Downs League Match 3 Epsom Downs 17th Feb 08

Bright winter sunshine welcomed a small Croydon Harriers contingent amomg a hundred or so youngsters who contested the third Downs League match on the Epsom Downs on Sunday.

While their individual impact was good Croydon Harriers young athletes once again fell short numerically and were unable to impress on the team front at U11 level.

Andrew Statter the Club’s sole representative in the opening U11 event and he moved through well in a large field of 70+ to take 9^th place to strengthen his chances in the individual aggregate. This was his best run to date and helped him to third overall.

In the U13 race debutant Peter Chambers ran purposefully away from his rivals to win by 40 seconds in 11:18. Club colleague Elliott Veheary led the chasing pack to finish a good second in 11:59, with Karina Maurice completing the club contingent in 15^th place. The team placed 2^nd of five, just one point behind Kingston.

Jordan Maurice shone in the U15 race, where he showed he that was clearl of recent health problems when he romped home to win comfortably in11:16, a performance which sees him deservedly equal first in the individual aggregate ranking.

Fellow Harrier Scott Fanner produced his best Downs League run so far, placing third in 11:56, which sees him a pleasing third in the aggregate.

The team is currently second overall only four points behind Epsom.

Croydon host the final fixture on the Downs on Sunday 9^th March, the day after their innovative Runathon Inter Schools All Run for Fun Challenge in Lloyd Park.

Surrey Cross Country League Division 3 12/1/08

By Matthew Kiernan

Croydon Harriers young athletes bounced back from a disappointing County championships with a string of successes at Lloyd Park on Saturday. The Surrey division three clash saw the young Harriers come into their own, with Jordan Maurice especially impressing. The Wilson’s school student stormed to victory in the Under 15&17 combined race, completing the 2.5mile course in 16:27, over 40 seconds from his nearest rival. Scott Fanner provided vital support with a solid third place in 17:30, with Mark Plackett (6th, 17:47) following soon after. Matthew Leman (8th, 18:15) and PhillipWise (9th, 18:17) rounded off the scoring quintet, to ensure that Croydon also took the team Honours.

Meanwhile, the host club also enjoyed success in the Colts race, with Elliot Veheary taking the individual prize, crossing the line in 17:25. Nick Ryan (4th, 18:43)and Joshua Haaz (7th, 19:16) also enjoyed good outings, to complete the Croydon clean sweep of the junior races.

The senior men’s team also had a fruitful afternoon as they continued their battle against relegation. The Harriers’ performance meant they moved out of the bottom two into 7th place overall, for the first time since the season began. Julian Dillow (20th, 34:55), Colin Oxlade (23rd, 35:16), Darren Bradley (27th, 35:35) and Martin Rowe (29th, 35:36) all grouped well in the 5-mile race, to ensure Croydon head to the final league fixture full of confidence of avoiding the drop.

Senior Men – 5 Miles

20^th Julian Dillow 34:55

23^rd Colin Oxlade 35:16

27^th Darren Bradley 35:35

29^th Martin Rowe 35:26

40^th Paul Gilbert 37:28

47^th Andy Del Nevo 38:08

51^st George Thatcher 38:27

63^rd Keith Brown 39:36

69^th Terry Lapins 40:05

70^th Dave Warren 40:10

77^th Nick Alexander 41:43

84^th Norman Hemming 45:17

99^th Eric Campbell 52:22

110 finished

Team Position: 6^th (9)

Overall League Position: 7^th (9)

U17&15 – 2.5 Miles

1^st Jordan Maurice 16:27

3^rd Scott Fanner 17:30

6^th Mark Plackett 17:47

8^th Matthew Leman 18:15

9^th Phillip Wise 18:17

15 finished

Team Position: 1^st (9)

Overall League Position: 3^rd (9)

U13 Colts – 2.5 Miles

1^st Elliot Veheary 17:25

4^th Nick Ryan 18:43

7^th Joshua Haaz 19:16

12^th Jacob Cross 20:37

16^th Kartik Iyer 21:37

30 finished

Team Position: 1^st (9)

Overall League Position: 4^th (9)

Surrey County Cross-Country Championships January 5^th Lloyds Park

By Matthew Kiernan

Croydon Harriers Under 13 boy’s team endured heartache on Saturday at the Surrey County Championships despite a battling performance at Lloyd Park.

