START FITNESS METROPOLITAN LEAGUE 3 (December 2018)
Hillingdon House Farm, Uxbridge 1st of December
PAUL MARTELLETTI had his second ever win in the Metropolitan League and following his London victory at Parliament Hill
“Cross country is my favourite type of racing. Other races come around all the time.’
He added ‘I had trained very hard the day before running at Welwyn and so, I had a shocker
in the conditions (12th).In the summer I achieved a personal best of seven years ago, for the 5000 with 14:19 and was near by best with a 2:17 marathon in Berlin.”
In the senior race at Hillingdon House Farrm, that attracted again over 400 competitors Roger Poolman, looked very relaxed as he led at the half way stage by some 40 metres with Paul Marttelletinext 30 meters ahead of several racing for the third spot, all fairly close together Samatar Farah, Thomas Butler, John Eves, Alex Le Petre and Robel Bahelbi. As the race progressed in the last large lap Marttelleti started to make inroads into Poolman’s lead and caught him at the brook, where Poolman fell in the water but, up the last field Marttelleti was the stronger with Samatar Farah taking third spot. One must point out Poolman’s remarkable improvement from 106 at Uxbridge last yeas to 11th at Claybury and 8th at Welwyn this year and 2nd at Uxbridge. The two oldest in the field were Dog Milsom, who has a single pacemaker 401 He will be 80in May 2019, the same month John Steed, who brought the field in 404 will be 84! The overall team scores are led by Highgate Harriers with 3392; Victoria Park &Tower hamlets have 2657 and London Heathside on 2428.
Robert Wilson, Highgate’s cross-country Captain said “There is no way Highgate are going to be beaten as they have the strength and depth”
In the Women’s race Rachel Thomas followed up her victory in the Sorority Cup at Trent Park the Saturday before with a good win at Uxbridge. As they came through the half way stage Yasmin Goater was leading with about 30 metres to Anna Hollingsworth who had won the Liddiard and North London Championship, with Rachel Thomas a further 20 metres behind that .Thomas finished strongly to take the lead as they came out of the final brook and ran strongly up the finish to win Hollingsworth, Rebecca Piggott, Stephanie Ainley Emma Burgess (Herhighest ever position in the league) and Yamin Goater.
London Heathside women won on the day.The points now read London Heathside 816; Victoria Park 816 and Highgate.783
A most impressive run was in the Under 17 womens’ race when Shaftsbury’s Freya Stapleton won for the third consecutive time. She was lucky enough to have a good lead at the brook before the final stretch, because she fell heavily in the brook. For a moment all you could see was her head above the water. The brook was a lot deeper than last year, because of all the recent rain..
Benjy Bediako (U11, London Heatahside) and Bret Rushman (U17 Herts Phoenix) won for the 2nd time this season in the Met league races.
The Howard Williams Trophy for combined scores in the seniors Victoria Park lead with 45 and Highgate and Lodon Heathside are on 44 points. For the Howard Williams Junior Trophy
Woodford Green & Essex ladies have commanding lead with 11 points and Shaftesbury Barnet have 4 points also, well ahead of the rest.