Midland 12 Stage Relay - 4th April
Mens Team finish 13th with Ladies 24th at Sutton Park
The traditional spring road relay season has been much reduced in recent years and even the traditional highlight of the Midland Relays in Sutton Park was a much smaller event than just a few years ago. Unusually it was also blessed with mild weather and only a gentle breeze rather than the mix of sun, rain and even hail which has been typical in recent years.
Mens – 12 stage
The mens event consists of 12 stages, 4 of 5.3 miles and 8 of 3miles, starting with a long stage which always spreads the field. The R&N was several athletes short of being at full strength but still performed well to finish in 13th place and qualify comfortably for the Nationalevent in 2 weeks time.
The team were led off by Nigel Marley who had another strong run, in spite of becoming detached from the leading group of ten before half way, to record another personal best as he brought the team home in 12th place clocking 28-23. The next long stage was tackled by Stuart Nelson who showed the benefits of his recent training as he clocked an impressive 28-44 to gain 5 places. The other long legs were tackled by Jamie Sewell who just failed to dip under the half-hour as he clocked 30-04 and Stephen Milner who was slowed by an uncharacteristic stitch in clocking 32-49.
On the short legs, middle distance specialists Chris Lamb (16-29) and John Gercs (16-24) were the pick of the bunch, whilst Steve Reeves, Brian Summers, Matt Emery and Paul Birch all dipped under 18 minutes. The team was completed by John Saw and Nigel Sewell.
The event was won by Tipton Harriers who hit the front on the 6th stage and came home over a minute ahead of Coventry Godiva, with last years winners Notts AC, a further half minute behind in 3rd place.
13 Rugby & Northampton Ac 4:20:38
Nigel Marley (12) 28:23
Chris Lamb (12) 16:29
John Saw (20) 18:29
Stuart Nelson (15) 28:44
Steve Reeves (15) 17:36
Brian Summers (14) 17:59
Jamie Sewell (13) 30:04
Matthew Emery (13) 17:21
John Gercs (12) 16:24
Stephen Milner (13) 32:49
Paul Birch (13) 17:52
Nigel Sewell (13) 18:28
Ladies – 6 x 3mile
The ladies race takes place at the same time as the mens race but comprises just 6 laps of 3 miles. As with the men, several team members are preparing for the London Marathon so the team wasn’t at full strength but still performed well to progress through the field and finally finish in 24th place.
The team was lead off by Madeleine Smith who finished 30th in the opening leg in a time of 20-32, with the second fastest time being recorded by Michelle Leach who gained five places on the third leg in a time of 21-41. The remaining stages were covered by Jayne Pulsford, Kate Williams, Heather Fiddament-Harris and Ann Rollings whose times were separated by less than a minute.
The event was won by the strong Charnwood team with Bristol & West and Coventry Godiva taking the minor placings.
24 Rugby & Northampton Ac 2:13:08
M Smith (30) 20:32
J Pulsford (32) 22:19
Michelle Leach (27) 21:41
Kate Willians (27) 22:39
H Fiddament (23) 22:49
Ann Rollings (24) 23:08
