Birmingham Cross Challenge - Sat 24th Oct
Weakened team struggle at Senneleys Park
Stuart Nelson achieved his highest ever placing in Division 1 of the Birmingham Cross Country League when he led home Rugby and Northampton for the first time ever in the opening race of the 2009/10 season.
Nelson finished in 38th place at Senneleys Park in Birmingham, which includes the notorious stream crossing, and covered the 10k course in 34 mins 5 secs. He will now attempt to join the roll of honour of past club champions by being the no.1 from the club over a series of races this winter.
John Gercs joined the over 40 ranks this year and the World Masters 800m champion had a good solid run in 74th spot with 35 mins 35 secs to make the top two for the club for the first time since the merger in 2002 and Stuart Meadows was the third R&N man across the line in 128th position with 37.20.
Steve Gill was the next man home in 138th (37.48) and the recent Buckingham 10k winner Mark Armstrong also made the team when he recorded 37.56 for 142nd spot.
When it comes to former club champions the most prolific of them all Terry Egan made the A team yet again when he finished in 146th place with 38.05 and extended his own record of being the oldest R&N athlete to make the scoring six.
Vince Carroll was competing for the 10th time at Senneleys Park and since the inception of the B team competition in 1994 he has scored in that team 33 times. On this occasion he led them home for the 7th time in 38 mins 8 secs for 147th place.
Unfortunately, only 11 men from the club completed the race, so the B team had no score, but there was a good run for Rob McDougall in 164th position with 39.30 and the other members of the club to finish were John Saw (180th in 40.37), Brian Summers (212th in 43.40) and Steve Childs (238th in 49.22).
The team position was a disappointing 15th out of 16 teams, but with three races including a home fixture still to come the club is confident it can avoid the bottom three relegation positions.
The Ladies race at the same venue saw four R&N athletes taking part with Alison Cooper leading them home in 51st place with a time of 27 mins 21 secs. Jo Pulsford was the second lady in 76th with 28.43 and she was followed by Ann Rollings (156th in 32.48) and Michelle Leach (208th in 41.34).
