Press Release

Date:	Saturday 15th January 2000
Title:	Metropolitan League XC at Claybury

A fantastic team victory at Claybury was North London AC's first Metropolitan League race win for the men in over 5 years. 2 laps and 5 miles of muddy x-country were provided by Woodford Green's home course but they could only finish 2nd, with TVH back in 3rd place. Ethiopian Gebru Beyeh turned the tables on club rival Norman Mitchell who kicked from last weekend's county championships with the pair finishing 6th and 13th respectively. The shorter course was more suited to Gebru's style, although he lost 5th place thanks to a wrong turning for the finish. Martin Potter held off a strong challenge from Paul Lemmon, until a fall in the mud allowed a gap to open up and the pair finished 22nd and 25th respectively. Another faller was Mike Coleman who fell twice but picked himself up for a storming second lap caked in mud! Harry Spinthiros completed the team with a strong run for his best ever finish in 45th. The 19 year old goes from strength to strength and held off team mate Andy Owen in 48th who struggled round after tripping in the opening sprint, cracking a rib and finding himself at the back after less than a hundred yards. Louie Budai was next home in 59th, another best place, with Bazyl Pietrowski in 71st. John Rene (81st ) outsprinted Dave Walton (82nd) and Pete Crockford in 96th completed 12 in the top 100 for the first time this season. Pete Holland finished 100th , Charles Verrall 113th, Russell Weston 153rd and Laurence Steinpress 171st.

In the junior races, Ibrahim Iskender was 12th in the u15 boys, and Julie Gilby 26th and Antonia Tibble 37th. In the ladies race, Moyra Amess was 25th, Fiona Holland 29th and Ruth Miller 36th.

Next weekend is the North of Thames Senior Championships at Horsenden Hill, with medals a likely prospect.

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Page keeper Laurence Steinpress
You can contact Laurence at: laurence.s@cableinet.co.uk