Nonsuch - MABAC October 2026

My memories of Nonsuch Park MABACs are of them being either too wet – heavy rain and slippery mud, especially in the trees near the start – or – just once – of the ground being so dry that it was badly cracked, creating another kind of trip hazard. This year, by contrast, it was something of a Goldilocks day – not too dry and not too slippery underfoot, with glorious autumn sunshine and a pleasantly cool temperature making for near perfect conditions.
Nonsuch is the home territory for Epsom Oddballs who are battling for bragging rights this year with DMV, so a big home team turnout was only to be expected. But Puffers too could boast a strong turnout - 22 runners and joggers/walkers who collectively gave an excellent account of themselves. There were four EO men in the first 8 home but helping ensure they didn’t have it all their way was our first finisher, Dane Matthews, who finished 4th in under 30 minutes. This was Dane’s first run with us, having been introduced following a chance encounter with David Ebert at a recent 10km event. Well done, Dane, and welcome. We look forward to seeing more of you in the future. Dane was followed in by David, in 14th place, and Mitesh Mistry, in only his second run with us, in 17th, so three Puffers in the first 20 despite the EO turnout.
EO ladies were even more dominant, accounting for six of the first seven lady finishers. Breaking their stranglehold was Paula Holmes, 5th lady overall and our first lady finisher. After the race Mitesh told me that in his first run, at Chessington last month, to get used to MABACs he had paced himself beside Paula, as she was so steady and consistent. So, there’s a tip for the rest of you! Paula was bookmarked for us by a battle of Wills, Will Westlake being our fourth male finisher, just inside the first 30 in another impressive finish, and Will Archer-Burton our fifth. Will A-B is a longstanding Puffer (i.e., someone who has been in the Puffers longer than me) but injury had kept him out of action for some time. He only returned to full MABAC events at Wisley last November, but his performance today suggests he is fully recovered and should be a steady points scorer next year.
Next home for the Puffers were four ladies in succession, led by Katy Gibson. At the start, Katy had said she was going to take it easy as she is not yet fully recovered. Ladies, you have been warned! Two places behind Katy was Katie Wiggins whose performances this year have been so encouraging after her long absence (incidentally, with so many Katies, Wills and men whose names begin with D perhaps to avoid confusion we should rename ourselves the KWD runners?). After Katie came Esme Holmes and Vicki Francis, in that order. I stress that last bit because with only 400 metres or so to go to the finish the positions were reversed but Esme put on an impressive turn of speed, catching Vicki and at least two other runners unawares and overtaking them in that stretch.
They were our ‘extra points scoring’ runners but mention must also be made of Ian Holmes, Iain Nash, Chris Dean, Barbara Roussow, Rob Lewis, Roger Clark and George James. Apart from Chris who was running with us for only the second time, they are all very much Puffers ‘regulars’, the core group who have kept us going over the years. Rob is another one hopefully recovering from injury and this marked his first full MABAC of the year. Collectively they added significantly to our overall score, as did our joggers or walkers (according to preference): Katie Westlake, Steve Westlake, and Elizabeth and Ken Swan, injury also preventing Ken, like Steve, from running.
From the overall Puffers’ perspective, these performances saw us move back into fourth place in the MABAC standings. Sad individual that I am, earlier today I looked through some of the results from past years. In 2019, the last year before the pandemic, we were also 4th in the table after Nonsuch, behind DMV, WW and EO, in that order. But that year, the gap between us and EO in 3rd was 1453 points. The gap today between us and WW in 3rd is 154 points. At the start of today, we were 113 points behind Runnymede, we are now 57 ahead. So, the gap with WW can be closed. Everything depends on the final run of the year, on 15th November. So whatever else you were thinking of doing that day, please cancel it and come and run with the Puffers. And remember, if you can’t run, we also need marshals, and if you can’t afford the fuel thanks to Mr Trump, it’s near enough to walk to!
Well done everyone on another great result.