National Cross Country Relays - Sat 31st Oct
Nelson & Lamb lead the way at Mansfield
Rugby and Northampton fielded two teams in the Mens National Cross Country Relay held at Berry Hill Park in Mansfield. The race consisted of four legs over a distance of 5k around the fast, but challenging course adjacent to the athletics track.
The fastest man for the club was Stuart Nelson who recorded 16 mins 38 secs on the first leg to bring the club home in 53rd place and hand over to Chris Lamb. The 25 year old 800 metre runner then produced a good performance to make him the second fastest in the team and move the club up six places with a time of 16 mins 51 secs.
Matt Howes on leg 3 was making his debut in a Senior cross country event after showing promise as a young athlete and he completed the course in a creditable 17.28, which kept the club in the top 60 in 57th spot. The anchor leg from Paul Birch ensured R&N finished in 60th place when he was timed at 18.21.
The B team was led off by one of the clubs stalwarts when Vince Carroll recorded 18 mins 26 secs to finish in 113th place. He was followed by Mark Armstrong who produced a similar run with 18.31, but it was enough to move the team up 12 places.
Like Carroll, Brian Summers is another reliable club member with years of experience and although he has struggled for form lately he still turned out on leg 3 to record 19.54 and cross the line in 106th.
The fastest man in the B team came on the final leg with 21 year old Steve Milner being timed at 17 mins 53 secs to bring the club home in exactly 100th place.
