Last weekend saw Southampton Athletic club re-unite with Sporting Club Herouville AC in France after many absent years.
A small number of athletes crossed the channel to compete in the 48th Herouville cross country near Caen. Southampton have a history at this event dating back to the 1970's when team managers Harvey and Jean Bowles first took athletes to this event boasting former winners Neil Coupland and Janet Dawkins (the latter winning an impressive 4 years running). Other senior winners from the 80's and 90's include Karen Rushton, Zara Hyde ( former head of UK athletics), James Starling and Andy Morgan-Lee.
With the Belgians also attending, the British flag flying and the sun shining the scene was set for this International cross country event. In the Masters category Andy Morgan-Lee had to work extremely hard in the latter half of the race to hold off the challenge of the frenchman, Eric Pouree, to claim victory while Billy Isaacs (an U15 winner some 27years ago) slowly returning to fitness after long term back injury finished strongly to finish 28th. Neil Hanna, a former Southampton man, now representing Mynydd Du in Wales finished 82nd. Unfortunately Richie Pearson had to pull out due to a knee injury but his continued vocal support around this fantastic spectator course was much appreciated from his team members.
Matt Bracher was Southampton's only representitive in the Senior race and after a steady start worked his way through the field to finish 52nd in a quality field won by the U23 Belgian national champion.
Some Pictures of the day;