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Several thousand athletes in action as Northern event unfolds in Leigh with Southern relays at Aldershot and Midlands races in Sutton Park.
NORTH OF ENGLAND “JOE GALVIN” MEN’S 6 & WOMEN’S 4 STAGE & YA RELAYS, Leigh, Greater Manchester, September 20
In atrocious weather conditions, Salford Harriers denied City of Leeds a sixth straight senior men’s win but their women made it three in a row
In the men’s race the top two ended up nearly four minutes clear of third placed Morpeth who just edged Liverpool for bronze.
Overall, only City of Leeds had more than one team win to take back across the Pennines to Yorkshire.
Men
Charley Harding had given Salford a solid start before Alex Ediker increased their lead on leg two. John Beattie then pared a few seconds from the Salford lead mid-race but Tom Cornthwaite then restored the margin but Leeds were not finished.
Whilst Harry Wakefield and Harry Johnson continued the Salford gold rush to the tape, Leeds were still trying hard.
Ed Bovingdon and then Richard Allen’s third race best race time of 18:35 closed the gap but it was too late and Salford were home, if not dry.
Leeds lived to rue the day because had their Gavin Chalmers run in the A team rather than the B, they would have edged the title.
The fastest laps came elsewhere as Liverpool’s Jonny Mellor ran 18:10 and Keighley & Craven’s Joe Hudson 18:15 after dominating stage one.
Men (6×5.6km): 1 Salford 1:53:40 (C Harding 18L:51, A Ediker 19:07, D Barratt 18:45, T Cornthwaite 19;12, H Wakefield 18:49, Harry Johnson 18:54); 2 Leeds 1:53:47 (J Sagar 18:47, J Hall 19:29, J Beattie 18:50, M Bostock 19:07, E Bovingdon 18:56, R Allen 18:35); 3 Morpeth 1:57:32 (O Devere 19:45, G Lowry 19:33, J Fiddaman 19:52, S Hancox 20:47, C Coulson 18:43, P Winkler 18:51); 4 Liverpool 1:57:41 (M McCarthy 19:45, R Malone 20:28, J Mellor 18:10, L Towers 20:16, D Naylor 19:42, J Niven 19:18); 5 Keighley & C 1:57:52 (J Hudson 18:15, J Carnelly 19:16, O Ashdown 19:48, E Wilkinson 19:49, A Peaker 20:32, C James 20:10); 6 Leeds B 1:58:00 (W Indelbu 19:39, A Cole 19:36, H Chalmers 18:53, L Wheeler 19:43, T Antcliff 19:59, S Flanagan 20:07); 7 Salford B 1:58;45; 8 Vale Royal 1:59:32; 9 Bury 1:59:45; 10 Middlesboro 2:00:50
Fastest: Mellor 18:10; Hudson 18:15; Allen 18:45; Ediker 18:45; Coulson 18:43 18:43; Sagar 18:47
108 teams finished
Women
Leeds City’s women made no mistake here in seeing off a Salford challenge as the top two were again minutes clear of the rest as they battled it out in the rain.
Leeds began as they meant to carry on as Heather Townsend ‘won’ a close fought opening 4.6km stage from Sale’s Lucy Armitage in 21:06.
Salford were 40 seconds down in ninth spot and made no inroads as Leeds’ Eleanor Curran, Eilidh Bell and Katrina Ballantyne were all faster than their rivals as the winning margin was getting on for three minutes.
Third placed City of York were two minutes further back with Sale and Border close.
Women (4×5.6km): 1 Leeds 86:08 (H Townsend 21:06, E Curran 21:26, E Bell 22:06, K Ballantyne 21:28); 2 Salford 88:56 (K Hawkins 21:56, T Brockley-Langford 22:00, J Wright 23:01, F Murdock 21:57); 3 City of York 90:50 (K Wood 21:38, J Robertson-Dover 23:18, H Dacosta 23:12, L Thompson 22:42); 4 Sale 91:05 (L Armitage 21:10, C Elliott 23:54, O Brown 23;13, N Moynihan 22:47); 5 Border 91:05 (E Davies 21;24,R Douglas 23:49, A Kelland 23:22, R Brown 22:29); 6 Vale Royal 91:35 (G Roberts 22:12, E jha 22:19, L Smith 23:39, E Bushill 23:24; 7 Liverpool 91:44; 8 Preston 93:49; 9 Chorlton 94:05; 10 Warriors 94:45
Fastest: Townsend 21:06; Armitage 21;10; Davies 21;24; Curran 21;26; Ballantyne 21:28; J Morgan (Liv) 21:33
74 teams finished
Young Athletes
Trafford won the under-17 men’s race but had to see off a challenge from Rotherham, for whom Mikey Bacon had won the opening 3.2km stage in a day’s quickest 8:50.
