Andy reports: "Four Collingwood Runners (Doug, Rob, Steve, Gill and I) arrived in Stanstead St Margarets, Ware, Hertfordshire for the first running of this race. Next year it will be the Four2Go, as the title indicates the countdown to the 2012 Olympics. A point-to-point run along the towpaths of the River Lea, that goes close to the Olympic Stadium site apparently.

At the start, Rob was seen kissing one young female Plumstead Runner and cuddling another! He did break off his threesome, to collect a 1p coin off the floor; priorities seem wrong to me somehow! The race had two laps of a sports field before going out on to the River Lea. It is almost completely flat, some tarmac, but mostly gravel towpaths, with some grass at the end with a lap of part of Hackney Marsh. An easy course as trail marathons go, as it was flat, conditions under foot were good and there were no gates or stiles to negotiate.

Steve disappeared into the distance to finish in a speedy 3.22, an off-road marathon PB by a big distance. I took it steady, having still got a calf strain, to finish in 3.43, which was still an off-road marathon PB by a distance. Next Collingwooder to arrive at the finish was Gill Stalley (my wife), who will not appear in the results as she used our car, but provided extra drinks en route and cut out all the hassle with travelling from end-to-end of a point-to-point run . Rob and Doug were still on the course when we left.

Goody bag contained a medal and a teddy bear! Nice run, not as scenic as you would think, but still a nice race and close to a road marathon in difficulty."

Sat 10 Nov

Ladies' Surrey League XC - Fixture 2 - Cranford

Results Index  Full Results  Tables

Sat 10 Nov

Men's Surrey League XC - Fixture 2 - Cranford

Results Index

Sun 4 Nov

The Hellrunner

Results Index  Full Results

Mel reports: "After running 5 marathons in 5 weeks Steve and I decided to take a rest by running the Hellrunner. This is a trail course on Longmoor Army Camp, between 10-12 miles - no one knows exactly. We were not too concerned as we had, along with Martin and Allan done it last year.
The first couple of miles were very undulating through the woods, then the reality hit - they had changed the course from last year, there were more water hazards to go through, more hills more mud, etc, etc. It turned out that Steve must be more of a devil than me as he left me at the first huge hill. After several more ups and downs we approached the Bog of Doom, which is a waist-high bog full of god knows what, it did smell quite bad. This was soon followed by a very steep down hill - so steep I had to slide down on my backside (my very large bum (bag) helped me here), straight into a very deep trench which was over my waist high. Steve must have snorkelled this as he must have been under water. Then came the up and down, up and down and up and down of the Hills of Hell (hills of sand banks), then just to ensure you were wet and muddy enough, another deep trench just before the end.
It was a very good day, great fun, we both really enjoyed it. Steve goes to hell first in 1 hour 29 min and Mel less of a Devil in 1 hour 45 min. We got lovely t-shirts at the end and a very good mud bath."

Sat 27 Oct

Beachy Head Marathon

Results Index

Andy reports: "Four Collingwood members set out on the challenging Beachy Head Marathon. Steve, Mel and Andy (AKA Allan) timed their arrival to perfection, jumping the barriers into the start area with a whole ten seconds to go before the start, after a mile uphill walk from the nearest parking space!
Rob was away fastest, only to be overtaken on the first hill, which is about 20 yards after the start. He may have been tired after staying in Eastbourne for a dirty weekend. (For the gossip-mongers, he took Gloria). Back to the race: good conditions, nice and cool, with a very gentle breeze and dry underfoot.
A series of long hills and shorter sharper ones making it one of the more challenging off-road marathons around. Steve struck out well and raced to an excellent 3.57 finish. Andy under instructions from Allan to finish in under 4.10, achieved the objective in 4.07, without injuring Allan's knee. Mel worked steadily to finish in a strong 4.43. Rob was hoping for 6 hours but had not finished by the time we left.
Good race, but not an easy one, especially the Seven Sisters and Beachy Head."

