by Sarwar Khan Herne Hill Harriers fought their way to second place in a competitive Surrey Road Relay Championships at Wimbledon Park on 11 September to earn silver medals in the senior men’s and veteran women’s category.

The local athletics club had led throughout the first half of the six stage race but dropped to second place after coming up against a strong Belgrave Harriers side who went on to win the senior men’s competition by 41 seconds.

Nevertheless, the Harriers worked hard to hold off challenges from local rival Thames Hare & Hounds and Hercules Wimbledon. The Harriers men’s veterans team finished in 5th place.

Elsewhere, two Herne Hill Harriers picked up medals at the Surrey County Combined Events Championships in Horsham over the weekend.

Thomas Ashby won gold in the senior men’s decathlon setting a new championship best performance and a personal best in the shot with a throw measuring 13.79. While Gavin Johnson-Assoon won bronze.

Earlier in the week, Herne Hill Harriers veterans won the Southern Counties Veterans’ League Track and Field Cup for the second successive year after leading the final match throughout the day against seven clubs from London and the South East region.

Meanwhile, three Herne Hill youngsters made an immediate impact in the UK School Games in Gateshead claiming four medals between them. Harriers’ Katie Snowden won two gold medals in the 800m race and the 4 x 300m relay.

Funto Fabunmi-Alad took gold in the 200m race while combined eventer Blade Ashby placed an excellent 2nd place in the high jump.