Athletics

Appalling conditions greeted competitors in the third of this season's Surrey Ladies Cross Country League meetings in Richmond Park.

The wet start to 1999 turned the course into a muddy quagmire and runners in all four races faced wet and testing going underfoot.

The senior race saw the unusual spectacle of the Division Two winner finishing ahead of the first competitors in the Division One race.

Walton's Kate Ramsey, who missed last month's county championships at Happy Valley, finished well clear of the county silver and bronze medallists Rachel Disley (Thames Hare and Hounds) and Estle Viljoen (Hercules Wimbledon), to score a surprise victory.

She splashed her way round the six kilometres circuit against a bitterly cold wind to cross the line in 21 min 11 sec, seven seconds clear of Disley, who won the Division One race.

Dulwich Runners' Sue Blackett was runner-up in the Division Two race in 21:23 with Viljoen third in 21:41. Belgrave Harriers led home by Nicky Haines, seventh in 23:00 and Helen Maskrey ninth in 23:22, took the teams honours with 94 points, to retain their grip on the division.

But, Kingston-based Stragglers, headed in by Phyllis Flynn, 10th in 32:32, closed the gap in the overall placings to just four points as they took second team place with 118 from Walton (162).

Wimbledon Windmilers' Polly Rogers-Dixon was fourth in 22:39.

Win for Lucas

Sutton's Amanda Lucas made a winning start to her 1999 racing programme with an impressive victory in the what was the third of this season's Surrey Ladies Cross Country League under- 17 races in Richmond Park.

Teenager Amanda was impressive as she romped home in 18min 13sec, almost a minute ahead of Guildford's Katie Grimshaw. Belgrave's Debbie Hearn came third in 19:13.

Next over the line, just one second later, was Ranelagh's Estelle Damant, with Epsom and Ewell's Jessica Richards sixth in 19:31.

Amanda, who also won the opening league race at Tilford, led Sutton to the team honours. They scored 29 points to beat Epsom and Ewell (51) and still head the league.

Hercules Wimbledon's Olivia Hines led her club to victory in the under-15s race in which she was runner-up in 14:05 behind Woking's Lorna Vyse (13:40), with Ranelagh's Charlotte Best, running as a guest, third in 14:06.

First Ranelagh scorer was Angharad Hughes, fifth in 14:47

Ranelagh's bid hit by absences

Ranelagh Harriers provided almost a quarter of the starters in the Division One section of the women's Surrey Cross Country League on their home course in Richmond Park on Saturday.

No less than 22 of the hundred-odd starters were in the Ranelagh blue and yellow, 10 more than any other club.

But numbers alone do not win the league and, unfortunately, some of Ranelagh's best runners were amongst the absentees. The result was that the club could not improve on its sixth place of the 10 clubs in the top division.

Leading finisher in 16th place was super-veteran Margaret Auerback, who has clearly found the elixir of eternal youth. Fifty one-year-old Auerback recorded 23.41 for the 5.75km course. Hot on her heels was Marlene Pautard, then in 26th place came the first of Ranelagh's two South Africans in the race, Bridget Cuthbert. Former club captain Sonia Rowland 41st and fast-improving Caroline Hunt 53rd completed the scoring team, but a host of their clubmates were soon crossing the finish line. Brazilian Eliete Nasc-imento came in 64th, Ellie Grant 65th, Hazel Meyer 66th, Julie Drummond 68th, Carol McDiarmid 70th and Mandy Holliday 71st were all home within a space of 20 seconds. In the junior races the best result came from Estelle Damant, an excellent fourth in the Under 17s race. Angharad Hughes and Alice Beverley were fifth and eighth amongst the Under 15s with newcomer Valentina Ceschi close behind in 15th place. Finally in the Under 13s Charlotte Wilson finished 6th ahead of two more newcomers Stacey Barber and Sophie Hind 33rd and 34th.

HORSE RACING

Epsom trainer Simon Dow has clocked up his 300th winner, with stable stalwart Confronter doing the business at Lingfield Park last Thursday.

The 10-year-old chestnut gelding, who is regarded as the stable pet, was ridden by Dow's apprentice Paul Doe and held on to a three-quarter length win over seven rivals for victory.

Dow, 37, has been training at Clear Heights stables for the last seven years. As well as being the top Epsom trainer on the flat last season (22 wins from 47 horses in the yard, and two over the jumps), he is also chairman of the Epsom Trainers' Association.

"It was appropriate this milestone, his 11th win, was notched up by Confronter," said Dow. "He has been such a lovely, reliable and giving horse."

Dow will leave shortly for his annual trip with the horses to Cagnes sur Mer in France.

Confronter was not meant to be going this time. But after his latest win he has booked his passage for his delighted owner.

TABLE TENNIS

The first half of the season has now been completed with Chessington 1 retaining the Leatherhead Epsom and District Table Tennis Championship with a narrow win over Fetcham 1, who finished runners up.

Chessington fielded their strongest line up with league champion Graham Bateman, seasoned veteran Mike Pearson and Karl Harvey, a new to the league up and coming young player.

As expected, Bateman took the hat trick without being unduly stretched and Mike Pearson scored two. For Fetcham, Tony Morse lost 21-8, 13-21, 8-21 to Pearson, despite his emphatic first game win.

Although losing all three for Chessington, Harvey was excellent with his all round loop game and was unlucky to lose to Robin Denman after five deuces in the last game, 18-21, 21-13, 26-24. Peter Palmer played well for Fetcham in beating Harvey and Pearson by 21-18, 21-17.

Tony Morse and Mike Pearson are presently representing the Surrey veterans team.

ROWING

Weybridge rowers looking for new talent

Weybridge Ladies Amateur Rowing Club is on the search for new talent.

The club, based on the Thames tow path in Walton Lane opposite the Lincoln Arms, has junior and senior sections, and both recreational and competitive rowing.

But it needs new blood to keep up its success rate in regattas.

No experience is necessary, but the club wants people who are prepared to put in the work.

New members should be 18-40 years old, actively interested in sport and fitness and able to work in a team environment.

Opportunities are available to row, scull and cox. Good coxswains are always valued at a rowing club and can be the key to victory.

You must be able to commit to two to three sessions a week to ensure coaching. Sessions are approximately 1½ hours long. Coaches provide their time voluntarily and expect athletes to match the time they invest in you.

Experienced rowers are welcome, especially those who are focused on competing in 1999 or wish to share their skills by coaching.

Weybridge Ladies ARC hopes to whip new recruits into shape with a combination of land and water training.

While the winter hangs over us, circuit training, running and rowing at Elmbridge Leisure Centre is on offer during weekday evenings. Saturday and Sunday mornings focus on crew sessions on the water. As summer nights arrive, more time is spent on the water.

All this effort is meant to ensure crews are ready to win some trophies at summer Regattas. Club wins in 1998 included Women's Novice Coxed Fours at Marlow Spring Regatta, Women's Senior Two Coxed Fours at Egham Regatta, Women's Novice Single Sculls at Henley Town and Visitors and Women's Senior Two Coxless Pairs at Oxford City Regatta.

If you are interested in becoming a part of this exciting sport phone Hilary Watson on 01932 829873.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.