Sat 27 Oct

East Surrey League - Lloyd Park XC - 5 miles

Results Index

Sun 21 Oct

Founders Marathon

Results Index

Mel reports: "Not such a good turn out for Collingwood as last year, however the weather was certainly better. Mel, Steve, Sndy and Ruth all ran round together, and finished in 6 hours 4 min. We had to follow a set of directions to get from one checkpoint to another, then on to the finish. After about five miles when Andy stopped to pull up his trousers again, which kept falling down (not all the way), he noticed he had lost his car key. He said he had never seen such a worried look on Mel's face. Luckily he looked down and there was his key!

We didn't get lost this time, but there were a few times where we took a wrong turning, realised and ran back again. This was due to alterations on the directions because of the foot and mouth disease restrictions.

Rob and Tom also claim not to have got lost, but who knows? Rob could have fought off the farmers with the walking stick he took along with him (to help him up the hills).

Food at the end and on all checkpoints was brilliant and was well worth the £7 entry fee. The flapjacks were almost as good as Steve's sister's!

Sat 20 Oct

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Andy edges his best time down by another 5s.

Sat 13 Oct

Mens' Surrey League XC - Fixture 1 - Epsom Downs

Results Index   Full Results

Collingwood was in 5th place with 439 pts. The fixture was won by new club Ful-On-Tri who had their first 10 home in the first 15.

Sat 13 Oct

Ladies' Surrey League XC - Fixture 1 - West End Common

Results Index

A hilly introduction to the XC season, and welcome to our two new members Katharine and Imogen.
Our first team of 5 was 16th and the remaining team of 2 was 31st of 35 (after corrections to the official results).

Sat 13 Oct

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Sat 6 Oct

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Sun 30 Sep

Great Clarendon Marathon

Results Index   Full Results

Sat 29 Sep

Ultra 30

Results Index   Full Results

Sat 29 Sep

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Sun 23 Sep

South London Orienteering & Wayfarers - Richmond Park

Results Index 

Andy reports: "Tom and I took part in the South London Orienteers and Wayfarers event on Sunday. It was an orienteering half marathon in and around Richmond Park, where you are given two large maps to find your way to 16 checkpoints, where you register with a electronic key. A field of 100 set off, with me following a group who looked like they could read a map!
All was going well until a public park just outside of Richmond Park, when the runner in front started descending at speed through bushes and flower beds! So, as not to lose him and a pathfinder, I followed out on to the Thames Towpath. When I caught up with him, he explained that he was Italian and not in the race! He had seen people running and decided to join in to make his long run more enjoyable! Luckily he was still on the route! My Garmin, showed it was exactly half distance, not sure how far Tom ran!"

Sun 23 Sep

Switchback 5

Results Index 

Ben reports: "Just for the record I did the Switchback 5 today in 36min 12 secs. It was warm out there today and those hills are the same as ever! Was joined by John Allen - not sure what his time was."

Sat 22 Sep

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Sat 15 Sep

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Sun 9 Sep

The Grizzly

Road Results Index   Full Results

Bob reports: "Just to let you know, just completed the Grizzly run in devon. It was definitely the hardest run I've done, taking in beaches, rivers, bogs and the odd hill or six."

Sat 8 Sep

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Andy reports: "Kate & Nicola ran their first BWTT. This was Nicola's first individual race (only done the relay before), worthy of a mention in the papers, as she ran very well and was the second lady. She finished strongly and clearly is going to run quicker in the near future."

Andy beat his course best by 2s and Chris by 24s. 66 ran.

Sat 1 Sep

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

A 19s improvement for Andy this week. 93 ran.

