Midlands Athletics Association

Women’s 4 stage road relay

Men’s 6 stage road relay

Saturday 20th September 2008

Sutton Park, Birmingham

Above: Some of our men’s teams and their young supporters after the finish.

THE NATIONALS BECKON AGAIN FOR B&R AC

B & R’s ‘A’ team was 21st of the 25 ‘A’ teams that qualified for the National Relays in October.

Yet again some of the bigger Clubs’ ‘B’, ‘C’, and even ‘D’ teams went quicker so that B & R’s actual finishing place was 29th out of 80 teams completing.

The Club’s 3 teams all went quicker than last year. Nine of the runners had run this event in 2007 and 5 of them clocked better times this year, with the other 4 all running very close to last year’s times.

Run of the day was Calvin Scoltock who knocked nearly 3 minutes off his 2007 time. What a pity I put him in the ‘C’ team. Sorry Calvin. And it also needs noting that he had footwear problems AGAIN and had to run half his leg with one unlaced shoe. So, I’m first in the queue to have whatever he trains on!!!  The ‘A’ squad with Calvin’s time, would have got round in sub 2 hours (last achieved in 2001) and gained 21st place overall. (P.S. volunteer required to tie laces).

For the ‘A’ team, running times were good and consistent with both Rich Malin (quicker than last year) and Dave Henderson going very well to each return in under 20 mins. Ian Keyte, John Dineen, Kevin Lanckham and James Adie all with excellent runs completed for the team which recorded a very creditable 2hr 02:46.

Only 7½ mins behind were the ‘B’ team finishing 49 th overall.  James Bowler, James Hood and Paul Atkins, all returning from injury, ran well to record good times and were well supported by Rich Shardlow and Mike Hanson, both faster than last year, to keep the squad in a good position. Simon Lanckham in his first senior outing for the Club, repeated his cross country feat of a week earlier by running a very good leg and bettering his dad again if only by 11 seconds – a performance that bodes well for the future.

A further 8 minutes away in 65th place was the ‘C’ team. Simon “I went off too fast” Bowen led off for the team but still recorded a good time. The ever reliable quartet of Andy Freeman, Phil Anderson (so very close to his 2007 time), Peter Hawcroft and Alan Elsmere (the last 2 quicker than in 2007) all achieved excellent times. And then there was Calvin!!

The interest from Club runners to represent the Club in this event was very heartening. Thank you. I could have put out another team and I will certainly consider this for next year. Sorry to disappoint those of you not selected this time.

On the day, there was great support from James Byrne, Sam Cater, Stephen Elsmere, Martin Aspley-Davis and family members from the John Dineen, Mike Hanson, Ian Keyte, Phil Anderson, Rich Malin and Rich Shardlow clans. Thank you all for egging the teams on. Apologies if I’ve missed anyone.

Len Quartly (Team Manager & Tent-Putter-Upper)

Above: Tamara sets off on the second leg.

Our women’s team opened B&R’s account in this weekend of road relays, finishing 43 rd out of 60 complete teams (70 had started). The team was a mixture of experience and new talent with relay regulars Jane and Jeanette joined by Mel running her first road relay and Tamara making her debut for the seniors. Jeanette recorded the fastest leg for B&R over the 3.315 km (2.68 mile) course. Charnwood AC retained their title, over a minute ahead of Bristol & West with Telford AC in third place.

Above: A tired Jane in the finish funnel after the first leg.

Above: Jeanette ran our fastest leg on the third stage.

Above: Mel sprints to finish the last leg.

B&R women’s results

Click for full results of the women’s relay

Above: The fast downhill start of the men’s relay.

Above: Ian Keyte at the start of the hill on leg one for the A team.

Above: Simon Bowen running leg one for the C team.

B&R men’s results

A Team

B Team

C Team

Click for full results of the men’s relay