They were way down in 15th after that first stage, but Pio Aron pulled them back to second before Finlay Dobson-Emmas finished the job.
It was Liverpool who added the under-15 boy’s race from Preston but both teams had to come from behind as it was Thomas Hastings who led for Wakefield after the opening lap.
Finally, it was Trafford’s Sam Lambert who came through on the final stage to overtake Jack Mawdsley to deny Preston the title.
Under-13 boys’ winners Leeds were sixth on stage one before Roman Moriss and Solomon Coffey-Wills brought them home for a narrow win over Liverpool and Warriors Pentathlon.
The three fastest laps all came on the first stage as Noah Penfold led home Ethan Statham in 9:48.
Lincoln Wellington have a trio of young women who have been progressing through the age groups leaving all of their rivals behind.
Now in the under-17 women’s age group, Isla Porter, Mollie Grant and Ellarose Whitworth again dominated and did so with a 39 second win over Rotherham.
However, it was Liverpool’s Holly Cross who led home the first stage with a race fastest 10:09 split just ahead of Porter.
Grant and Whitworth then finished things off for Lincoln Wellington.
Another club with a solid trio of young women is the Warriors outfit and, here, they were led off by the Beddow twins Eve and Isabel before Isla Yorke finished things off with an under-15 girls’ win of well over a minute. This was over Hallamshire who had no answer to their rivals.
Bingley made it six different clubs winning young athletes team titles with a comfortable under-13 girls’ win over Warriors but spare a thought for Sienna Lavine of Pontefract who ‘won’ the first stage with a 10:30 time that remained the age group bet but she had no team mates with whom to celebrate as she was her club’s sole runner.
U17 Men (3×3.2km): 1 Trafford 27:49 (A White 9:23, P Aron 9:10, F Dobson-Emmas 9:10); 2 Rotherham 27:55 (M Bacon 8:50, R Hughes 9:49, A Bedford 9;15); 3 Southport W 27:57 (W Delamere 9:10, E Clark 9:36, C Still 9:11); 4 Leeds 28:10 (Y Alem 9:10, J Norris 9:07, A Smith 9:42); 5 Derby 28:09 (R Clifford 9:02, O Blake 9:39, S Watson 9:26); 6 Tynedale 28;11 (M Riddell 9:05, A Darling 9:37, A Dilullu 9:28); 7 Hallamshire 28;20; 8 Blackburn 28:26; 9 W Cheshire 28:48; 10 City of York 28:49
Fastest: Bacon 8:50; Clifford 9;02, Riddell 9:05
39 teams finished
U15 Boys (3×3.2km): 1 Liverpool 29:26 (P Herring 9:45, S Lambert 9:56, B McEvoy 9:44); 2 Preston 29:38 (A Yates 10:00, J Mawdsley 9;37, S Bales 10:01); 3 Darlington 29:44 (O Curran 9:31,D Callaghan 10;14,L Gardner 9:57); 4 Wakefield 30;13 (T Hastings 9:23, D Jones 10:25, S Swan 10:24); 5 Wirral 30:17 (R Reece 9:36, T Smout 10;19, R Boyd 10:21); 6 Derby 30;18 (O Segal 9:37, F Harrison 10:03, I Jones 10:37); 7 Warriors 30;24; 8 Sale 30;24; 9 Hallamshire 30:36; 10 City of York 30;36
Fastest: Hastings 9:23; Curran 9:31; Reece 9:36
43 teams finished
