Peter’s brilliant run for Striders not enough to stave off relegation

Peter Mills, from Striders of Croydon, produced an excellent run to win the final Surrey Cross-Country League Division Two race of the season at Lloyd Park on Saturday. He became the first Strider ever to win a Surrey League race, and covered the muddy five-mile course in 28 minutes 58 seconds. Club colleague James Bennett also ran very well to place third (29.44).  Lee Flanagan was 24th (31.39) while team manager Krzysztof Klidzia won the over-50 category, placing 31st overall (32.08). Phil Coales was 49th (33.00), Justin Macenhill 52nd (33.10), Simon Ambrosi 71st (33.48), Greg Williams 95th (35.03), Barry White 98th (35.11) and Graeme Drysdale completed the scoring team in 100th (35.14).  Striders also had 12 non-scorers. They placed fifth in the team event, which was their best performance of the season, but was not enough to save them from relegation to Division Three.

Earlier in the day Striders’ women were competing in their Division Two match at Richmond Park. They were led by Steph Upton who placed 34th, covering the five-mile course in 36 minutes 58 seconds. Becky Laurence was 40th (37.25), Debra Bourne 48th (38.11), Amanda Barros 80th (41.48) and Selena Wong 94th (42.27). They placed eighth in the team event. Striders’ B team placed sixth in their category. Adele Boesinger was 109th (44.00) with Cress Davidson 124th (45.20), Helene McCann 131st (45.44), Linda Daniel 134th (46.02) and Victoria Legge 176th (63.57).

In the South of England Masters Indoor Championships at Lee Valley on Sunday, Striders’ middle-distance coach Alan Dolton was third in the M55 1500m (5.43.36).