Liz O’Keeffe
Yesterday, 29 runners and seven supportive family members took on the six legs of the 34-mile, self- navigational Greensand Ridge Relay and were triumphant, securing both the Shield Handicap Trophy and
the Ladies’ Trophy. This event is always a favourite day out, full of camaraderie, laughter, lift-sharing, and the occasional bit of drama. That said, there may have been a touch too much drama this year for my
liking, with some last-minute team changes and a few missed or incorrect turns. Even so, all five teams – including eight first-time Greensand runners – supported each other on their recces and coordinated car logistics brilliantly, coping admirably with the warm conditions and finishing well within the cut-off times.
Lynda Hembury was once again available to run for the Trojans’ ‘Good for Age’ team, providing them with a substantial handicap advantage. Mary Ward ran a strong first leg, extending the team’s lead early on.
Chris Olley, Lynda, Nigel Bunn, Emma Bradbury, and Katie Van De Linde all delivered solid performances, maintaining the lead throughout the day. A huge thank you goes to Emma, who switched teams and legs at
the very last minute to keep the Trojans together – their efforts were rewarded with victory in the Handicap Shield.
The Corinthians Ladies’ team welcomed newcomers Sophie Morris, Pippa Mills, and Sarah Needleman, all of whom ran exceptionally fast and navigated flawlessly. Sophie was the fastest female on leg 2, and Sally
claimed the same on leg 4. Pippa and Sarah were the second-fastest on their respective legs, while Kat and Liz were the third-fastest on theirs. This outstanding performance earned them the Fastest Ladies’ Trophy.
Tring’s fast open Spartan team consisted of Josh Frewin, Ben O’Keeffe, Ross Langley, Nick Stallman, Jim Morris, and Tom Raftery. Jim made his debut on the notoriously tricky leg 5 and handled it brilliantly. Tom
had a sensational run on leg 6, finishing second overall, while Ben and Ross were the third-fastest on legs 2 and 3 respectively. The Spartans finished as the third-fastest team overall.
Simply getting the Romans team to the start line with a full team was an achievement in itself. Thanks to Chris Olley for stepping in to run leg 4, having already completed leg 2 for the Trojans. Jon Salmon took on
leg 5 at short notice, and Celine filled in as a replacement for leg 6. Dan Barber and Ben Rouse tackled the Greensand Relay for the first time, running legs 1 and 2, with John O’Keeffe completing leg 3.
First-time Greensand runner Steve Morgan joined experienced Gladiators Len Van Linde, Sue Frewin, Rick Ansell, Sandra Morgan, and Paul Terrett. They all ran like the seasoned pros they are – no navigational errors, no drop-outs, just solid, dependable running throughout.
The Greensand Ridge Relay is a brilliant day out and a fantastic way to get to know runners from different pace groups. There truly is a place for everyone in the club. Next year, I plan to be better prepared for any
last-minute drop-outs by asking a few experienced Greensanders to be on standby to run an alternative/additional leg if needed.