Sat 25 Aug

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Sat 18 Aug

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

93 ran

Sat 12 Aug

5-4-3-2-1

Results Index   Full Results

Andy reports: "Mel, Steve and I set off on the multi-terrain Salisbury 5-4-3-2-1 Marathon this morning; 5 Rivers, 4 Hills, 3 Large Country Estates, 2 Castles and 1 Cathedral. We met a Robin Wilson before the start, who was part of a Sutton Runners Weekend Away in Salisbury, obviously tired of the Trail Runners Association that he allegedly ran for at the Downland 30. Said Robin Wilson was not seen again until the 9 mile mark, when we passed him! Strangely he seemed to be carrying a carrier bag of personal possessions.
Back to the run - which was actually 27 miles long, run in mixed weather conditions, one shower, some sun, mostly overcast, with a breeze at times. Mel struggled with a dodgy leg muscle which hurt running downhill, on the flat and uphill; not helpful on an undulating course. She continued to finish in 4 hours and 44 minutes. Steve and I pushed on and Steve finished in 4 hours and 4 minutes, with me 3 minutes behind. Good scenic course, with 10 checkpoints and excellent waymarks, making the route narrative obsolete. Well organised event and one for the 2008 diary. 157 runners completed the course."

Sat 11 Aug

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Tue 7 Aug

Horton Country Park Relay

Results Index   Full Results

34 teams ran

Sat 4 Aug

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Sun 29 Jul

Downland Challenge 30

Results Index

Allan reports: "Following on from their effort last week in the Fairlands Valley Challenge, Steve,Andy & Allan with Mel (with about 2hrs sleep from partying the night before) joining them took on the testing Downlands Challenge, a 30 Mile ultra marathon event on the South Downs. After the initial shock of discovering that they had to pay for their refreshments (50p a cup of tea!!!) they got down to the serious business of running the race. The first 7 miles went ok but Allan pulled a muscle in his thigh just before the 8 mile water station trying to race Steve downhill (Stupid boy, nobody is as fast as him).

We got to the halfway point in just under 2.5hrs and had a good drink of water as the temperature was steadily rising by now. Having turned around we crossed paths with the Secret service 2 just past the 16.5 mile mark. Reports of two elderly gentlemen in Collingwood colours taking the No 57 bus have so far been unconfirmed.

We all ran together the until 22 mile water station where Steve & Andy went on ahead. Allan with his thigh & Mel (the dirty stopout) were starting to struggle at this point.

Steve & Andy pressed on to finish in 5hrs 20mins, with Allan following in 5hrs 34mins & Mel coming in at 5hrs 48mins, although Mel did get a spot prize of a large bum & a carrot cake bar. I meant bag, large bum bag!!!!! Mind you??

All in all a good, testing ultra with no marshals & minimum drink stations, although a bit of free food & a medal wouldn't go amiss."

113 finishers.

Sat 28 Jul

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Thur 26 Jul

Near As Damn It 10k

Results Index

Sun 22 Jul

Fairlands Valley Challenge

Results Index

Allan reports: "In absolute glorious sunshine Steve, Andy & Allan took on the Fairlands Valley Spartans Challenge, an event organised by Roger Biggs President of the 100 Marathon Club (you couldn't move for their turnout). Despite getting lost a few times, well it was cross country & it seems to be quite a tradition for Collingwood runners to lose their way on these events, all three managed to reach the 5 checkpoints where they partook of the food & drink (a good spread at each of them) & finish the race in 5hrs 6mins.

At the finish was the world famous Spartans (free) BBQ, where they ate their way & drank their fill. All in all a quality day out & excellent value for money.

One for the diary next year."

Sat 14 Jul

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

All improved their course best, Andy by 7s, Chris by 24s, Ray by 24s, and Ruth by 68s. The exception was Chris, who was running the course for the first time.

Sat 14 Jul

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Sun 8 Jul

High Weald Marathon

Results Index

Allan reports:

Check list:

1. Map. Err no

2. Compass. Err no again

3. Cup. Cup?? Well we bought some there.

So no map or compass, must be another cross-country marathon then. Just 2 weeks after conquering Britain's hardest marathon The Picnic, Mel, Steve & Allan were in action again running round the Kent countryside in the tough High Weald Challenge, a great event organised by the LDWA. So, despite getting lost & trespassing onto a ladies (FAKE) Castle & being told to GET ORFF MY LAND!!!!! The trio managed to finish in 5hrs 52mins stopping off at the checkpoints to stuff their faces with all the lovely grub they have & finishing off with a meal at the race HQ.

