2025 Mob Vs South London Harriers

‘Mob Match’ definitions from Oxford Languages Dictionary:

1. mob /mɒb/ noun: a large crowd of people, especially one that is disorderly and intent on causing trouble or violence.
2. match /matʃ/ noun: a contest in which people or teams compete against each other in a particular sport.

There has been some chat of late around the traditional meaning of a ‘mob match’; whether it’s defined by the scoring (circa. 1907); the distance (typically 7.5 miles) or the trophies (quite a few). But one can’t help but feel that if one is looking for the real meaning of a mob match, then one need look no further than to (one of) our traditional protagonists, Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC; who state on their website, ‘Quite simply it is a Mob of us against a Mob of them.‘

And therein, we feel, lies the true spirit of a running club tradition that continues to endure over time; whatever format past, present and to come it has taken/may take. And if one were to refer to the dictionary definitions above, then on Saturday 18 January 2025, there were certainly ‘a large crowd of people‘ gathering in a cold Richmond Park, to partake in ‘a contest in which people or teams compete against each other in a particular sport‘.

Whether they could be deemed ‘disorderly and intent on causing trouble‘ though, we shall leave to personal opinion!

In a continuation of a friendly rivalry that first started in November 1909, 38 South London Harriers ‘irrepressibles’ came in full maroon & white glory to face off against 53 Ranelagh Harriers.

On the face of it, we had the numbers but we knew better than to assume we had it in the bag; the current standings of 73 SLH against 30 Ranelagh wins requiring no further elaboration. History has also cautioned us against taking SLH for granted, as this excerpt from E-news #154 January 2001 indicates,

There were more takers – well over 60, all told – for the mob match with SLH on December 23rd than might have been expected on such an awkward date. We narrowly outnumbered the “irrepressibles” in numbers and unfortunately also in points. Scoring 29 a side they took the Stubbs Cup by 812 to 905. We would have needed a couple more runners in the top 20, or three or four in mid-field, to tip the scales our way. Darryl McDonald takes up the story: “To tell you how good Stuart Major is, about 800 metres after the start of the race, Stuart was out in front and never looked back. Well, except for one time when he got lost. Around Pen Ponds as you head uphill towards Sidmouth Wood Stuart went in the wrong direction on account there were no flags or race officials in that particular location yet. He waited for Dr J and me to catch up to him to ‘show him the way,’ so to speak. Well once he knew where he was going, he was off again, just like that. Making it look ever so simple. And making us look ever so old.”

And one still remembers the last time we hosted, as SLH’s Gary Laybourne and Ollie Garrod coasted home for a strong 1-2; the latter stopping to tie his shoelace and still coming home 3 minutes clear of the first Ranelagh. So we definitely could not assume that Saturday’s result would be a given for us.

The mob course is two laps of our beloved Thomas Cup route; relatively bearable the first time one goes round but certainly by the second lap as the upwards grind begins behind the Ballet School, leaves one questioning one’s life choices. The ground was firm underfoot, with some wet play by Pen Ponds; the conditions perfect for cross country running. Marshals & timekeepers though were slightly less impressed by the temperatures.

First to start Lap 2 was our Joe Killip (21:56), running coolly and almost languidly ahead of Ranelagh’s Marc Leyshon (22:17), Jonny Smith (22:18) and Dave Lawley (23:06). The first ‘irrepressible’ to start Lap 2 was Jack Harrison (23:09), just a little behind our Mr Lawley.

This was followed by a Ranelagh hat trick of Peter Haarer (23:41), Mike Morris (23:50) and Ed Perry (23:52), shadowed by SLH’s David Williams (23:52). Then a haul of our Advanced 1 runners, Gareth WIlliams (23:56), David Ready (24:03), Mark Herbert (24:22) and Sam Roberts (24:37); tailed by SLH’s Peter Crotty (24:42).

An encouraging blue & amber wave to start; but there was still halfway to go so nothing was set yet. The rest of the field came across to start their 2nd lap, their determination clearly on show, bouyed by the gentle ‘encouragement’ of the timekeepers & spectators attending.

Soon, the first runner crested the rise; somehow even more coolly and languidly than before was young Joe easing home with a slight negative split, to take 1st place in 43:47. In a splendid show of pacing, Jonny Smith (44:49) took second place (again!), ahead of (the comeback continues) Marc Leyshon (44:59) in 3rd, and (still ever 3rd or 4th) Dave Lawley (46:29). A fabulous wash of blue & amber ahead of SLH’s Jack Harrison (47:14) in 5th.

