Herts and Middlesex Masters' Cross Country Championships

A team of 12 Barnet athletes competed in the Herts and Middlesex Masters' Cross Country Championships at Cassiobury Park, Watford, on March 26th with great success. The day had started with very heavy rain which eased off but led to very slippery conditions on the course which is not suitable for spikes. All the Barnet runners were in the later, shorter race; 4.4 miles. Paul Bassa was first man and Sarah Moffatt first woman home for Barnet.  There were several well-deserved individual medals won; Paul Bassa 2nd M60, Des Michael 2nd M70, Helen Hoyle 2nd W55 all for Herts and Sarah Moffatt 2nd W55 and Geraldine Stapleton 1st W65 for Middlesex. Team wise Barnet was 3rd Herts W55 with Helen, Kirsty Johnstone and Clare Boutle and Barnet was 2nd Middlesex W55 with Sarah, Geraldine and Mary Brown.  Credit must go to Anna Murray who was supposed to be playing football which was cancelled at the very last minute and dashed desperately across London to make it with 10 minutes to spare; her efforts were appreciated. The other Barnet athletes who also performed with great credit were Jana Jilkova and Peter Ellis. It was good to see Brian Fowler, Julian Tovey, Chris Stott and Jenny Lambert officiating and Andy Cunningham and Jose Gomes supporting. The best moment of the day was Geraldine about half an hour after the race asking what her two medals were for!