Claybury (2022 season) – Race report by Alastair Aitken

The 1st Met League of the 2022 season
15th of October 2022

WILLIAM BROOM (21) led Highgate Harriers to individual and team victory (12 in 42). Earlier this year Broom had been at Loughborough and coached by Sonia & Chris McGeorge but recently has been studying at Kings College in London.

The races at Claybury were in mild conditions except, for a few short showers on the undulating course. In the Men’s race early on the leaders together were Robel Bahelbi, Seyfu Jamaal, and Broom; Pete Chambers and Charlie Stockings were behind that. Going into the last lap and, down the hill Broom, who has run a 3:45.7 for 1500, was going was starting to go clear with Bahelbi running in a good second position, 30m ahead of Jamaal but later in the final lap Jamaal, caught him and relegated Bahelbi to third. Ethan Primett was the first Under 20 in sixth place, following his many wins in the younger age group Met League races. The oldest in the field was an M75 Roger Green, 345 of the 359 finishers in 34:36.

The Women’s race created a great battle. The Metropolitan League Champion of last season Beth Hawling and Liz Janes, the previous year’s overall Met League winner, who back in 2006 won the National cross country. After two of the 3 laps they were running side by side, till Hawling, who was 9th in the National and 3rd in the Southern, put the pressure on but Janes was only eight seconds adrift at the finish. Kelly Clarke was the first W40 in 8th place (32:06). The oldest was a W80 Angela Duncan who brought in the field of 153, over the tough course in 60.51. The League team race is wide open as Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets lead from London Heathside, who may be stronger next time and Serpentine RC.

The Under 17-15 men’s race was won by sixteen-year-old George Ward, who went into the lead on the second lap. He has run a 1: 55.68 for 800 and made the English Schools Final. An unusual talent, fairly fresh to the sport, was `12 year old. James Branch, who won the Under 13’s race. He went into the lead on the 2nd lap. He is a keen footballer having had trials with Arsenal & Tottenham and plays for Cheshunt Football club and is at Heathmore School.

Another unusual fact was that the Under 17&15 women’s race combined was won by a 14-year-old girl, Lyra Macdonald who went into the lead on the final lap with Abigail Reid the runner-up. The latter is coached by John Stowe who said “Abigail has many other things she has to do at Forest School that take much of her time up but she will improve. He also pointed out “Woodford Green & Essex Ladies will win the Howard Williams Junior Cup again I am sure”.

Best Regards Alastair

Race 2 2022 – Wormwood Scrubs – 12/11/2022

Metropolitan League 2022 Season

Fixture

2

Date

12/11/2022

Venue

Wormwood Scrubs Park, London W12 OAE

Venue

Course Location

Start

Wormwood Scrubs Park, adjacent to Linford Christie Stadium W12 0DF

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Race HQ

Address

Thames Valley Harriers Clubhouse, Linford Christie Stadium, off Artillery Way, London  W12 0DF

Changing Facilities

Changing

Limited changing in Stadium. No lockers are available.

Showers

None.

Toilets

Toilets located in stadium changing rooms and TVH clubhouse.

Refreshments

Hot and cold drinks and snacks are available from Race HQ.

Travel

Where possible, competitors are strongly advised to use public transport, walk or cycle. Parking charges of £2.20 per hour now apply in the Wormwood Scrubs Charitable Trust car park next to the course. There is limited parking available in the Wormwood Scrubs Charitable Trust car park next to the course (payment by card or parking app) and limited parking in surrounding residential streets near Wormwood Scrubs park, if using these please park with consideration for others. Please note that the venue is in the Ultra Low Emission Zone.  

The league and/or host club do not warrant the accuracy of the information provided so take no responsibility for any fines or charges that may be levied.

Public Transport

Details

East Acton on the Central Line is the closest station, a few minutes' walk from the stadium, turn right out of the station and follow the road up to Wormwood Scrubs. Buses stop on DuCane Rd, please see details for buses stopping at Hammersmith Hospital on the Transport for London website, Artillery Lane between the hospitals and prison takes you to Wormwood Scrubs.

Parking

Details

Parking at the venue is far more limited than in previous years when we had the additional use of hospitals staff car park for events at weekends. This is no longer possible with the introduction of weekend parking charges of £2.20 per hour in the Wormwood Scrubs Charitable Trust car park next to the course. Parking is free at weekends in surrounding residential streets near Wormwood Scrubs park but very limited and primarily for the use of local residents.

Course details

Description

U11 course

1 lap approx 1.75km around football pitches and the perimeter of the park to the finish.

U13 course

1 lap approx 3km to the far corner of the park by Braybrook St, alongside Old Oak HS2 development, around football pitches and the perimeter of the park to the finish.

U15/U17 course

1 lap approx 3.8km around the perimeter of the park, cutting in around copse running back around football pitches and perimeter of the park to the finish.

Senior course

2 laps of the U15/U17 course approx 7.6km

Additional Notes

Club tents will be positioned along the start of the course on the side nearest Linford Christie Stadium.

Timetable

The timetable is approximate and subject to change without notice where necessary. Please plan to arrive early and listen for any announcements.

Please note

For the 2022 season, the timings have changed, and all races now start earlier. In addition, it should no longer be necessary for a start to be delayed to allow for finishers in the previous race.

Start Time

Race

Distance (approximate)

12:00

Under 11 Boys

1.75km

12:05

Under 11 Girls

1.75km

12:15

Under 13 Boys

3km

12:30

Under 13 Girls

3km

12:45

Under 17 Men/Under 15 Boys

3.8km

13:00

Under 17 Women/Under 15 Girls

3.8km

13:15

Senior Women/Veteran Women

7.6km

14:00

Senior Men/Veteran Men

7.6km

Contact Details

Host club

Thames Valley Harriers

Contact Name

John Husbands

Contact details

07951 927724

Welfare Officer

Samantha Brewer

This is also available at the registration tent.

Downloadable version

Race 1 (2022) – Team Results – Claybury

Final Results

Team results from the first race of the 2022 season held at Claybury on 15th October 2022

These are filterable and searchable

These are the final results, if you spot any errors should be reported to your team representative to raise with the results team within 1 week of the race date.

Race 1 2022 - Team Results - Claybury

Race 1 (2022) Claybury – Individual Results

Final Results

Individual Results from the first race of the 2022 season at Claybury on the 15th October 2022.

These allow you to filter and sort to find the results.

These are the final results, if you spot any errors should be reported to your team representative to raise with the results team within 1 week of the race date.

Race 1 2022 - Claybury Individual Results