U13 Boys (3×3.2km): 1 Leeds 31:28 (W Reynolds 10:25, R Morris 10:21, S Coffey-Wills 10:41); 2 Liverpool 31:36 (F McDermott 10:36, E Walsh 10:40, R Worrall 10;19); 3 Warriors 31:37 (B Hughes 10;16, S Baker 10:46, C McCaul 10:34); 4 NSP 31;40 (N Penfold 9:48, E Hughes 10:59, T Hale 10:52); 5 Keighley & C 32;20 (J Preston 10:26, F Meikle 10:49, R Schofield 11:03); 6 Salford 32;25 (J Lombard 10:24, R Taylor-Unitt 10:51, H Crowhurst 11:10); 7 Salford Met 32:27; 8 Hallamshire 32;32; 9 Warriors 33:08; 10 Sale 33:31
Fastest: Penfold 9:48; E Statham (Bury) 9:53; Hughes 10:16
40 teams finished
U17 Women (3×3.2km): 1 Lincoln Wellington 30:55 (I Porter 10:14, M Grant 10:12, E Whitworth 10:28); 2 Rotherham 31;34 (M Schofield 10;27, G Turner 10:36, G Igoe 10;30); 3 Liverpool 32;18 (H Cross10:09, E Redmond 11:32, R Murphy 10:36); 4 Wakefield 33:33 (I Tutt 10;19, I Thistlewood 120:56, S Ellis 12;17); 5 Sale 33;47 (I Hall 10:32, I Hill 11:02, C Underwood 12:11); 6 Blackburn 34:35 (L Hesketh 11:17, E Robertshaw 11:35, A Taylor 11:41); 7 Derby 34;47; 8 Warriors 35:03; 9 Rossendale 35:03;10 Salford 35:07
Fastest: Cross 10:09; Grant 10;12; Porter 10;14
27 teams finished
U15 Girls (3×3.2km): 1 Warriors 31;17 (E Beddow 10;20, I Beddow 10:35, I Yorke 10:20); 2 Hallamshire 32;30 (F Hill 10:41, P Foxall 11:13, J Thake 10;35); 3 Liverpool 32:51 (D Rushton 10:46, B Rawcliffe 11:00, E Worrall 11:04(; 4 Preston 32;57 (E Blackhurst 10;44, E McKeever 11:31, I Thompson-Amrith 11:41); 5 Sale 33:02 (C Wetters 11;34, M Boyer 10:43, B Soper 10:45); 6 Lincoln Wellington 33;28 (F Lilly 10:40, F Goulsbra 11:03, A Ronnie 11:43); 7 Sale 33:31; 8 Salford 33;40; 9 Keighley & C 33:58; 10 City of York 34:02
Fastest: E Beddow/Yorke 10:20; L Connell (Sedbugh School) 10:31
38 teams finished
U13 Girls (3×3.2km): 1 Bingley 33:14 (B Bailey 10:54, C Pedley 11;16, H Carter 11:03); 2 Warriors 33;57 (C McKie 11:44, D McVicar 10:35, J Rogan 11:37); 3 Hallamshire 34:05 (C Bailey 10:34, E Cokell 12:05, A Tighe 11:26); 4 Liverpool 34:47 (PBaker 11:14, T Wright 11:30, T Adebanjo 11:52); 5 Lincoln Wellington 34:54 (M Porter 11:11, H Ward 12:54, H Norris 10:48); 6 Sale 35:05 (L O’Brien 11:23, F Connolly 11:30, I Moran 12:11); 7 Rossendale 35:23; 8 Liverpool B 36:10; 9 NSP 36:21; 10 Preston 36:36
Fastest: S Levine (P’fract) 10:30; C Bailey 10:34; McKie/McVicar 10:35
37 teams finished
MIDLANDS ROAD RELAYS, Sutton Park, September 20
It was the Western Tempo club’s day at damp Sutton Park where, as in all three areas, the senior women ran the same distance as the senior men.
Whilst their women notched up their third win in a row, their team-mates deposed west country rivals Bristol & West from the top spot.
In another twist on distances run, restrictions in Sutton Park, just as in the 12 and women’s six stage last Autumn, caused the run out on the dog leg beyond the Jamboree Stone to be shortened. To compensate, extra distance was added to the opening loop before the long hill, but the total distance was about 700-metres shorter than in previous years.