The young Harriers, were hot tips to challenge the defending champions Aldershot, Farnham and District AC, but due to late withdrawals and injuries were forced to settle for 6th. Fraser Novell headed the team’s challenge, completing the 3.25Km course in 13:16 for 7th, with Tom Lees (9th, 13:27) also in the top ten. Omari Carr-Millar (32nd, 14:44) and Jacob Cross (52nd, 15:32) completed the scoring quartet to ensure a still creditable finish.

The Under 15 boys meanwhile, also just missed out on a team medal, placing 4th in a high quality field. Jordan Maurice particularly excelled, crossing the line in 10th, and put himself in contention for Surrey selection in the process.

In the pick of the other junior performances, Elliot Osher continued his good form, finishing 10th in the Under 17 race.

By the time the senior men’s competition took place, the hundreds of competitors throughout the day had had their effect, providing a severe lack of grip for the Championship’s showpiece event.

The Harriers still managed to secure three athletes inside the top 100 though, with Julian Dillow (55th, 52:28), Colin Oxlade (68th, 54:46) and Martin Rowe (89th, 57:00) all impressing over the 12Km course.

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Senior Men – 12Km

55^th Julian Dillow 52:28

68^th Colin Oxlade 54:46

89^th Martin Rowe 57:00

103^rd Paul Gilbert 59:17

105^th Andy Del Nevo 59:22

122^nd Terry Lapins 61:44

151 finished

Team Position: 11^th (12)

Senior Women – 8Km

69^th Rachel Kennet 48:15

70^th Miriam De Sauza 48:17

76 finished

Under 20 Men – 6.5Km

14^th George Thatcher 28:19

16^th Matthew Kiernan 30:33

18 finished

Under 17 Men – 6.5Km

10^th Elliot Osher 25:44

35^th Darren Bullerd 36:36

35 finished

Under 15 Boys – 4Km

10^th Jordan Maurice 16:11

27^th Scott Fanner 17:54

30^th Mark Plackett 18:05

32^nd Aaron Jones 18:11

40^th Michael Wise 19:16

55 finished

Team Position: 4^th (7)

Under 15 Girls – 4Km

31^st Emma Barlow 22:21

40 finishers

Under 13 Boys – 3.25Km

7^th Fraser Novell 13:16

9^th Tom Lees 13:27

32^nd Omari Carr-Miller 14:44

52^nd Jacob Cross 15:32

55^th Kartik Iyer 15:42

77^th David Burn 18:36

80^th Marvin Burke 20:45

81 finished

Team Position: 6^th (11)

Under 13 Girls – 3:25Km

51^st Zainab Carr-Millar 18:40

55^th Carina Maurice 20:04

56^th Rachel Jones 20:30

57 finished

Banstead Woods 5km Time Trial, 25^th December

Position	Athlete	Time
10^th	Andy Del Nevo	19:31

76 finishers

Wimbledon Common 5kn Time Trial, 22^nd December

Position	Athlete	Time
10^th	Andy Del Nevo	18:33

112 finishers

Holly Run, Priory Park, 16^th December

U11 Boys – 1Mile

Position	Athlete	Time
20^th	Andrew Statter	7:24
46^th	Joe Lightfoot	8:18

78 finishers

U13 Boys – 2 Miles

Position	Athlete	Time
3^rd	Elliot Veheary	11:44
12^th	Joshua Haas	12:31
21^st	Karthik Iver	13:03

