Medals for TVH men at the North of Thames Championships
It was a balmy if overcast day at Kingsbury for the annual Liddiard and North of the Thames cross country races. These venerable institutions date back many decades, and were clearly much bigger events in the past as reflected by the size and magnificence of the trophies, and the many variants of team combinations that can score. The only downside of this is the time taken to compute the team results at the end, but carried out with diligence and good humour by the hosts Queens Park Harriers. Because of the differing qualification rules for the two races, the make up of the results for the two trophies in the one race is slightly different, with second claimers eligible for the Liddiard, but not for the NoTT.
There was nonetheless a good turnout of 144 runners, and an exceptionally good representation of 14 Valley men, whose talent was justly rewarded with silver team medals in the Liddiard and bronze team medals in the NOTT championships. Unfortunately despite TVH glory in past years for the ladies, only two stalwarts took part on the day, not even making a single team.
The Kingsbury course is a hark back to bygone days before the suburbs sprawled out over North London, with meadows and hedgerows dotted with trees, which despite the grey cloud shone bright with autumn yellow and gold. The ground was firm underfoot, with the longish grass perhaps being something of a brake for an otherwise fast course all way.
The ladies headed off first with one short lap on the flat part of the course, followed by one long lap with its two steady climbs, the second one on a narrow path through scrub and low woodland backing on to the houses at the southern end of the course. Barbara Maddison worked hard all the way around, to finish a very creditable 38th out of 61, with Christine Munden also working hard to come in at 57th.
In the men’s race, with an additional long lap, Imperial athlete Chris Allison made an excellent TVH debut to come in a clear and comfortable fourth place, followed by in-form Julian Koett at 11th with Manuel Caeiro 4 places and 37 seconds later. Simon Prigent is returning to form and continued the run of close finishing Valley men at 18th, with V45 Andrew Mitchell turning in another exceptionally good performance just one second behind. Andrew was also rewarded for his hard work with an individual silver medal for finishing 2nd V40 in the NOTT championships. Another good race from an Imperial athlete making his TVH debut, Alistair Wallace, who was 27th, with Fergus Johnson close behind in 30 and Christian Nielsen on a child care swap at 62 to complete the Liddiard 8 to score team, coming in a comfortable and well deserved 2nd for silver medals behind winning team Highgate. There were more medals in the North of the Thames championships, with the Valley winning bronze team medals. For the North of the Thames four to score team competition, Julian Koett, Manuel Caeiro, Simon Prigent and Andrew Mitchell finished in a very creditable 3rd place, with Christian and Paul Woodgate joining them to claim a further third place for the 6 to score event.
Following them came marathoner Paul Woodgate at 68, closely followed by Scott Brewer at 70, Manuel da Silva 3 places behind, with James Malcolm putting in another XC appearance for the club just 5 seconds and two places later, with long time regular Richard Bell at 91, and Simon Maddison working hard at the rear in 137.
Many thanks to Barrie and Phil for their enthusiasm and unstinting support.
Liddiard Trophy Men’s Race Results :
4 Chris Allison, 25:15
11 Julian Koett, 26:03
15 Manuel Caeiro, 26:40
18 Simon Prigent, 27:02
19 Andrew Mitchell, 27:03
27 Alistair Wallace, 27:41
30 Fergus Johnson, 28:08
62 Christian Nielsen, 30:44
68 Paul Woodgate, 31:10
70 Scott Brewer, 31:20
73 Manuel Da Silva, 31:48
75 James Malcolm, 31:53
91 Richard Bell, 32:50
137 Simon Maddison, 40:13
144 Finishers
Liddiard Trophy Men’s Team Results :
8 To Score, 2nd Team, TVH , 202 points
4 Chris Allison, 25:15
12 Julian Koett, 26:03
16 Manuel Caeiro, 26:40
19 Simon Prigent, 27:02
20 Andrew Mitchell, 27:03
29 Alistair Wallace, 27:41
32 Fergus Johnson, 28:08
70 Christian Nielsen, 30:44
Liddiard Trophy Women’s Race Results :
36 Barbara Maddison, 23:05
52 Christine Munden, 26:52
55 Finishers
North of The Thames Men’s Race Results :
10 Julian Koett, 26:03
13 Manuel Caeiro, 26:40
16 Simon Prigent, 27:02
17 Andrew Mitchell, 27:03
58 Christian Nielsen, 30:44
62 Paul Woodgate, 31:10
64 Scott Brewer, 31:20
67 Manuel Da Silva, 31:48
69 James Malcolm, 31:53
84 Richard Bell, 32:50
126 Simon Maddison, 40:13
132 Finishers
North of The Thames Men’s Team Results :
4 To Score, 3rd Team, TVH A , 67 points
12 Julian Koett, 26:03
16 Manuel Caeiro, 26:40
19 Simon Prigent, 27:02
20 Andrew Mitchell, 27:03
4 To Score, 14th Team, TVH B , 308 points
70 Christian Nielsen, 30:44
77 Paul Woodgate, 31:10
79 Scott Brewer, 31:20
82 Manuel Da Silva, 31:48
6 To Score, 3rd Team, TVH , 214 points
12 Julian Koett, 26:03
16 Manuel Caeiro, 26:40
19 Simon Prigent, 27:02
20 Andrew Mitchell, 27:03
70 Christian Nielsen, 30:44
77 Paul Woodgate, 31:10
8 To Score, 4th Team, TVH, 375 points
12 Julian Koett, 26:03
16 Manuel Caeiro, 26:40
19 Simon Prigent, 27:02
20 Andrew Mitchell, 27:03
70 Christian Nielsen, 30:44
77 Paul Woodgate, 31:10
79 Scott Brewer, 31:20
82 Manuel Da Silva, 31:48
North of The Thames Women’s Race Results :
38 Barbara Maddison, 23:05
58 Christine Munden, 26:52
61 Finishers