Hercules Wimbledon AC Dominates South of England Six Stage Road Relays
As the autumn season kicks off the athletics ‘road’ season, Hercules Wimbledon AC showcased their exceptional talent and depth at the South of England Six Stage Road Relays held at the Rushmoor Arena this past Saturday. The senior men’s team demonstrated their prowess by achieving remarkable results, surpassing last year’s record-breaking performance. With two teams in the top eight, the A’s secured a fifth-place finish, while the B’s outperformed many of the South of England’s A teams to match their eighth-place finish from the previous year. The C’s placed 32nd out of 103 teams, with the D’s coming in 66th, highlighting the club’s overall strong presence and competitive spirit.
Charlie Wyllie set the tone for the A’s with an impressive 6k course time of 18:21, bringing the team to eighth place on the first leg. Following closely behind, George Brown clocked 18:32 to secure the B’s 17th place in the initial stage of the race. The competition remained fierce as Jonathan Cornish propelled the B’s to seventh with a time of 18:24, while Alex Milne’s 18:30 performance lifted the B’s into the top 10. Archie Walton continued the momentum with a time of 19:10, narrowing the gap, despite Charlie Eastaugh facing challenges with a hip injury and finishing in 19:22.
The A’s showcased their dominance on the fourth leg, with Andrew Penney making significant gains by overtaking five competitors and recording the fastest time of 18:15. Meanwhile, George Mallett’s strong performance of 18:58 lifted the B’s to eighth place. The final positions for Hercules were solidified with Dan Cliffe (18:35) and Toby Cooke (18:46) closing out the A’s team, and Tom Jervis (19:08) and James Stockings (19:03) securing the B’s final standing. Notably, the B’s finished as the top B team, surpassing the home club Aldershot, Farnham, and District. Henry Silverstein delivered the fastest leg for the C’s, clocking 19:07.
In the junior races, Hercules’ U13 boys team dominated the competition over three three-km legs. Ivan Derian, a member of the quartet that clinched team gold at the National Cross-Country Championships, led the trio to seventh place after the opening leg with a time of 10:19. Thomas Hennigan maintained the team’s position with a time of 10:30. Max Harrison’s remarkable performance on the final leg, clocking the second quickest time of 10:16, secured a comfortable 15-second lead over Windsor Slough, Eton & Hounslow AC.
The U15 girls’ division saw Isabella Harrison as the fastest member of the Hercules trio, running 10:21 on the final leg to propel the team to ninth place. In the U15 boys’ category, national cross-country champion Theo Creed showcased his talent by clocking 9:41 on the final leg, lifting the team to 10th place.
Dillan Quinn stood out as the fastest runner for the Hercules U17 girls, completing the 4.6km course in 18:03 to secure 14th place for the team. In the senior women’s division, Claire Grima led the quartet with a time of 22:52 over 6km, contributing to the team’s 44th place finish.
Overall, Hercules Wimbledon AC’s remarkable performance at the South of England Six Stage Road Relays solidifies their reputation as a powerhouse in the athletics community. Their dedication, skill, and teamwork were on full display, showcasing their commitment to excellence and sportsmanship.
