Mark Spiller first home for Bishop’s Stortford Running Club on home soil in first cross country race of Local League season

Mark Spiller was first home for Bishop’s Stortford Running Club when they hosted the first cross country race of the Local League season on Sunday (December 3).

He came fourth overall on the five-mile course of muddy trails beyond Stortford before finishing at the clubhouse on Beldams Lane, with runners from Harlow, Ware and Saffron Walden clubs also competing.

Rob Thorpe, Stephen Wilkes, Keir Mann, Matt Ironside and Pete Jurd finished in consecutive positions from 13th to 17th to leave the men’s team with a total of 131 points from the eight scoring which was enough for second place.

Leading the ladies home was Lizzie Bellinger in third overall and a strong following pack meant seven of the green and gold girls finished in the top 14. The eight scoring runners totalled a tiny 39 which was also worthy of second place.

Once the morning mud was washed off, a number of runners made their way to London for a running tour of the lights, guided by John Kennedy.

Starting from Liverpool Street, they headed south, past St Paul’s Cathedral, over Millenium Bridge, along the South Bank, past the London Eye, crossed the Thames again at Westminster Bridge, along Horse Guards and down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace. Once through Green Park, the runners headed to Piccadilly, up Regent Street and Carnaby Street, before finishing on Oxford Street.

On Saturday, Jane Malone and Rachel Turvey headed to a sub-zero Victoria Park for a multi-lap half marathon. The former clocked 2hr 24min 46sec while the latter got a PB of 2:29.44.