Birmingham League Race 3, Sat 16 January
Hard fought 13th place but relegation battle continues
Stuart Nelson became the Mens club cross country champion for Rugby & Northampton when he led them home in the third race of the Birmingham League Division One at Coventry and set up a nail biting final fixture in the relegation stakes to avoid the bottom three.
Nelson finished in 52nd place over the 5.5 mile three lap course at Coundon Hall Park, which was a mixture of mud and water with the recent thawing, crossing the line in 29 mins 13 secs. The Club Championships has now seen eight different winners in eight years since the inception of R&N. Matt Howes ran an excellent race to improve on his previous race by seven places when he recorded 30 mins 24 secs to finish in 86th spot. The top veteran from the club John Gercs made the top 100 yet again when he clinched 99th position in 30.45. There was a good battle behind him with only 9 seconds covering the next three runners. Paul Birch was timed at 31.49 for 122nd place, followed by Mark Armstrong in 125th on 31.54 and completing the scoring six club captain Vince Carroll in 128th spot on 31.58.
The team finished in 13th place on the day, but slipped to 14th overall from 16 clubs. This means only 11 points cover three teams in 12th, 13th and 14th place with one to be relegated. R&N must beat Severn by seven points or Warwick University by eleven points to survive in the final race, which is now to be hosted by the club at Abington Park on February 13th.
20 year old Matt Emery was making his debut in the league and he led home the B team, which finished in 8th place, when he came home in 136th position with 32 mins 32 secs. Next man across the line was Terry Egan in 142nd with 32.38, followed by John Saw (153rd in 33.08) and Rob McDougall 159th in 33.28). There was another milestone for a long serving reliable club member when Brian Summers completed his 70th Birmingham League race and covered the course in 34.21 for 171st place. Summers first league race dates back 24 years to January 1986. The B team was completed by new member Ben Malia (180th in 35.07).
Also turning out for the club was Neil Willsher (181st in 35.08), Nigel Sewell (189th in 36.29) and the oldest member of the team Adrian White running his 15th League race in 195th with 36.43.
