The Blackheath & Bromley Club Dinner has boasted some very famous principal speakers over the years. Ron Pickering, Cliff Morgan, Harry Carpenter, Frank Dick, David Bedford, David Moorcroft, and Ken Livingstone are just some of the guests who have attended. This year, however, the Club did not have too far to look for prestigious persons.

Two of its members Adam Gemili, the European 200 metre champion and Dina Asher Smith the World Junior 100 metre champion were happy to accept the invitation of Club President Dick Griffin. Quite used to media attention, they spoke eloquently giving their perspectives of the season to over 80 people.

Among these were some of the youngsters who have so ably represented the Club this year including World Junior Championship representatives Cheriece and Shannon Hylton. It was a fine evening which continued on to the early hours.

Not surprisingly none of those who ran in the London Championships at Parliament Hill Fields the next day were in attendance. The Club does not normally take part in this contest but made quite an impression on this occasion with Alex Bruce Littlewood leading the squad home in 4th place.

Joint team manager Danny Brewer was next home in 32nd with Gareth Evans 38th, Kev May 54th, Fintan Parkinson 59th, Jamie Darling 66th, Jon Vintner 108th and Chris Tuck 127th.

Prior to this many of the Club’s youngsters were in action in the London Borough Cross Country Championships. Most were representing Bromley, but, being a broad church, it also had athletes running for Wandsworth, Croydon, Bexley and the City Of Westminsster.

In the under 17s age group Jessica Keene was 2nd with Kelsey Fuss in 3rd and Georgina Taylor 10th. This ensured that Bromley won the team race. Charlotte Rhule in 18th and Shannon Riskey 20th also made the top 20.

Joss Barber, competing for Bexley, was 4th in the mens race while Marco Arcuri 10th, Charlie Davis 16th and Aleksander Wiltshire 36th helped Bromley to third place in the team contest.

Three Club members finished in the top 10 in the under 15 girls race and each was running for a different borough. Katy Ann McDonald representing Wandsworth was 4th and part of the winning team. Naomi Kingston in 6th was running for the City of Westminster while Yasmin Austridge in 8th led Millie Smith in 15th and Jessica Sellar 24th to bronze medals for Bromley. Magalina Samoila was 20th for Wandsworth but did not make the scoring team.

It was third also for Bromley in the boys race with Henry James Cowie 6th, Michael Eagling 12th and Angus Harrington 17th.

Rowan Fuss continued his memorable Winter with victory in the under 13 boys race and with Peter Guy in 3rd and Keir Lundy in 13th, Bromley won the team race. Robert Suckling was 17th.

First home from the Club in the girls race was Sophie Hoare who was 6th representing Wandsworth and third scorer in their winning team. Bromley were third team with Imogen Meers in 8th, Emilie Penlington 13th and Alice Prentice 15th while Morgan Squibb 17th and Jessica Neal 18th also made the top 20.

On the roads Peter Tucker finished in 14th place in the Brooks Brighton 10km in a time of 32.33.