In a blow to statisticians on the National scene, the ERRA relays next month will also be run over the shortened lap.
Men
Just as last year when they then went on to win, Bristol & West set their stall out from the gun as Flynn Jennings led throughout and, taking Coventry’s Miles Clisham with him gradually pulled away from the rest of the 114 strong senior men’s field to win by five seconds.
This was over the slightly shorter lap of 5.47-metres, which will now be the standard here. Jennings said: “It’s a bit different but I took the lead and was 20-30-metres up but he (Clisham) came back.”
Eventual winners Western Tempo were nearly a minute down in fifth as Jennings’ time was then to stand up as the best of the afternoon.
Leg two saw Pierce Clisham swap places with Bristol veteran John Thewlis as Thomas Crockett edged up to third for Western Tempo.
Newark have been building a solid team in these parts and Edward Buck then took them ahead mid-race with the fourth quickest time of 15:59 as Dylan Gillet was just a tick down at the change over for the eventual winners.
Dom James then saw them a minute clear on the fourth stage before Jacob Cann made it two and this was over Bristol’s Jack Millar.
Then it was all over as Dan Owen trotted around the glory leg despite Milan Campion closing for the holders.
BRAT had a steady race, advancing as the stages unfolded to finally hit third on that final leg.
Men (6×5.47km): 1 W Tempo 98:51 (C Jones 16:38, T Crockett 16:48, D Gillett 16:23, D James 16:16, J Cann 15:54, D Owen 16:52); 2 Bristol & West 1:40:21 (F Jennings 15:51, J Thewlis 17:26, D Rigby 16:41, A Stewart 17:30, J Millar 16:28, M Campion 16:25); 3 BRAT 1:41:33 (J McGraw 17:23, A Lanz 17:18, H Brocklehurst 17:22, J Tuffin 16:23, C Davis 16:35, J Stolberg 16:22); 4 Swindon 1:42:08 (B Lines 16:58, H Edwards 17:11, S Byrne 16:35, H Woods 16:34, M Woodward 17:34): 5 R&N 1:42:33 (F Ward 16:19, M Everett 17:26, L Starr 17:29, L Buttrick 17:37, N Bennett 17:29, L Greer 17:13); 6 Newark 1:42:33 (E Smith-Rasmussen 16:34, M Chesterton 17:15, E Buck 15:59, G Hatton 18:58, L Jagger 16:17, S Simms 17:30); 7 Birchfield 1:42:35 (A Burrows 16:42, A Burgess 17:06, E Banks 17:19, D Swain 17:09, J Bnnett 17:08, J Vaughan 17:11); 8 Stoke 1:44:15 (J Guest 16:44, J Thomas 17:08, C Ferris 17:04, J Arnold 17:32, A Mayne 17:34, A Dennett 18:13); 9 W Tempo B 1:44:17 (L Colahan 17:16, P Wylie 17:00, M Kelly 17:22, C Worsfield 17:28, A Lygo 17:33, C Wright 17:38); 10 Notts 1:44:33 (J Holland 16:53, E Collier 17:35, A Percy 17:54, A Watson 16:20, R Hayle 17:33, M Williams 18:18); 11 Coventry Godiva 1:44:51; 12 Mansfield 1:45:07; 13 T Bath 1:46;17; 14 RSC 1:47:45; 15 Tipton 1:47:46
Fastest: F Jennings (B&W) 15:51; J Cann (W Tempo) 15:54; M Clisham (Cov G) 15:56; E Buck (Newark) 15:59; D James (W Tempo) 16:16; L Jagger (Newark) 16:17
99 teams finished
Women
This race has been Western Tempos in recent years and they duly notched up their third win in a row over their four stages of the same 5.47km lap.
They started steadily a minute-and-a-half off of the lead set by Bristol’s Chelsea Baker’s 18:11, a time that was to end up second quickest of the day. She said: “Most of us were together, but the race doesn’t start until the top, but I am a marathon runner really.”
Chasing was Westbury’s Freya Bradley, whose 18:16 held up as the third fastest of the race.
Bristol just clung on to the lead on stage two but Western Tempo’s, now, stalwart Megan Marchant almost took the lead with an 18:45 split, as her team sensed a title retention.
