Goodman and Penty kick off 2010 XC season is style at Met League

Claybury, Woodford, 9th of October-Mild conditions
 
Gavin Collett, the Administrator of the Metropolitan League for arguably, the most popular League in the country, must have been delighted with the Senior Men's field of 338 finishers over the tough Claybury course.
It is great credit to the Founder of the League Howard Williams, that a Cup will be presented in his honour 'The Howard Williams Cup' for the combined winners at the end of the season, out of 21 Clubs. Howard himself had told me how pleased he was with the addition and then, increase in the numbers of women that wanted to compete in the League (140 completed at Claybury).writes Alastair Aitken.
    Nick Torry of the current top team Serpentine had two Met League victories last season (Claybury/Wormwood Scrubs) and obtained his first international vest when running a 66 minute half marathon in Denmark in May.
Torry was obviously one of the favourites for the race at Claybury but a junior called Richard Goodman, with a massive talent, towed the line too.
    After the start Torry went ahead and set a good tempo. After a short while Godoman, tagged on behind him for the first of 3 laps.Then he wanted to go ahead so he could run at his own pace, as he liked running out in front. Although Torry was good on the downhill stretches Goodman, stole quite a few yards in the ascents and kept the momentum up on the flat, right to the finish for a convincing victory. Sean Collins (Previous best in the league 5th), who was running in a good third spot for much of the way, after coming through early on was overtaken by Orlando Edwards, who had been running well in hill races recently. Behind that but close together were North London Champion, Henry Dodwell, Andy Greenleaf and Tom Bedford. Of those who had exeptional runs behind that were two Serpentine runners, 9th Hendrick Zietsman (First V40) and 11th Hugh Torry, (Nick's brother).
    Goodman said straight after "It was hard!"  I pointed out that one of his Shaftesbury club men, Ex-10k World record holder, Dave Bedford, used to enjoy local races when he was a top international and that included some Met Leagues amongst those (Back in the '70's). He agreed with that philosophy " I enjoy running as much as I can even when it is hard. If you don' t enjoy it when it is hard your morale goes down".
Serpentine, Woodford Green and Shaftesubry are pulling away at the top of the table with Highgate fourth, who may have quite a lot to do to get in the frame by the end of the season.( London Heathside lead the Veterans table).
        In the Women's race Serpentine have a narrow lead over Highgate and Woodford. Highgate's women veterans' lead their league and include two interesting veteran scorers achieving other things in the year.
Esther Evans won the 35-39 World Duathlon Championships in France in May and Gayelle Le Bray won the Triathlon World sprint title for 35-39 in Budapest in September.
    After the start at Claybury Esther Evans, set a furious pace as they went down the hill.By the end of the first small lap she had been joined by Becky Penty, who was 15th in he National cross country, and ran a 75.58 half marathon in Bristol in the Summer. Penty pulled right away in the second lap for a very clear win. Shaftesbury's Sophie Connor, an 'Under 20', moved into second place on the final lap ahead of Becky Glover of Serpentine, from the club that had three in the first six home!.
    In the race immediately before that was the 'Under 17 and Under 15' Boys and that was won by an interesting future talent from T.V.H. He was James Murdoch, who is only 15. He is at Latymer Upper School. He is a triathlete as well.
He decided to go to the front at the start of the second lap at Claybury and held on well.  "This is my biggest win so far!" He remarked and said that he was coached by James Beckinsale and Roy Carridge"
                                        
RICHARD GOODMAN LOOKS BACK ON THE SOUTHERN ROAD RELAY - SEPTEMBER 26TH

Xman photos 2010 
HE took Shaftesbury and Barnet AC into 1st  place on the 2nd lap after taking over a couple of seconds down on Aldershot the eventual winners.
    " He did appear to have 100m on me but I had nothing to lose so hammered it and caught up with Nathan Riding and, as he was running a bit too slow for my liking, I went past him and carried on the high tempo. It was a shame then that I ran by myself' (Goodman did 18.04). I would have run much faster with some people around me. It is difficult to guess but that is all 'Part and Parcel'. I just put my head down!"