36 finishers

Team Finished 2^nd

U15&U17 Boys – 3 Miles

Position	Athlete	Time
13^th	Jordan Maurice	17:27

40 finishers

Men’s Race – 6 Miles

Position	Athlete	Time
51^st	Matthew Kiernan	42:52

120 finishers

Women’s Race – 3 Miles

Position	Athlete	Time
38^th	Miriam De Souza	24:08

72^nd finishers

South of Thames XC 7 miles, Nork Park, 15^th December

Position	Athlete	Time
73^rd	Julian Dillow	42:43
75^th	Andy Del Nevo	42:46
87^th	Martin Rowe	44:36
90^th	David Brown	45:19
93^rd	Paul Gilbert	45:29
95^th	Keith Brown	45:35
112^th	Norman Hemming	48:08
116^th	Terry Lapins	48:42

135 finishers

Downs League, Epsom, 2^nd Match, 9^th December

Lack of team support for some excellent individual performances cost Croydon Harriers young athletes dear their second Downs League Cross country encounter at Epsom on Sunday, writes Mike Fleet.

Just a couple more runners would have given the club's youngsters a good chance of second places both on the day and overall. As it was, both teams in action had to score automatic last places.

In the largest U11 field yet, this proved a huge disadvantage adding 64 points onto the excellent low 16 total accumulated by the Croydon boys.

Joshua Haasz (11:38) and Kartik Iyer (11:40) battled out second and third places again, finishing just 18 seconds over the 2.5km course. Andrew Statter finished 13th (13:04).

For the U15s, Jordan Maurice ran a very well-controlled race to overhaul match one winner Will Bussell in the final stages for a well earned third in 11:35. He received customary solid support from Scott Fanner in fifth (12:24) and Emily Knight 12th (16:43).

The team took second on the day and dropped to second overall Next weekend a good number of Harriers will be contesting the traditional "Holly Run" at Reigate Priory.

Vets AC Inter Club XC, Wimbledon Common, 8^th December

Distance: 5.5m

Position	Athlete	Time
12^th	Martin Rowe	37:51
20^th	Paul Gilbert	40:12

37^th finishers

Pirie 10mile XC, Farthing Downs, 1^st December

Position	Athlete	Time	Age Category
36^th	Julian Dillow	1:10:37	3^rd V50
49^th	Keith Brown	1:13:33	6^th V50
71^st	Norman Hemming	1:18:05	9^th V50
105^th	Elizabeth Elms	1:33:06	10^th V35

133 finishers

Banstead Woods 5km Time Trial, 1^st December

Position	Athlete	Time
21^st	Dave Warren	21:39

76 finishers

Ellis Trophy, Richmond Park, 1^st December

Distance: 5.5miles

Position	Athlete	Time
39^th	Colin Oxlade	35:56
45^th	Andy Del Nevo	36:27
55^th	Martin Rowe	37:38
104^th	Eric Campbell	45:19

111 finishers

Banstead Woods 5km Time Trial, 24^th November

Position	Athlete	Time
34^th	Norman Hemming	22:09

92 finishers

VAC XC Championships, Wimbledon Common, 24^th November

Position	Athlete	Time
4^th	Andy Del Nevo	37:15

22 finishers

Owers named patron

Last week's Croydon Harriers AGM confirmed that Antony Owers, a Club Vice President and former men's team captain would succeed the late Lord Weatherill as Patron of the Club writes Mike Fleet.

Owers an Old Whitgiftian is currently resident in Willemstad, Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles where he is Honorary British Consul.

In 2006 he was honoured by Queen Beatrix when he was announced as recipient of the award of a "Lid in de Orde Van Oranje-Nassau" in recognition of his contribution to life in Curacao.

The meeting unanimously re-elected Linda Harrison for a further term as President, and Chairman Don Webb was also re-elected.

As significant election, was that of Peter Roberts as General Secretary, a position which had remained vacant for several years.

Roberts is an enthusiastic veteran athlete with a keen eye directed towards the Harriers development.

The meeting unanimously adopted the Chairman's report which highlighted much progress and many fine achievements by the members of the Croydon Arena based athletics club.

Downs League, Epsom, 1^st Match, 11^th November

Croydon Harriers enjoyed the bright and fresh conditions, which accompanied last Sunday's Downs League fixture on Epsom Downs, writes Mike Fleet.