Emma Powell and finally Inca Padfield then finished the job and opened out a winning margin of getting on for two minutes over Westbury and Team Bath.
The fastest overall women’s lap came from North Somerset’s Eleanor Wallace deeper in the field on stage three. The 2024 inter-counties cross-country 7th placer ran an 18:02 split as she passed eight clubs en-route.
Women (4×5.47km): 1 W Tempo 76:04 (Watson 19:46, M Marchant 18:45, E Powell 19:09, I Padfield 18;24); 2 Westbury 77:54 (F Bradley 18:16, B Dow 21;47, R Paton 19:08, R Hamilton-James 18:43); 3 T Bath 78:44 (T Nickell 19:03, A Wallace 19:31, C Wosica 21:24, A Domville 18:46); 4 BRAT 80:04 (I Patel 19:23, E Jones 21;57, B Timmings 2002, N Robinson 18:42); 5 B&W 80:11 (C Baker 18:11, A Hammersley 20;19, A Williams 20:33, A Granger 21:08); 6 Charnwood 80:22 (H Seager 20P04, A Seager 20;29, J Anthoney 20:54, A Atkinson 18:55); 7 R&N 80:47 (M Stenhouse 18:22, A Belcher 20:590, L Stevens 19;35, J Harris 22:00); 8 Tipton 81:46 (B Tabor 20:08, L Calrow 21:01, C Holden 21:15, H Carruthers 19:21): 9 N Somerset 81;50, A Bridger-Morales 21:20, C Taylor-Green 21:26, E Wallace 18:02, J Gallagher 21:52); 10 Birchfield 81:51 (R Nicholls 20:42, E Watters 20:25, O Scott 20:31, C Pearson 20:13); 11 W Tempo B 84:14; 12 Worcester 85:06; 13B&W B 85:36; 14 RSC 85:41; 15 Swindon 86:11
Fastest: E Wallace (N Som) 18:02; C Baker (B&W) 18:11; F Bradley (W’bury) 18:16; N Stenhouse (R&N) 18:22; I Padfield (W Tempo) 18:24; N Robinson (BRAT) 18:42
85 teams finished
Masters
Classed as over-35 here, the masters’ championships went to BRAT for the men over six stages and Team Bath for the women over four.
For BRAT they had to come from behind and only took the lead on the final stage thanks to Owen Jones’ 17:53.
However, the race appeared to belong to Stroud AC after Lee Stopford and Nicholas Coyle gave them a lead of more than a minute after the two opening stages.
Their two times remained the quickest of the race that saw 21 teams finish, however, top M45 Alastair Watson ran 16:20 in the senior men’s race.
The women’s best times were on the opening stage as Mansfield’s W45 Hayley Gill led former junior international Amber Gascoyne, now a W40, by five seconds with a 19:24 split.
Their times were the best of the afternoon as Amber Parsonage, who saw Team Bath ahead mid-race, was third fastest with 20;17.
Masters M35 (6×5.47km): 1 BRAT 1:49:35 (D Robinson 18:06, S Turner 18:11, M Pollard 18:38, M Ince 18:32, R Vaughan 18:15, O Jones 17:53); 2 Stroud 1:50;17 (L Stopford 17:03, N Coyle 17:36, I Newns 19:05, M Wood 18;50, B Saalman 18:36, L Phipps 19:07); 3 Shrewsbury 1:51:24 (M Costello 17:50, P Jones 17:57, D Anderson 19:12, R McKenna 18:58, M Griffiths 18:44, R Kerr 18:43); 4 Newark 1:56:21; 5 Coventry G 1:57:02; 6 Swindon 1:58:10
Fastest: L Stopford (Stroud) 17:03; N Boyle (Stroiud) 17:36; M Costello (Shrews) 17:50
M50: P Jones (Shrews) 17:57
21 teams finished
W35 (4×5.47km): 1 T Bath 82;25 (A Gascoigne 19:29, A Parsonage 20:17, J Carter 21:26, ffe21;13): 2 Mansfield 85:21 (H Gill 19:24, C Hay 20:42, K Malone-Brumfitt 22:52, L Riddle 22:53); 3 Trentham 90:06 (J Stanfield 20;49, D Thomas 22:01, C Higgs 23:52, S Taylor 23:24); 4 Bitton 90:27; 5 Bourneville 93:10; 6 CLC 93:20
Fastest: H Gill (Mansf, W45) 19:24; A Gascoyne (T Bath, W40) 19:29
13 teams finished
Young athletes
Bristol & West took two of the age group awards as the youngsters raced over three unchanged 3.88km laps.
