Top performances by local athletes

Ealing Eagles retained their men’s team prize in Sunday’s Thames Towpath 10, while there was women’s age category success for Nichola Anderson.

She claimed victory in the 40-49 age group category, clocking 1:12:06 to cap a successful race for an Eagles squad boasting 62 finishers over the 10 miles.

Dave Chryssides placed third overall, finishing in 59:37, four places and 21 seconds ahead of team-mate Colin Overton.

Chris Lambert made up the winning threesome, finishing ninth in 1:01:14, to take the prize.

The performance ensured the Eagles held on to a title they first claimed last year, when Chryssides was also a part of the winning trio. Another of last year’s winning team, Tom Rowles, was just two places behind Lambert in 1:01:26.

Amy Cope-Balchin was first woman home for the Eagles, in 1:11:58. Her performance, combined with those of Anderson and Jennifer Watt - who clocked 1:12:26 - secured second place in the ladies’ team category.

The race, organised by Chiswick-based West 4 Harriers, also marked the culmination of the Eagles’ first internal club championship and there were double celebrations for some of the successful runners.

Chryssides won the men’s category in the competition, which takes into account runners’ best five placings within the Eagles squad over a series of events at different distances. He beat off stiff competition from both Lambert and Overton.

Robin Hemmings won the male veterans category (age 40-49), while Piers Keenleyside claimed the senior veterans crown (50 and over).

Cope-Balchin was top female, with a clean-sweep of all races she competed in, while Anderson won the veterans category. Sue Park claimed the senior veterans crown.

Club competitions officer Lisa Emerson said: “We hoped the club championship would help spur on members of all standards to greater heights by encouraging competition among team-mates.

“Times have been coming down across the board and it’s great to see some of those who’ve been our most consistent performers enjoying a successful end to our racing year. It’s fitting they should have ended up on the podium on Sunday.

“The results throughout the team give the club real confidence to take into the coming Summer League season.”

30th April 2014