Sat 7 Jul

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Sat 30 Jun

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Thur 28 Jun

Near As Damn It 10k

Results Index   Full Results

Welcome back to Keith in his first race for the club since rejoining, and he managed to knock around 3 minutes off his time for May's race. Dan was also a couple of minutes quicker. Not terribly muddy but slightly slippery in places on the stony tracks.

Sat 23 Jun

The Picnic Marathon - Box Hill

Results Index   Full Results

The Battle of Boxhill.

At 13:55 on the 23rd of June 2007 on the slopes of Boxhill in Surrey, there stood four brave souls from Collingwood AC.

Steve Cooney, Allan Rumbles & Andy Stalley led by their captain Melanie Johnstone were there to take on Britain's hardest marathon, The Picnic!

The race started well with all setting off in good order but it quickly degenerated into absolute bedlam with a colossal downpour 15 minutes into the race, the lightning flashed and the thunder crashed but still we ran on into torrents of floodwater cascading down the side of the hill. We all ran the first leg well but started to suffer on the second and third leg when we had to negotiate the steps down and back up to the footbridge and stepping stones twice in quick succession. By this time though Steve had already disappeared into the distance with Andy, Allan & Mel within a couple of minutes of each other. Other runners were dropping like flies at this point but still we pressed on buoyed by the fact that this race was one for the books! The rain made the course extremely treacherous with both Andy and Mel taking a tumble, Allan twisted his knee on the mud but Steve remained upright and unhurt (lucky b****r).

Happily enough we all finished safely with Steve coming in an excellent 3rd place with a time of 4hr 34mins. Andy was the next Collingwood runner home in 5hr 16mins.

Allan came next in 5hr 18mins and coming in like a true Captain making sure no one was left behind was Mel in 5hr 27mins. Not only a true Captain but also the first lady home so well done to both Steve and Mel for a truly fantastic run.

Sat 23 Jun

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

The second of these time trials, and Dan improved his time by 29s to win this one. Welcome and well done to new member Ray in his first race for the club.

Sat 16 Jun

South Downs Marathon

Results Index   Full Results

Allan reports: "On a typical English summer's day with intense sunshine interrupted with bouts of torrential rain I ran my first Salomon South Downs Marathon. Not wanting to push myself too hard (Picnic next week) I took the race quite steady running with a couple of friends of mine who were doing their first trail marathon. All three of us finished in a reasonable time. I finished in 4:42:23 which wasn't too bad considering all the hills we had to go up. The water stations were few & far between but there were plenty of free drinks at the finish & god did I bloody well need them! It did seem to be a bit harder than the Three Forts but that just might be me. Anyway, all in all it was excellent training for Britain's hardest marathon next week, The Picnic.

If anyone's about then come down to watch us run it on the 23rd June on Boxhill. Captain Mel will be leading out her troops (Steve, Andy & myself) at 2pm. Hopefully we'll be finished by 7pm. Although none of us may be talking to Mel afterwards for suggesting we do the damn thing! If you're coming then bring some beer & food & we'll have a picnic after we've run The Picnic."

Sat 16 Jun

Banstead Woods 5k Time Trial

Results Index   Full Results

Dan reports on the inaugural race: "An excellent event - free, local, beautiful setting, well organised etc etc - which I aim to be doing regularly."
65 finishers.

Thur 31 May

Near As Damn It 10k

Results Index   Full Results

Sat 19 May

Farthing 5k

Results Index   Full Results

Andy reports: "Good cross-country race, dry under foot, well marshalled and an undulating course, with a nasty little hill after 2 miles. Extra entertainment was provided by a run-away horse. I heard the shout of "watch out behind", thought it might be a faster runner only to turn and see a fast and large horse going for the overtake! Good value, medal, bottle of water and goodie bag, all for £3. I did 22:59, not helped by doing a 4 mile warm-up."

Sun 6 May

Three Forts Marathon

Results index

The "27 mile marathon" around The Devils Dyke, Chanctonbury Ring, and Cissbury Ring.

Mel reports: "Steve would have been a little quicker but took a detour. Conditions were hard, with a strong wind, and cold on the open downs, but warm in the sheltered sections."