Benita Johnson ran well in her first A series event of the year, winning the 3000m convincingly in 8:55.08

In a (hoped for) rehearsal for next week, Thames ran out victors over Herne Hill on a windblown and wet Common. Simon Wurr had a dazzling run to lead the field home, helped a little by Matt Norminton running a longer interpretation of the final mile. Congratulations also to Chris Chataway and Jeffrey Gordon who both celebrated their birthdays with fine times. Results below.

1	Simon Wurr		41.39
2 	Matt Norminton (HHH)	41.48
3	Matt Jones		42.37
4	David Symons		42.58
5	Michael Goatley		43.17
6	Simon Coombes (HHH)	43.29
7	David Mulvee (HHH)  	43.46
8	Matt Lynas		44.06
9	Andy Lynch		44.09
10	Paul Stevens(HHH)   	44.24
11	Victor Maughan (HHH)	45.17
12	Larry Matthews		45.25
13	Mike Farmery		46.09
14	Leslie Cherrington   	48.25
15	Euan Lees    		49.33
16	Geoff Gerwood (HHH)	49.34
17	James Ward (HHH)    	49.45
18	Tim Nightingale		49.54
19	Michael Hogan (HHH)	49.59
20	James Bogue		50.05
21	Paul Whitlock		50.12
22	Paul Oates (HHH)   	50.20
23	Alison Carpenter    	51.15 (L)
24	Andy Stainsby		51.40
25	Peter Blair-Fish		52.32
26	Keith Spacie		52.44
27	Al Gibbons		53.16
28	Al Irvine			53.57
29	Geoff Armitage		54.29
30	Chris Hutber		55.45
31	Sarah Allen (HHH)   	56.28 (L)
32	Chris Brodie		57.09
33	Doug Justins		58.30
34	Kate Symons		58.51 (L)
35	Chris Chataway		60.17
36	Andy Lee-Gerrard    	62.21
37	Peter Giles		62.26 (late start)
38	David Jenkins		62.31
39	Jeffrey Gordon		66.05
40	Andrew Simon		66.27
41	Jan Hildreth		67.10
42       Robert Bastard (guest)      67.11

Team - 9 to score
	THH	69
	HHH	110

Thirteen saltires raced a benign Parliament Hill course on Saturday. In beautiful running conditions, Megan Clark ran the race of the day, with a splendid 13th place, anchoring the Thames ladies to a solid team performance. In the mens race Ian Harkness retired hurt after a couple of laps, but goaded Andy Weir into a last gasp effort to pip Ben Reynolds for our first man home. With solid runs also from Simon Wurr, Mark Gilbertson and Al Kennis, the Captain closed the team for sixth position overall. Results below

Ladies results
1	Louise Damen (Bournemouth)   	31.03
13	Megan Clark			34.04
90	Alison Carpenter   		38.41
174	Kate Symons			42.53
292	Wendy Lynas			54.28

Team 21 / 38

Full results at 
www.race-results.co.uk/results/2004/soesw04.pdf

Mens Results
1	Huw Lobb (Bedford)   		47.14
28	Andy Weir     			49.37
30	Ben Reynolds			49.41
37	Simon Wurr			50.12
89	Mark Gilbertson			52.46
95	Al Kennis   			53.17
102	David Symons			53.38
113	Andy Howse			54.01
160	Nick Malynn			55.13
221	Matt Lynas			56.53

Team 6 / 66

Full results at 
www.race-results.co.uk/results/2004/soesm04.htm

Phill Sly bagged two 3rd places at the Bermuda International Running festival. Competing with wind, rain and Kenyans, Phil finished the 10k in 31.22 and the half marathon in 1.07.

Mike Farmery led the Thames challenge with victory in the M50 category by two minutes. Results below.

1	Phillip Winskill		51.26
22	Mike Farmery		60.03 (1st M50)
56	Alan Leakey		64.38
98	Jeff Armitage		71.27
146	Di Leakey   		82.43
172	Wendy Lynas		107.09

Thames took a strong team to Coulsden on Saturday. With six in the first seven we looked strong. But SLHs strength in the middle order saw them home by 25 points. Results below

1	Stuart Major(SLH)  	44.52
2	Andy Weir      		45.46
3	David Symons		46.33
4	Simon Wurr		47.27
5	Al Kennis   		47.58
6	Michael Goatley		48.57
7	Andy Lynch		49.17
12	Nick Malynn		50.16
14	Matt Lynas		51.48
17	John Cant   		53.33
20	Ian Trotter		54.35
25	Leslie Cherrington   	54.53
27	Tim Nightingale		55.15
29	Richard Hignett		55.29
31	Paul Whitlock		56.34
34	Andy Stainsby		57.06
44	Al Irvine			1.01.06
45	Chris Brodie		1.02.37
49	Chris Chataway		1.05.10
50	Al Gibbons		1.05.13

Result 17 to score
SLH		294
Thames		325

Ben Reynolds opened his vets account with a win in the NYRRC Fred Lebow 5 in 26.17. The race was held in a fresh -12ºC

Dorchie Lee made a welcome return for Thames to lift the ladies up the table.

In the mens race, a strong showing by Herne Hill means that the race for the title is now wide open. John McFarlane and Andy Weir produced excellent runs at the sharp end, while inspired performances by Al Kennis, Andy Howse and Alex Gaskell ensured that we still closed in a low scoring 216 points. However, with little to separate HHH and Thames, members will know that the final race on 7 February will be a tough fixture. Results below

Mens Results
1	Dave Taylor (HHH)  	28.09
4	John McFarlane		28.59
9	Andy Weir  		29.29
17	Simon Wurr		30.08
18	Phill Sly  		30.21
20	James Connor		30.34
24	David Symons		31.01
27	Al Kennis  		31.12
29	Alex Gaskell		31.14
33	Andy Howse		31.35
36	Dave Barker		31.45
44	Ian Harkness		32.14
48	Andy Lynch		32.24
68	Pablo Lazo		33.31
73	Nick Malynn		33.55
86	Tim Beer  		34.44
88	Mike Farmery		34.48
96	Richard Pitt		35.29

Team
		Match		After 3 races
Thames		216		636
HHH		173		665
Bels		368		1084
AFD		507		1120

1.	Dave Taylor (HHH)		40.22
6.	Andy Weir   		41.34
11	Sam Aldridge(Oxford)	42.08
12	John McFarlane		42.11
22	Will Cockerell (Bels)	44.16
47	Andy Lynch		47.24
55	Euan Lees   		48.14
77	Dan Pescod		50.58