Steph leads Striders at Coulsdon race

Striders of Croydon’s women faced strong opposition in the second Surrey Womens Cross-Country League match of the season, at Coulsdon on Saturday. They were led by team captain Steph Upton, who ran well to place 82nd out of more than 300 finishers, covering the undulating four-mile course in 28 minutes 25 seconds. Striders’ second woman home was Zoe Williams, who had been ill during the week but made a good recovery to place 157^th in exactly 31 minutes. Becky Laurence was 195^th (32.48), Linda Daniel 249^th (35.34) and Katie McInnes 301^st (39.58).

Meanwhile Damian Macenhill ran well to finish fourth in the weekly parkrun in Lloyd Park, covering the undulating five-kilometre course in 20 minutes 42. Club colleague Geoff Pennells was ninth (21.49). Club secretary Chris Morton was seventh in the Roundshaw parkrun (20.25) and Sam O’Dongo was tenth in the Crystal Palace parkrun (20.57). Striders had a total of 33 finishers in the various local parkruns.