Elliott Veheary was individual winner in the U13 race, completing the 3km course in 11 minutes 28 seconds.

Karina Maurice was 17th as Croydon finished third in the team event.

Croydon enjoyed team victories in the U11 and U15 categories.

Joshua Haas was runner-up in the U11 race (11:38), with Kartik Iyer 12 seconds behind in third and Andrew Statter 11th.

In the U15 race, Jordan Maurice led the way with (11:34) with team-mates Mark Plackett fifth (12:17) and Scott Fanner sixth (12:22).

Priory Relays, Priory Park, 3^rd November

Team Position	Athlete	Individual Time (Ind Pos in brackets)	Cumulative Time	Leg
18^th	Andy Del Nevo	16:17 (96^th)	16:17	1
20^th	Martin Rowe	16:42 (110^th)	32:59	2
23^rd	Norman Hemming	19:08 (170^th)	52:07	3
20^th	Colin Oxlade	15:51 (85^th)	67:58	4
19^th	Dave Warren	17:08 (115^th)	85:06	5
20^th	Terry Lapins	17:44 (134^th)	102:50	6

Final Position: 20th

31 teams finished

Banstead Woods 5km Time Trial, 27^th October

Position	Athlete	Time
5^th	Dave Warren	20:00

74 finishers

Surrey Veterans Cross Country Championships, Richmond Park, 20^th October

Men’s Race

Position	Athlete	Time	Age Category
28^th	Colin Oxlade	39:35	9^th M45
38^th	Julian Dillow	40:32	8^th M50
49^th	Andy Del Nevo	41:09	15^th M40
92^nd	Norman Hemming	47:29	25^th M50

113 finishers

Bruce Judd County Cross Country Relays, Stoke Park, 6^th October

U13 Boys

Position	Athlete	Individual Time	Cumulative Time	Leg
2^nd	Omari Carr-Millar	8:20 (5^th fastest overall)	8:20	1
2^nd	Joshua Hass	8:59	17:19	2
2^nd	Elliot Veheary	8:07 (3^rd fastest overall)	25:26	3

21 teams finished

U15 Boys

Position	Athlete	Individual Time	Cumulative Time	Leg
8^th	Scott Fanner	7:57	7:57	1
6^th	Matt Leman	8:09	16:06	2
5^th	Jordan Maurice	7:45	23:51	3

17 teams finished

Non Scoring

Race	Athlete	Time	Position
U13 Boys	Jacob Cross	9:48	22^nd (30)
U15 Boys	Mark Plackett	8:24	12^th (24)
U15 Boys	Aaron Jones	8:06	9^th (24)

Banstead Woods 5km Time Trial, 6^th October

Position	Athlete	Time
9^th	Dave Warren	19:29

69 finishers

Banstead Woods 5km Time Trial, 29^th September

Position	Athlete	Time
10th	Andy Del Nevo	19:38
13^th	Dave Warren	19:58

79 finishers

Wimbledon Common 5km Time Trial, 22^nd September

Position	Athlete	Time
14^th	Andy Del Nevo	19:16

64 finishers

Surrey Mens Cross Country League - Fixture 2 - Cranford Park 10th Nov 2007

Pos	Number	Name	Club	Cat	Time	Div1
24	48	Colin Oxlade	CRO	V	29.35	19
40	47	Julian Dillon	CRO	V	30.54	30
44	40	Andy Del Nevo	CRO	U13	31.09	33
54	35	Martin Rowe	CRO	V	31.44	39
73	46	Keith Brown	CRO	V	33.04	51
75	49	Dave Warren	CRO	V	33.07	53
100	26	Paul Gilliat	CRO	S	34.31	72
119	50	Norman Hemming	CRO	V	36.03	80
163	45	Eric Campbell	CRO	V	43.31	102

SURREY CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE - DIVISION III Epsom Downs - 13 Oct 2007

Pos	Name	Cat	Club	Time	Points
22	Colin Oxlade	V	CRO	30:58	20
31	Julian Dillow	V	CRO	32:06	29
35	Andy Del Nevo	V	CRO	32:36	33
48	Martin Rowe	S	CRO	33:31	46
51	Dave Warren	V	CRO	33:54	48
63	Keith Brown	V	CRO	34:48	60
73	Terry Lapins	S	CRO	35:31	69
96	Norman Hemming	V	CRO	38:57	85
108	Eric Campbell	V	CRO	41:50	88

LEXUS CROYDON 10K 21^st October 2007

The Lexus Croydon 10k on Sunday’s saw Great Britain international Mike Skinner lead a field of 500 home with a classy display of distance running.

