23rd BOX HILL FELL RACE  17 January 2004   Organiser's report

 

It was all change at the sharp end with 2 new faces battling it out over the whole length of the course to give us the closest finish for many years. Phil Winskill is a fell runner of some repute from Sheffield who just happened to be working in Dorking this week. He heard about the race on the Tuesday and managed to borrow a pair of Walshes from somewhere. Dean Lacy is a mere 19 years old with limited (someone told me ‘none’) experience of this sort of thing. Both could go a lot faster next time. I thought it was a new face in 3rd place as well, until I spotted Paul Dobson lurking down in 19th last year - what an improvement!

 

One of the reasons for the new faces taking the prizes was the absence of old faces. Club-mates Henry Dodwell (2003 champion) and Chris Beecham (11 time champion and 15 consecutive top 3 places) were both on the entry list but didn’t appear at the start line. Chris, where were you? – you’re an institution here. A race between this year’s top 2 and last year’s top 3 would be one to savour.

 

After 4 wins in the veteran class, Kevin Harding was pushed back to 3rd. His predecessor as veteran champion, John Lowdon, had an excellent run to pip him to the post in 6th overall, but they both had to give best to the new (40 year old!!) kid on the block, Shaun Whelan, another new face at Box Hill. Another former vets winner, Mike Farmery, graduated to take the super-vets award.

 

The ladies race was very much a one woman show. Defending champion Tracey Apps had an absolute stormer, taking 4 minutes off last year’s time and making the all time best list at No. 8. (Nor was that all – see next paragraph.) Christine Tanner and Rebecca Kendall followed at a respectful distance for the minor placings and Sue Ashley retained the lady vets prize.

 

Defending team champions Thames Hare & Hounds diverted their best runners for some domestic match and left the way clear to see the closest ever result. Multi-time winners Worthing Harriers had failed to complete a team last year, but they were back in a big way this time. It wasn’t quite good enough though as Springfield Striders just had them – and they did it because of those huge improvements from Paul Dobson and Tracey Apps, the latter being their closing scorer (have Springfield been training specially for Box Hill?). Mind you, Kenny Leitch’s “p.w.” had an effect as well!

 

TEAM RESULTS

 

1   Springfield Striders                57                     7   Tadworth                              288

2   Worthing Harriers                  58                     8    SLOW                                 294

3   Tring R C                              100                   9    Tri London                           309

4   Cambridge Harriers                150                   10  Reigate Priory                      314

5   L for Leather                         186                   11  Thames Hare & Hounds        322      

(some year that lot will run out of new names)      12  Guildford Orienteers              352      

6   Bishops Stortford RC             240                   13  Portsmouth Joggers              422

 

That's the race. Now for the admin bits.

 

You all seemed to enjoy a wonderfully sunny morning. The melting frost added a nice sheen to the chalk which meant for some very fast (!!) descending; I heard several reports of exciting moments on the white-knuckle descent of the steps coming off White Down. Also I heard no reports of anyone going off course, which makes a pleasant change.

 

Running numbers seemed to sneak in just under the limit again, which means we’ll be continuing our policy of hiking up the entry fee 2 weeks before race day.

 

Thank you to all the usual suspects.  The National Trust for permission to run on the hills.  Sandra Dunlop, Honey and those at Friends Provident for use of the car park and social club (I never saw their fell race sign this year??)  And of course the many helpers from SLOW - Dick (entries, registration), Mike M (signs, course marking and road crossing), Chris (notices and e-mail list), Alan and Di (registration), Kay and Jeremy (finish), Mike E (course sweeper), Jeremy, Keira and Simon (road crossings), and John (car park).

 

Finally a plug for the Surrey Hill Races on the other side of Dorking on Sunday 6th June.  See the Fell Runners Calendar or the SLOW website www.sloweb.org.uk or email jeremy.denny@BTopenworld.com.

 

See you then or here again next year

 

Andy Robinson