Clubs battle for honours at the 27th Stragglers Green Belt Relay at Hampton Court on May 17-18
Ranelagh Harriers came out on top of this 22-stage event around the outskirts of London, despite Thames Hare & Hounds’ mixed team being given an early advantage thanks to James McMullen and Richard Ollington.
Ranelagh then had Peter Robins and Erin McDaid helping them to a one-minute lead after six legs.
Clapham Chasers women had a couple of good performances early on thanks to Georgie Bruinvels and Tracy Barlow on stages three and four and they were to score repeat wins on day two.
Thames’ Lizzy Apsley’s overall stage win on stage seven was a highlight: a stage record by about six minutes and only the sixth-ever outright stage win for a woman. She was then second quickest overall on the penultimate stage.
By the end of stage 11 from Toot Hill to Blackmoor and the overnight stop, Ranelagh’s men led by nearly seven minutes from Clapham Chasers mixed team.
They were then pulled back by Thames’ James Hoad on stage 12 as Clapham lost ground but Peter Robins ensured that Ranelagh increased their lead, over Thames on stage 14 to over 11 minutes.
Further down, Clapham’s women were over an hour down on Ranelagh’s women despite the efforts of Bruinvels and Barlow.
Thereafter, Ranelagh increased their lead overall, despite Thames’ Paddy Roddy taking four minutes from their lead on the hilly stage 16 to Tatsfield and their Richard Ollington three on leg 20 to Ripley.
The Ranelagh winning margin was over 15 minutes from Thames mixed squad.
Overall (220M): 1 Ranelagh men 21:37:14; 2 Thames Hare & Hounds mixed 21:50:25; 3 Clapham Chasers mixed 21:53:13
M40: 1 Serpentine 23:56:20
Women: 1 Ranelagh 62:10:39; 2 Clapham Chasers 64:56:10
59 complete teams finished
Day 1
Stage 1 (Hampton Court to Staines, 12.70M)
Fastest: M Leyshon (Rane) 74:59
Women: C O’Shea (VP&TH, W35) 84:51
Stage 2 (Staines to Boveney, 9.42M)
Fastest: J McMullan (THH) 56:49
Stage 3 (Boveney to Little Marlow, 11.20M)
Fastest: R Ollington (THH) 64:53
Women: G Bruinvels (Clap, W35) 70:10
Stage 4 (Little Marlow to Great Kingshill, hilly 11.80M)
Fastest: J Hoad (THH) 72:56
Women: T Barlow (Clap, W35) 82:59
Stage 5 (Great Kingshill to Chipperfield, hilly 13.50M)
Fastest: P Robins (Rane) 75:37
Stage 6 (Chipperfield to St Albans, 8.50M)
Fastest: E McDaid (Rane) 49:31
M60: 1 B Reynolds (THH) 52:19
Women: M Lennon (W55) 62:36
Stage 7 (St Albans to Letty Green, 11.60M)
Fastest: L Apsley (THH, W) 68:26
Stage 8 (Letty Green to Dobbs Weir, 10.70M)
Fastest: J Killip (Rane) 59:57
Women: G Reynolds (Beeches) 63:29
Stage 9 (Dobbs Weir to High Beech, 10.20M)
Fastest: P Roddy (THH) 54:51
Women: N Sheel (Serp) 64:56
Stage 10 (High Beech to Toot Hill, 9.00M)
Fastest: J Smith (Rane) 55:47
Stage 11 (Toot Hill to Blackmore, 7.50M)
Fastest: J Neville (Burg HR) 42:58
Day 2 (100.65M)
Stage 12 (Blackmore to Thorndon Park, 10.75M)
Fastest: J Hoad (THH) 59:31
Women: P Warrack (DR) 71:23
Stage 13 (Thorndon Park to Cranham, 6.60M)
Fastest: M Raeside (Clap) 37:32; J Whistler (Rane) 37:57
M55: C Allen (STrag) 40:05
Women: B Murray (THH) 41:36
Stage 14 (Cranham to Davy Down QE 11 Bridge, 9.0M)
Fastest: P Robins (Rane) 50:14; E Neville (THH) 51:29
Women: G Bruinvels (Clap, W35) 57:06
Stage 15 (Stone Lodge to Lullingstone Park, 9.40M)
Fastest: D Ready (Rane) 58:53
M60: B Reynolds (THH) 59:28
Women: T Barlow (Clap, W35) 58:33
Stage 16 (Lullingstone Park to Tatsfield, hilly 13.10M)
Fastest: P Roddy (THH) 76:52
Women: G Reynolds (Beeches) 88:56
Stage 17 (Tatsfield to Merstham, 10.50M)
Fastest: H Wyber (Serp) 60:51
Stage 18 (Merstham to Box Hill, hilly 9.60M)
Fastest: H Gutteridge (Clap) 59:22
Stage 19 (Box Hill to West Hanger, 8.40M)
Fastest: C Mason (Clap) 53:22
Women: N Hornzee (Strag, W45) 62:31
Stage 20 (West Hanger to Ripley, 6.00M)
Fastest: R Ollerington (THH) 30:28
Women: E McKeever (Rane, W45) 40:47
Stage 21 (Ripley to Walton Bridge, 8.40M)
Fastest: R McDonald (Rane) 47:45
Women: L Apsley (THH) 49:43
Stage 22 (Walton Bridge to Bushy Park Sports Centre, 7.1M)
Fastest: S Walker (Wimb W) 46:32
Women: N Sheel (Serp, W35) 50:41
