Herne Hill Harriers' first woman president Clare Pauzers has finally shrugged off her viral problems to win the second of this season's Surrey Ladies cross country league fixtures on Forestry Commission land at Tilford, writes Tom Pollak.

Belgrave Harriers' Norwegian-born Anna Hegvold led the sizeable field on the uphill start with Clare in close pursuit.

However, at the end of the mile long initial lap, the Herne Hill veteran had pulled clear of the rest ahead of Dorothea Lee of Thames Hare and Hounds and her Herne Hill team-mate Polly Rogers-Dixon.

In fourth was Epsom and Ewell's Emily Nelson, clearly showing no ill-effects from her marathon 21st birthday celebrations which had begun three days earlier and were still in full swing in the early hours of the day of the race.

At the beginning of the large circuit, which included the uphill stretch of the start, Pauzers showed her strength and began to pull away from Lee with Rogers-Dixon still holding third.

Nelson began to tire as Hegvold came back into the picture with former Surrey champion Rachel Disley from Thames Hare and Hounds closing on the leaders.

Clocked

Pauzers went on to better her runners-up spot in the opening match to win in 19 minutes 43 seconds from Lee (19:57), Rogers-Dixon (20:04), Hegvold (20:07) who took the Division Two race. Disley (20:30) outsprinted Nelson who clocked the same time in fifth place.

A below strength South London Harriers team just managed to repeat their first match Division One win with 71 points ahead of Herne Hill (77), Woking (86) and Thames Hare and Hounds (117).

Ranelagh were sixth on 126 and Epsom and Ewell ninth on 158.

Kingston-based Stragglers won the Division Two team race with 58 points ahead of Belgrave (62). Elmbridge Road Runners were fifth with 133 ahead of Sutton Runners (165). Wimbledon Windmilers were eighth with 165 and 26.2 Road Runners Club ninth with 214.

December 3, 2001 17:00