Mud, Sweat, and Cheers at Lord Wandsworth XC
On Sunday 15th December, Alton Runners fielded a large team of 30 runners in an exhilarating Southern Cross Country League fixture hosted at Lord Wandsworth College in Long Sutton. The course, approximately 5-miles long, featured undulating terrain, woodland tracks, and some challenging muddy areas.
The race was ultimately won by Dylan Poulton from Alton Runners. Among the female competitors, Debbie Rhodes was the first Alton Runner to cross the finish line, securing 28th place among the women. Alton Runners are currently positioned just outside the team medal standings, holding 4th place with two fixtures remaining in the 2024/25 season.
After the storm-postponed Alice Holt Forest event, it was fantastic to see everyone back on the trails. The course offered just the right mix of hills, grass, water, and mud, making for an exciting and challenging race. Well done to everyone for staying on your feet on that muddy section! The event was supported by a team of brilliant marshals, whose encouragement and support were greatly appreciated by all runners.
Darren Pratt commented, "It was great to hear marshals around the course saying that Alton Runners came out in big numbers. It was brilliant seeing everyone at the end staying behind, cheering all in. That’s what we are about – cheer for one, cheer for all”.
Looking ahead, the next fixture in the Southern Cross Country League is the rescheduled Alice Holt Forest event on 29th December, located on the edge of the Hampshire/Surrey border. Alton Runners are hoping for another strong club turnout.
Article by Lydia Andrews
24/12/2024