Chingford League Relays, Wanstead Flats: A Glorious Day in the Sun

Saturday 8th March saw the final Chingford League race of the season and I’m delighted to say both our men and women secured mid table positions which is a huge achievement given how competitive Division One is and how big some of the clubs are. We can be very proud of this and it has been very much a whole club endeavour with all training groups represented in the teams and so many people helping behind the scenes with numbers, transport, marshalling, cakes, cheerleading and photos. Our Team Spirit has been second to none and the camaraderie evident on Saturday was testament to that. Well done everyone!

For a small club our turnout has been consistently good throughout the season and the envy of many other clubs. Seventy-five!! Stags have competed; (45 men and 30 women) and fourteen (Anneli Sydenham, Des Michael, David Scott, Kirsty Johnstone, Ann Phillips, Richard McCormick, Pear Brown, Dave Byrne, Matt Clark, Dermot McHugh, Steve Holmes, Charlotte Gilligan, Jana Jilkova and Nick Scott) have competed in the first six races earning the sought after ‘ever presents’ mug in the process. For the second year in a row we had the highest number of ‘ever presents’ in the League.

In the Individual Points Competition, which was decided at the previous fixture, Richard McCormick was 1st M60 again having been the first M60 in every contest and he was presented with his award after the race. Congratulations Richard.

As for the Relays themselves they consisted of teams of four each running two miles on a multi-terrain course. Each leg was a flat loop round Wanstead Flats on trails in fields and woods, firm going for the most part but muddy in places. The sun was out and it was a glorious day; a great day for racing in fact. No one took it easy not even Richard and Ann Phillips both nursing injuries and therefore running in the B Teams.

The men’s A Team was made up of battle hardened veterans, Chun Ng and Alex Shuker, first and second respectively in this year’s Winter Points Trophy, ably supported by youngsters Nick Scott and Ed Fraser (our fastest Stag on the day of course) while the B Team was made up of a great group of experienced Vets and the C Team included some of Maggie’s dependables giving it their all. We had competitors ranging in age from their 20s to their 70s. Fantastic!

The women’s A Team included those superb competitors Jana Jilkova and Kathryn Ellis, first and second respectively in this year’s Winter Points Trophy, and they were ably supported by Sarah Moffatt and Charlotte Gilligan who was drafted in at short notice. Theirs’s was a great performance while the B Team took great pride in beating the men’s C Team.

Every one of our competitors and every team was fiercely determined and there were many great performances including lots of fierce but friendly competition between club mates and teams.

It was another fun day in this fantastic League and once again special thanks are due to our helpers on the day; Kirsty Johnstone who spent the whole day marshalling, Di Godin who helped with numbers and photographer Scott Fraser.