Birmingham Invitation Cross Country League

Wyken Croft Park, Coventry

Saturday 19th January 2008

B&R AC teams improve league positions

Above: B&R's Richard Dando keeps pace with Worcester & Kenilworth runners.

With one fixture left, both the ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams climbed a place to make another successful day’s racing for 17 of B & R athletes.

Conditions were mild and surprisingly good underfoot despite heavy rain earlier in the week as 211 runners completed the 9km course.

Left: Dave Kesterton led the team home gain. Right: Rich Malin 2nd B&R in his first Birmingham League XC race this season.

Above: Rich Lomas and a Warwick University runner on the flat but stony stretch.

Dave Kesterton was the Club’s first finisher in 14th position which leaves him in contention for a top three place in the individual league. Rich Malin (23rd), Kevin Lanckham (36th), Rich Lomas (44th) and Ian Keyte (56th) were next home for the ‘A’ team before Richard Dando had his first ‘A’ team finish in an excellent 69th place to improve his debut run by some 30 places. Although the ‘A’ team finished 5th on the day it was good enough to elevate the team into 4 th position in the league and in with an outside shout of a promotion spot.

Above: Paul Atkins, Gavin Moorhead & Mark Graham exchanged places throughout the race.

Above: Calvin in a sprint finish against a Gloucester runner.

Above: Mike Hanson leads a Northbrook runner but was to lose time having to secure his shoe.

The ‘B’ team all completed close together with just 90 seconds separating the sextet. The result was the team ended 2 nd B team on the day and moved up a place into 2nd spot in the B league. Although top spot looks to be too far away, 2nd place is a realistic goal but the 3rd placed team is only 36 points behind. Jamie Dancyger (86th), Mark Graham (95th), Paul Atkins (103rd), Gavin Moorhead (105th), Calvin Scoltock (117th), and Mike Hanson (119th), all went well and but for repetitive shoe trouble for Mike, we would have had an even tighter grip on 2nd team spot.

Above: Dave Stokes sporting cap just in case the sun unexpectedly breaks through in Coventry in January.

Five other Club runners finished the testing course. Phil Anderson was 127th before Phil Richardson (141st), just pipped Jimmy Atkins (144th).  Jimmy got caught out when he thought that there was still one more lap to go as Phil R went past him and only realised too late that it was Phil R’s finishing burst and was unable to react quickly enough. Dave Stokes (166th) and Ken Wood (198th) also went well to complete in good times.

Thanks for the encouragement from our supporters – Tracey, Tony, The Lanckham family and John Dineen (who doubled up as photographer).

Bring on the last fixture!!

Len

22/01/08

Men’s League Division 2 Fixture 3

Individual Results

Team Results

League positions after 3 races

Click here for complete results on the Birmingham Cross Country website