But this is mob match scoring; so one can’t assume anything. But try as SLH did, they were no match for the persistent swells of Ranelaghs; where there was one ‘irrepressible’, there was at least 5, if not more Ranelaghs. Our Gareth Williams (47:42), Ed Perry (48:20), David Ready (48:28), Mike Morris (48:41) & Peter Haarer (48:59) crashed ahead of David Williams (49:22), the second SLH home. And by the time the next four SLH came home, they were matched by 8 more Ranelaghs.

It was testament to every athlete’s grit that no one was lapped, and also to the wonderful patience of our marshals that no one got lost!

After all the runners had come home, everyone decamped to the clubhouse for a well earned tea and to await the results. It was tight in the clubhouse (we need a bigger boat!) with everyone there, but the camaraderie and warmth between our two clubs made for a party like atmosphere.

In acknowledgement of the superb participation by SLH, Race Director Andy Bickerstaff decided to include all to score; and the results showed a resounding win for Ranelagh; 1061 against SLH’s 1814. The Stubbs Cup would stay home for another year and the standings (slightly) evened out to 73 SLH against 31 Ranelagh wins!

The fastest five ladies were Laura Hancock (54:29 | SLH), Alice Smith (57:17 | SLH), Aoife Kilpatrick (57:55 | Ranelagh), Ruth Hutton (59:08 | SLH ) & Clare Fowler (59:48 | Ranelagh). The fastest five open were Joe Kilip, Jonny Smith, Marc Leyshon, Dave Lawley & Jack Harrison. Well done to everyone who competed.

In closing, our heartfelt gratitude to all the volunteers, marshals, timekeepers & everyone involved with realising the event. Without your support and time, everything would be that little bit harder, so thank you for taking part.

But the final word must go to our guests, South London Harriers. As Blackheath said, ‘Quite simply it is a Mob of us against a Mob of them.‘ Thank you SO MUCH for bringing your mob to run with our mob; to keep our great traditions alive. We had a fabulous time and we can’t wait to bring our mob to your mob next year.

📸 kindly shared by Richard Carter (SLH) @ https://photos.app.goo.gl/kZmNifxAZnzTX7277 ⬅️
📸 kindly shared by Agnes Nagy (Ranelagh) @ https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/z3d6qlqggthr5ck1stzo2/AGuTU9SB62N3jh5cNkvOur0?rlkey=k2duq0z344sgl0m2ssrb9jkii&e=1&st=x2uuxnej&dl=0 ⬅️
📸 kindly shared by Ruth Geldhill (Ranelagh) https://www.flickr.com/gp/ruthiegledhill/AmY9F68k4x ⬅️
📽️ The Gobble (led by ex-President Mike Peace) >  ⬅️

Race report by Narissa Vox

Addendum:

Our next mob match will be against the mighty Orion on 1 March in Richmond Park. Details to follow but in the meantime, we’re sure you’ll draw some inspiration from Inter 2’s Emma de Heveningham, who had this to say on her first mob in Richmond Park:

With a field this size it can be a lonely place near the back, as the front runners race off and the middle of the pack stretches out into the distance. A few people walking in the park smiled and wished me luck, but it was the marshals with their encouraging shout-outs who provided the most important support. Depending on where they were, runners responded with varying levels of good humour. Midway up the incline behind the Ballet School, I suspect Richard Willoughby didn’t get many smiles in return. A two-lap course takes its toll psychologically, as the finish line approaches for the first time, but you have to push past and do it all again. Near the back, wondering if your run will score anyway, it’s tempting to give up. Thanks to the ‘hilarious’ clipboard-wielding volunteer (you know who you are) who told me there were ‘only two laps to go!’ at this point. 

By the time I reached the finish the crowd had dispersed, heading back to the clubhouse to warm up. As I slithered my way down the muddy slope towards Petersham, panic set in. What if they’d run out of cake? But, of course, this would never happen with Carol and Clive in charge of catering. What must surely be south-west London’s largest teapot did us proud once again. Perhaps the only thing, other than the descending mist, to put a dampener on the post-race spirits, was the sinking realisation that we’ll have to run this exact same route again and again as the season continues. 

💙 Results: RanelaghvsSLHMob.Results
💛 Times: RanelaghvsSLHMob.Time