Reading Athletics Club’s senior ladies kick started their 2024/2025 winter season with the traditional opening fixture of the 3/4 stage South of England Road Relays in Aldershot at the end of September.
Fielding three full senior teams with four runners per team, whilst in a break from the norm, the vet ladies went from four legs to three and ran over a shorter distance in conjunction with the u17 women.
First up were the veteran women where the club fielded two v40 and a v50 team.
Gilly Meek was tasked with leading Reading’s v40 A team away and covered the ground well as she came back 15th. Club stalwart Lucy Daniels used her vast experience to gain a place as she brought the team up to 14th with her team’s fastest clocking of 20.05, whilst Claire Mills gave another solid performance as she rounded off the team to claim 15th position.
Millie Danton led the way for the v40 b-team and also clocked a very useful 21.08 to hand over to second leg runner Alisa Loyal in 18th position. Alisa maintained over her leg and brought the team back in 18th.
Lee Fellowes was tasked with closing out her teams effort as she improved 17th position, with a pleasing performance from her.
The v50 team were led away by the inspirational Sue Francis, who continues to produce top class performances. She glided around the course in a fast 18.35 to hand over to second leg runner Elsa Curran in 3rd position.
Elsa herself enjoyed a very solid performance as she kept Reading near the top end of the field and clocked a very promising 20.05 to hand over in 4th place. Julie Rayfield ran the anchor leg for her team and held out well to give the v50 a much deserved 7th position.
The senior ladies performed equally as well as all 12 athletes can be pleased with their effort.
Vicky Hiscock had the duty of leading the a-team on what is always a frantic and tough opening lag in the ladies race and she acquitted herself well bringing the team back in 24th with a 22.36 clocking.
Sophie Crumly has so much quality racing experience under her belt and raced to that effect and signalled she will be in for a very good winter season, clawing back some 13 places on her leg to hand over in 10th position with the club’s fastest time of the day with a very useful 22.00.
Naomi Harris is another who could be in for a bright season as she raced well, maintaining 11th with a 22.40 effort.
Anna Godfrey ran the anchor leg for the team and her recent good form over the summer season continued as she rounded up the team in a well deserved 15th position.
Zoe Rennie opened up for Reading’s b-team and she battled hard among a very good opening field and managed to bring her team back in a respectable 28th position with an equally as good 22.45 clocking.
Hannah Wright looked in good shape as she raced round in 26.20 to hand over in 36th position. Jodie Penny made a welcome return to club action after injury and asserted herself well as she gained 2 places with a useful 25.12 clocking. Julia Henderson ran leg four and she brought the team up to 29th position as she ran 25.37.
Amadine Joubert opened up for the ladies c-team and raced well with 28.11, Shirley-Ann Dix was up next on leg two as she improved 2 places with a 27.39 clocking. Rachel Phillips was next and she gained a further 4 places to hand over in 49th, before sister Charlotte set off on the final leg and earned her team a final position of 45th.
All in all it proved a promising start for the clubs senior ladies and as the competitions starting to ramp up from next month,
some good turnouts and regular racing will undoubtedly set the ladies up for a very rewarding season across the board.
