28th October 2008

Hitchin based triathlon Club FVS  TRI stormed the opening fixture of the Sunday Cross Country League at Cheshunt with wins in the Men’s A and B Team races, the Men’s Masters race and the Women’s A and Women’s Masters. They were also the leading overall club of the 15 that make up the Sunday League  in the combined competition ahead of Trent Park, Royston and Garden City Runners.  Men and women competed together for the first time this year in a combined race over approximately 5.5 miles. 31 male and female athletes competed for FVS TRI with the men’s  A and B teams  made up of 8 men and the men’s Masters team made up of the leading 4 athletes aged over 40 in each club. Steve Harrison won the race overall in a time of 30:26 for the approximate 5.5 mile 3 lap course. Simon Hall (33:54), Brian White (34:28), James Grierson (34:54), Dil Wetherill (35:16), Mike Russell (35:33), Mark Young (35:43) and Mark Robertson (36:49) made up the winning A Team which only beat 2^nd placed Royston by 4 points in a close competition in the opening fixture.  The masters team was Simon Hall, Brian White, James Grierson and Dil Wetherill who also beat Royston into 2^nd place for the veteran win.  The winning B Team of 8  were led home by cross country first timer Richard Allen, Simon Patenall, Mark Grayson, Steffan Ford, Andy Mussett, Ed Manson, Max Lepoutre and Sean Bradley.Dil Wetherill, Steffan Ford and Richard Allen were all competing over cross country for the first time for the club.

In the ladies race Gemma Sargent was first home for the club in 7^th overall in 39:55  with Sam Tophill (41:29), Kate Turner (42:34), Lesley Dutton (42:56) and Jackie Perry (44:05) making up the winning women team of 5. The winning Masters Team of 3 was Sam Tophill, Lesley Dutton and Jackie Perry.  Lynn Allen made her debut on the country with Naomi Woodland making a welcome return to the Club

 The next fixture is at Welwyn in November with a monthly race through the winter finishing in February with the Watford fixture.