The Blackheath and Bromley runner controlled the race from the off in Mapledale Avenue, stretching his lead to nearly two minutes by the time he broke the beam at the finsh in 30.51.

With Skinner a comfortable victor, the real scrap was for the remaining podium places, was between with Wilmslow’s Michael Halman and Herne Hill Harrier Ben Paviour neck and neck for the best part of 7Kbefore Halman broke away to finish just 20 seconds ahead of his rival in 32.50.

For Skinner it was merely a workmanlike performance, coming the day after a tough 6k relay race in Birmingham.

He said: “It was exactly what I wanted. The conditions were perfect and it’s an up-and-down course.

“I needed a good run out and that’s exactly what I got.”

For the 27-year-old it is a prelude to bigger things, with his focus squarely on winning a place in the Great Britain team in the 5k in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Skinner wasn’t the first outstanding performer to cross the line however. That honour went to the kids’ 3k winner Oliver Davey 14, from Thurrock who displayed hugely promising talent in leading home the 12-14 age group by over a minute, in a superb time of 9.56.

Such was his pace that lead cyclists, international triathlete Jenny Hewitt and Andy del Nevo had to work harder than expected

A string of young Croydon Harriers stars of the future followed in hot pursuit

, headed by Jordan Maurice 11:05 taking second place ahead of Elliott Veheary 11:39 an excellent third. Fast improving Mark Plackett finished fourth, followed by Scott Fanner and Aaron Jones, all within 5sec. Nippy Nick Ryan headed the 9-11 year olds, 7^th in 12:29

Another Croydon Harrier, Emma Barlow, proved far too strong for her rivals in the girls race, coming home almost a full minute ahead of the rest in 14:28.

In the 10k the remarkable Claire Donald W45, WAS the first female finisher, with phenomenal time of 38.40 bringing the Purple Patch RC runner home more than a minute ahead Rosie Ferguson from Blackheath and Bromley Harriers.

Ferguson, however, won the W35 section after edging out club mate Jane Bradshaw in a closely fought battle.

In the W55 race Patricia Edwards, Striders of Croydon was comfortable winner in 54.43 well ahead of Lyerka Martinovic in 60.39.

Brenda Ottewill W 65of Croydon Running Sisters was the proud lone leader her section crossed the line in a time of) 70.39.

Surely one of the TOP performances of the day came from Sutton Runner, Louis Gomez whose winning M40 time of 34.37 saw him 11^th finish streets ahead of the next M40, Mark Halls, Henfield Joggers, 37.23

The battle for third went right to wire with Chris McNaughton eventually fighting off the attentions of Gary Cook, Blackheath and Bromley to finish just two seconds ahead of the in 37.58.

The M50 category saw Robert Ewan, Striders of Croydon win with relative ease in 38.30, with in form Croydon Harrier Keith Brown also breaking the 40 minute mark with 39.57.

Chris F ord put in an imperious performance to lead home the (Vet Men’s) M60 in 44:15, ahead of Dulwich Park Runner’s Bernard Simmons and Robin Jamieson. Striders of Croydon

Proving age is no impediment to smashing the 10k hour barrier David Earl led home the M 70s in 54.30, well in front of Ian Metcalfe and Roy Willmot.

One senior Croydon Harriers competitor worthy of note is former race organiser Martin Rowe. Finally given the opportunity to concentrate on running himself, he took it in great style, his time of 39.04 making him the first runner from host club runner to cross the line.

