13 runners from K&P decided to take on the challenge of the winding, narrow and undulating Oxshott Woods course this past Saturday. A warm up jog before the race forewarned us of a number of obstacles we were set to face, from pot holes to tree roots- we were even treated to random concrete posts a few hundred meters in! But this is what true cross country is all about, it’s not meant to be easy and Oxshott certainly wasn’t!

As we jostled to get a good starting position for the 2.30 start we were warned of “Heartbreak ridge”, the hill we would face about a mile or so in. And then face twice more, in the 3 lap course. As I’m sure all runners can attest the ridge lived up to its name, and I had deliberately positioned Tukki at the top to cheer us up it. 

Once again this season Matt Atkins was our first man home in 4^th(throughout this report I’ll refer to our 3^rddivision only placings), only very narrowly missing a sub 30 minute finish. He was followed by our other lead scorer Michael Huntley, in 9^th. Pleasingly, after 3 matches Matt and Michael are the overall Div 3 3^rdand 4^thplace individual runners, and Matt A is 1^stplace M40- congrats on this. 

The Club is very sad to have to report the death of long-time supporter Jeff Terrey (in September).

Jeff(b 25.9.1944) and his Family joined the Royal Borough of Kingston Athletics Club in May 1985, just a few months before the merger with Polytechnic Harriers. Living just across the main A2043 road in Douglas Road, he could barely have been closer so the track, which was shortly to be relaid with an all-weather surface, was extremely handy and encouraging for his 2 sons, Sean and Darren, though throws tended to be their preference.

Whilst his sons remained involved for a number of years, it was Jeff, in particular, who took to membership as a true parent-helper and it was not long before he was becoming involved in coaching and administration, and as a regular attendee at Committee. The Club’s youngsters competed in the then-McDonalds YA National League in the South and, when a Team Manager stood down, Jeff had willingly volunteered to take over responsibilities, his first venture into team management. He soon found his feet and he was in charge for some seven years, solely and later jointly, from the late 1980s through to the early 1990s.

Jeff was elected a Vice-President of the Club in 1991, in honour of his services over a range of activities.

He remained involved for several years more, and thereafter he continued to cross the A2043, from time to time, well into the first 2 decades of this century, latterly out of curiosity, and for a chat, when he heard familiar voices on the Kingsmeadow PA System!

Pre-deceased by his wife, Maureen, he is survived by Sean and Darren and their families, to whom we offer our most sincere condolences and kindest regards at this saddest of times.