Leamington won the under-17 men’s title with their Archie Lane again dominating the timing pages. They trailed leader Gabriel Wagstaff’s 11;46, from Bromsgrove & Redditch on the opener, before Lane assumed control mid-race with 11:41, as Kieran Halsey finished the job.
This was over North Somerset, whose James Bennett was third fastest overall after his first leg 11:49.
The under-17 women’s gold medals went to City of Stoke who dominated with a two-minute win over Kettering. However, it had been Leamington’s Holly Burt who took the first stage with a 14:12 effort that was to hold as the third quickest.
Lexi Dundas then took the lead mid-race, for Stoke, before Holly Turner finished things off with a 13:53 second quickest of the age group.
The fastest effort here came from Rugby & Northampton’s Olivia McGhee on stage two where her 13;36 gained 17 places but her club failed to field a third runner.
Cannock & Stafford, with all three of their runners timed within just three seconds, won the under-15 boys’ title through a consistent approach, as none of their trio made the top fastest times.
As Brandon Smart saw them home chased by Sutton Coldfield’s George Harradence the race quickest effort went to James Mayneord of Swindon, whose 12:15 only rewarded his club with sixth overall.
Bristol & West won the under-15 girl’’ title, albeit by only ten seconds over Kettering and Mansfield who could not be split on total team time.
However, it had been Bromsgrove’s Martha Blower who led stage one with her race second best 13:51. Her time was then capped by Mansfield’s Charley Whysall, whose battle to third team yielded a race best 13:34.
Bristol had earlier won the under-13 boys’ title and Shrewsbury the girls’ race.
In those, fastest legs went to Sutton Coldfield’s Sam Howell with 13:35 and Cannock’s Lily Pearce, with 14:08
U17 Men(4×3.88km): 1 Leamington 36:27 (J Smith 12:08, A Lane 11:41, K Halsey 12:38); 2 N Somerset 36:24 (J Bennett 11:49, E Meacock 12:26, L Darlington 12:19); 3 W&B 37:11 (S Tursfield 12:27, F Jones 12:32, J Stockton 12:12): 4 Telford 37:20 (R Brown 12;13, K Gilbody 12:40, S Ball 12:27); 5 R&N 37:49 (S Sage 12:41, J Arbuthnot 12:41, F Harris 12:27); 6 Charnwood 38:05 (O Lockton 12:34, E McKittrick 12;50, M Muddle 12:41); 7 Nuneaton 38:19; 8 B&W 38:21; 9 Notts 38:28; 10 Telford B 38:31
Fastest: A Lane (Leam) 11:41; H Wagstaff (B&R) 11:46; J Bennett (N Som) 11:49
34 teams finished
U15 (4×3.88km): 1 Cannock & Stafford 38:15 (C Cresswell 12:44, F STantoin 12:47, B Smart 12:44); 2 RSC 38:22 (O Gunther 12:51, O Alsop 12:46, G Harradence 12:50): 3 Charnwood 38:37 (K James 12:21, J O’Connor 13:27, E Rudkin 12:49); 4 W&B 39:12; 5 Stoke 39:53; 6 Swindon 40:17
Fastest: J Mayneord (Swin) 12:15; Z Rush (S&SH) 12:20; K James (Charn) 12:21
31 teams finished
U13 (3×3.88km): 1 Bristol & West 43:10 (H Rogers 14:06, C Bush 14:25, O Nash 14:39); 2 Charnwood 43:12 (J O’Dowd 14:12, T Rozentals 14:36, E Trotman 14:24); 3 S&SH 43:28 (J Baylis 14:36, A Albarel 14:50, J Austerberry 14:02); 4 RSC 43:53; 5 Shrewsbury 44:12; 6 Swindon 44:20