Just three seconds behind came the Junior Men’s winner Andrew Denton, whose time of 39.07 put him just ahead of another Croydon Harrier 10k debutant, 15 year old Matthew Leman

.

As usual the event was blessed by many hardy fun-runners doing their bit for charity.

Philippa Stanyard, 30, and her 29-year-old partner Neil McCallum came all the way from Edinburgh to don eye catching scarlet heart-costumes. They clearly achieved their aim to raise awareness and cash for the charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) especially in memory of Croydon Harrier Cecilia Barriga.

McCallum a Scottish international cricketer who represented his country at this year’s World Cup in the West Indies. He proved he keeps in the off-season by finishing the course in the very creditable time of 47.25 despite his challenging costume. Schoolteacher, Philippa whose parents were both Croydon Harriers, also did brilliantly to easily breaking the 50-minute barrier in 49.20.

Mike Fleet, speaking for the Croydon Harriers 10k organising committee, said they were delighted at the success of the event, and congratulated the participants for their adherence to safety regulations.

Presentations were in the capable hands of the Deputy Mayor Cllr. Brian Udall and Mrs Udall, Croydon Harriers star athlete Martyn Rooney, holder of the British U20 400m record, and Lexus Croydon General Manager Paul Meller, a marathon enthusiast himself, who clearly revelled in the days action.

Rooney was surprised and thrilled to find himself the first prize winner of the day, when he was called forward to receive the UK Athletics “Pepsi Cola” salver in recognition of his outstanding achievements in 2006

Without widespread goodwill from Lexus Croydon, Adidas, Croydon Council, Croydon Lions, Laithwaites, Police, Runathon Runners Shop who greeted finishers with goody bags and donated prizes for the winners of the 3k, Tramlink Police, Trinity School, Whitgift School, the Scouts from Addington, Selsdon and Sanderstead, and local residents, this ever popular community event would be but a shadow of its present self.

Photographs of the event will be on the Croydon 10k website next week, and copies will be available be by email, to be sold in aid of CRY and the Mayors charities, Diabetes Croydon and Croydon Scouting..

Surrey Young Athletes Cross Country relays Saturday 6^th October 2007

The young boys in the Croydon Harriers middle distance squad made a good start to their winter programme in the Surrey cross-country relays at Stoke Park Guildford on Saturday 6^th October 2007.

Fielding a friendly blend of students from seven local schools, Harris CTC, Royal Russell, Shirley High, Trinity, Wallington Grammar, Whitgift and Wilson’s School, they took well deserved silvers in the U13 race, while their U15s finished as third club, but in 5^th place with powerful specialists Aldershot Farnham & District in 1^st, 3^rd and 4^th places

Schools international biathlete Omari Carr-Miller (Trinity) set the U13 team up well on the opening lap clocking 8:20 for second spot, to give his number two, 11 year old Joshua Haas a good lead over his pursuers, which he held onto with determination for an 8:59 lap.

Up for the chase, Elliott Veheary set about his anchor leg with a vengeance, opening as instructed with a speedy first 400m. This put sufficient distance between him and the opposition to destroy any realistic challenge.

He closed significantly on dominant leaders Dorking and Mole Valley AC to clock 8:07, deservedly the third fastest leg of the race.

Croydon’s total time of 25:26 saw them home 25sec behind the winners. and well clear of the rest.

Scott Fanner opened the Harriers U15 , closing in fast in 7:45 effort. Matthew Leman took up the challenge on second leg with an 8:09 hand over to the determined Jordan Maurice, youngest in the team. His fine anchor leg of 7:45 closed the gap considerably to give Croydon their best U15 finish for several years. 21 teams closed in.

Another squad member, Nick Ryan anchored the John Fisher School U13 team in 12^th place with a strong 8:40 clocking and 11 year old Jacob Cross showed promise too, with his U13 opener of 9:48

The encouraging strength of the club squad was further evidenced with three other athletes running well as individuals. Mark Plackett 8:24 and Aaron Jones 8:06 were 10^th in the U15 race after leg two. Jones overtook five rivals during his run.