The 34th Surrey Hills Trail Challenge – Results and Race Report
Also: Race Details | Hall of Fame | Results | Routegadget – draw your route!
Report by Dan Findlay-Robinson
The day started wet and overcast and seemed to have put off a few as only 146 of the 200 entries arrived at the start line, but those that did were treated to a corker! The sun put in an appearance about two hours before the start and dried the ground up nicely.
This was the 34th running of the Surrey Hills race and the first under its new title, originally being known as the SILVA Hill Races. The series has been continuous since the first race in 1979, apart from the A-course (30K) being cancelled in 2001 due to Foot-and-Mouth. There is a list of both male and female winners here.
The course is a generally undulating route across the picturesque Surrey Hills taking in the summits of Leith Hill, Holmbury Hill and Pitch Hill on the longest courses and providing an interesting navigational challenge into the bargain. For those in the know or having previously recce’d the routes an advantage on race day is gained, causing much amusement as people get passed by much faster but more navigationally challenged/less prepared individuals. This however also leads to the very disconcerting sight of seeing those veterans of the event running without a map in sight!
Today’s race was as competitive as ever however and all the races were pushed to the finish line, especially in the B (16K) race where it was only the final hill which separated the 1st three, creating a 48 second spread. Further to this Tessa Hill took the women’s record on the B course which has stood since 1996 by 2:39! Which is a fantastic result.
Full Results
Routegadget – draw your route!
Top results:
‘A’ Course Men – 30K
| Pos | Name | Club | Age Class | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Edward Catmur | Thames Hare & Hounds | M21 | 132:36 |
| 2nd | John Smallwood | Cumberland Fell Runners | M35 | 133:39 |
| 3rd | Andrew Henderson | Durham Fell Runners | M45 | 139:33 |
| 4th | Alexander Fullbrook | Oxford University OC | M21 | 147:15 |
| 5th | Dan Findlay-Robinson | South London Orienteers | M21 | 149:06 |
‘A’ Course Women – 30k
| Pos | Name | Club | Age Class | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16th | Anne Davidson | Dorking and Mole Valley AC | W45 | 178:22 |
| 30th | Sophie Moore | Unattached | W21 | 217:24 |
| 33rd | Jacinta Keane | Unattached | W21 | 221:11 |
‘B’ Course men – 16K
| Pos | Name | Club | Age Class | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Peter Hodkinson | Erewash Valley RC | M21 | 65:04 |
| 2nd | Ben Stevens | Ilkley Harriers AC | M21 | 65:16 |
| 3rd | Alan Cherry | Ayr Seaforth | M20 | 65:52 |
| 4th | Jeremy Edwards | Southern Navigators | M35 | 69:40 |
| 5th | David Rollins | British Army OC | M45 | 69:52 |
‘B’ Course Women – 16K
| Pos | Name | Club | Age Class | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6th | Tessa Hill | Highgate Harriers | W21 | 70.13 |
| 31st | Karen Jones | South London Orienteers | W50 | 94:14 |
| 37th | Catherine Gadd | Unattached | W45 | 102:52 |
‘C’ Course Men – 10K
| Pos | Name | Club | Age Class | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | David Fisher | Tadworth AC | M55 | 54:33 |
| 2nd | Andrew Patrick | Reigate Priory Athletic Club | M45 | 55:01 |
| 3rd | Martin Wilson | Berkshire Orienteers | M60 | 55:08 |
| 4th | Audrius Janulynas | South London Orienteers | M21 | 55:20 |
| 5th | Lorcan Woods | Unattached | M40 | 55:21 |
‘C’ Course Women – 10K
| Pos | Name | Club | Age Class | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8th | Caroline Court | Dorking and Mole Valley AC | W21 | 58:34 |
| 9th | Jillian Holford | Saxons OC | W40 | 60:50 |
| 10th | Carolyn Moon | Mole Valley OC | W40 | 66:20 |
Top: The race start. Top right: Tessa Hill, Women’s winner & record holder for the B course, with trophy. Bottom: The finish line.