Fastest: Sam Howell (RSC) 13:35; L Watkin (Shrews) 13:51; R Gray (Banb) 14:01
38 teams finished
U17 Women (3×3.88km): 1 Stoke 42:51 (G Burge 14:30, L Dundas 14:28, H Turner 13:53); 2 Kettering 44:46 (P Almond 14:56, J Lamb 15:09, L Power 12:41); 3 Leamington 45:04 (H Burt 14:12, L Hunter 15:10, E Vaughan 15:42); 4 Wreake & Soar Valley 45:23 (S Evans 15:25, A Towlson 14:56, S Chesterfield 15:2); 5 Halesowen 45:34 (L Hollingsworth 15:13, K Welborn 15:10, F Collins 15:02); 6 Worcester 47:05 (I Ciancio 14:54, E Purves 15:47, C Ciancio 16:24); 7 Stroud 47:18; 8 N Somerset 47:23; 9 Nuneaton 47:38; 10 Mansfield 48:46
Fastest: O McGhee (R&N) 13:36H Turner (Stoke) 13:53; H Burt (Leam) 14:12
20 teams finished
U15 (3×3.88km): 1 Bristol & West 43:36 (D Simpson 14:44, B Reveler 14:40, L Simpson 14:12); 2 Kettering 43:46 (B Lamb 14:21, M Sharp 15:20, M Owen 14:05); 3 Mansfield 43:46 (I Milns 15:06, M Westwood 15:06, C Whysall 13:34); 4 B&R 14:40; 5 Wreake & Soar Valley 44:49; 6 Swindon 45:17
Fastest: Charley Whysall (Mansf) 13:34; M Blower (B&R) 13:51; M Owen (Kett) 14:05
39 teams finished
U13 (3×3.88km): 1 Shrewsbury 45:48 (A Kohring 16:04, L Hardcastle 15:31, R Kohring 14:13); 2 Worcester 46:43 (H Cooke 14:21, K Harte 16:16, F Bidwell 16:06); 3 R&N 46:46 (F Carty 15:28, M Hamilton 16:20, E Rudkin-Wilson 14:58); 4 Charnwood 47:18; 5 Swindon 48:19; 6 RSC 48:23
Fastest: L Pearce (C&S) 14:08; R Kohring (Shrews) 14:13; H Cooke (Worc) 14:21
28 teams finished
SOUTH OF ENGLAND ROAD RELAYS, Rushmoor Arena, Aldershot, September 20
Whilst the men ran over their traditional two 3km laps for a total distance of 6km, the women moved up to race over the same distance, for the first time and hosts Aldershot came out on top with five team victories. No other club came away with more than one team title.
It was a hectic day of action with the Rushmoor Arena attracting more teams than in recent years
Men
Winners Aldershot started steadily back in fifth spot thanks to Josh Grace before slipping to seventh mid-race before pulling back to second and then first with Sam Edlen and finally Callum Charleston.
That first 6km stage was led by Brighton & Hove’s Josh Hobb’s 17:50 and they still led after stage two, thanks to Ian Crowe-Wright who matched his colleague’s time, albeit a few tenths slower.
A surprise looked on the cards mid-race as the South Coast outfit still led before drifting out of contention as the race concluded.
Ben Bradley gave Bracknell a solid start in second spot on the opener with a 17:52 clocking and they still held second mid-race before slipping. The Berkshire outfit then recovered to fourth at the line thanks to Zak Seddon’s 17:41 race fourth quickest time.
However, the race belonged to hosts Aldershot and was theirs by 13 seconds and was their tenth win on this course since its use began in 1988.
On that final leg, Callum Elson followed through for runners-up Cambridge & Coleridge with the equal third best time of the afternoon at 17:45.
