Surrey League Cross Country 2025/26: Richmond Park Race Report
- Sutton Striders
- Nov 4
- 3 min read
Sutton Striders shine at season opener with strong team performances
The 2025/26 Surrey League Cross Country season got underway at Richmond Park on 11th October, and what a cracker it was! Sutton Striders turned out in force across both divisions, with brilliant results in the sunshine.
A Lovely Day For It
The morning started grey but quickly brightened up into a gorgeous sunny afternoon. Honestly, it was unusually warm for cross country – not the usual October chill we've come to expect!
Richmond Park delivered its usual pre-race entertainment with the deer making an appearance. Best moment? Having to shepherd one away from the start line. You don't get that at a 10k!
Massive thanks to Ranelagh Harriers and The Stragglers Running Club for putting on such a well-organised race.
Men's Division 4: Solid Second Place
The Sutton Striders Men's team grabbed 2nd place overall in Division 4 with 349 points. Tadworth pipped us to first with 234 points, but we edged out Victoria Park (351 points) for the silver medal position.
Daniel Porteous absolutely flew round to lead the team home in 10th place overall (30:39) – what a run!
Also racing for Striders were Joshua Carney, Matthew Aish, Tom Brown, Diego Aceroz, Edward Huxley, Craig Porteous, Mark O'Dwyer, Graham Hannay, Kevin Lewis, Jason Hudson, Philip Walters, and Amit Sahu. Great turnout from the lads!
Women's Division 3: Strong Start to the Season
The women's squad came home in 4th place in Division 3 with 126 points – a really competitive division with Walton taking the win.
Lauren-Chanel Shons was first Strider home, leading the way for the team.
Also representing Striders were Naomi Cotton, Laine Sanchez, Emery Jimenez, Mandy McAulay, Alice Davies, Rosalind Hook, and Jenny Batt. Brilliant team effort all round!
The Best Bit: Cake and Baileys!
As is tradition, the post-race spread didn't disappoint. Cake and Baileys all round – the perfect way to recover from an 8k thrash!
We had a really nice mix on the day, with some seasoned XC veterans alongside people doing their first ever cross country race. That's what makes it special – everyone's out there in the kit, flying the flag for Sutton Striders, whether it's your first race or your fiftieth.
Cross country really is different from road racing. There's something about racing as a proper team, all mucking in together, that you just don't get elsewhere.
What is Surrey League Cross Country?
The Surrey League is 4 cross country races spread across October, November, January, and February. Surrey clubs go head-to-head in what's usually muddy, always energetic, and guaranteed fun!
Race distances:
Women: 6km (races 1-2), 8km (races 3-4)
Men: 8km all season
Fancy Joining Us?
Here's the thing about cross country – it's genuinely for everyone.
The important bits:
Free once you're registered
No minimum standard – honestly, all abilities welcome
Register once, run whenever you fancy – zero pressure between races
Just turn up on race day – your number will be waiting
Men's & Women's races happen at the same venue
Top 10 men and top 5 women score for the club
But everyone counts! Even if you're not in the scoring team, you're pushing other clubs' runners down the results
Never done cross country before? Perfect! We love first-timers and the atmosphere is really supportive. Fast or steady, you make a difference to the team.
What do I need? White Sutton Striders club colours (required). Trail shoes or spikes work best depending on how muddy it is. Check the XC WhatsApp for advice from members.
Will it be muddy? Probably! But that's half the fun. Embrace it, laugh about it, feel brilliant afterwards.
Next Up: Hurst Green on 15th November
Match 2 is at Hurst Green on 15th November. It's often a muddy course with some tasty climbs, so if you fancy giving it a go, now's the time!
The Numbers
Men's Division 4:
Tadworth AC – 234 points
Sutton Striders – 349 points ⭐
Victoria Park – 351 points
Women's Division 3:
Walton AC – 26 points
Ranelagh Harriers – 100 points
Epsom & Ewell – 114 points
Sutton Striders – 126 points ⭐
Both squads have kicked off the season brilliantly. Bring on Hurst Green!
See you on 15th November – team spirit, cake, and Baileys guaranteed!