Phil leads Striders in close contest at Lloyd Park

Phil Coales, from Striders of Croydon, had an excellent run to place third in the East Surrey League cross-country race at Lloyd Park on Saturday, covering the undulating five-mile course in 29 minutes 55 seconds. Club colleague Lee Flanagan also ran well to place seventh overall and first in the over-40 category (31.47). Taric Matticks was 18th (34.01) and Greg Williams completed the club’s A team in 21st (34.56). Striders placed third in a closely-contested team event. Hercules-Wimbledon won with 46 points, just ahead of Epsom (48), Striders (49), Croydon Harriers (52) and Herne Hill (57). Striders had the first B team to finish, led by Simon Pannell in 23rd (35.08). Julian Spencer-Wood ran well for 28th overall and first in the over-60 category (36.03). Andy Perks was 29th (36.04) and Steve Harris 33rd (36.49). Striders’ women were led by Becky Laurence who was the seventh woman to finish, placing 49th overall (39.01). Striders had 14 of the 74 finishers, more than any of the other seven clubs, and also had 42 finishers in the various local parkruns earlier that day.