Men (6x6km): 1 AFD 1:49:54 (J Grace 17:56, A Pointon 18:45, L Stone 18:44, T Chandler 18:07, S Eglen 18:04, C Charleston 18:20); 2 Cambridge & Coleridge 1:50:09 (M Morgan 18:23, C Benyan 18:33, D Jones 18:02, J Edgerton 19:32, J Escalante-Phillips 17:56, C Elson 17:45); 3 Highgate 1:50:17 (C Cooper 18:20, A Lepretre 18:14, S Jinks 18:50, R Poolman 17:45, P Chambers 18:15, H Austin 18:56); 4 Bracknell 1:50:31 (B Bradley 17:52, B Moore 18:09, D Brookling 18:49, S Halsted 19:08, J Winship 18:54, Z Seddon 17:41); 5 Herne Hill 1:50:41 (M Wood 18:39, B Dewar 18:37, D Shaw 18:48, S Bramwell 17:53, T Austin 18:06, O Mills 18:41); 6 City of Norwich 1:51:01 (M Clark 17:55, W Mahoney 18:48, H Allcock 18:59, J White 18:29, D Adams 18:56, L Smith 17:56); 7 Bedford & County 1:51:17 (B Alcock 18:00, H Brodie 18:58, N Campion 17:57, S Winters 18:37, B Davies 19:00, J Goodwin 18:48); 8 Tonbridge 1:51:25 (A Howard 18:21, T Bawtree 19:18, T Higgins 18:35, H Fraser 18:54, J Kingston 17:23, L Mills 18:56); 9 Hercules Wimbledon 1:51:39 (F Slemeck 18:51, A Penney 18:01, A Walton 19:40, A Milne 17:52, T Cooke 18:54, J Cornish 18:24); 10 Herts Phoenix 1:51:44 (E Primett 18:17, C O’Neill 19:01, L Dunham 18:15, O Bell 17:31, S Pedley 19:18, J Eves 19:24); 11 Brighton & Hove 1:52:32; 12 Newham & Essex Beagles 1:52:38; 13 Thames Valley 1:52:40; 14 Kent 1:53:15; 15 Brighton Phoenix 1:53:51
Fastest: J Kingston (Ton) 17:23; O Bell (Herts P) 17:30; C Brisley (NEB) 17:37; Sneddon 17:41; Elson/Poolman 17:45
85 teams finished
Women
Aldershot’s women made it four wins in a row and bettered their men with their 15th overall victory here and they were given a solid start by Lauren Hall’s 20:34, a time that stood up as second quickest of the race.
It was the first time that the women had run the double 3km lap used by the men since the inception of the race here and was done on safety grounds to retain the route mainly in the confines of the Arena.
Aldershot followed with Katie Pye and Kate Estlea-Morris after dropping to second before Niamh Brown secured the victory with a final lap flourish and the third quickest time of 20:35.
The hosts had fallen behind but it had been their B team who looked likely to cause a surprise as, after Millie Jordan-Lee had seen them fourth on the opener, twin sister Maddie took them ahead mid-race. Harriet Preedy then maintained the lead on the penultimate lap before they fell back to third at the line
Second placed Belgrave Harriers had a steady race with their four runners all within half-a-minute of each other as Juliet Hodder brought them home for silver.
The fastest lap went elsewhere as Herne Hill’s Georgie Grgec had moved them to third on the penultimate lap with comfortably the race best effort of 19:30 but they then fell back.
Women (4x6km): 1 AFD 83:30 (L Hall 20:34, K Pye 21:20, K Estlea-Morris 21:02, N Brown 20:35); 2 Belgrave 84:58 (A Barbour 21:18, A Brooke 21:33, E Bradley 21:02, J Hodder 21:06); 3 AFD B 85:23 (Millie Jordan-Lee 20:52, Maddie Jordan-Lee 20:47, H Preedy 21:17, L Gent 22:28); 4 Herne Hill 85:26 (R Hughes 21:39, S Grover 22:21; G Grgec 19:30, G Leyland 21:57), 5 Thames Valley 85:43 (C Buckley 21:06, K Olding 21:55, L Sterritt 22:03, T Barlow 20:40); 6 Herts Phoenix 85:59 (K Harriet 22:21, S Keira 21:53, M Khahisa 21:08, A Gummow 20:39); 7 The Stragglers RC 86:17 (L Bailey 20:42, S Holt 21:16, N Douglas 22:31, P Law 21:49); 8 Belgrave B 88:26 (S Hicks 21:58, A Gandee 22:25, F Harrison 22:35, R Whyte-Wilding 21:29); 9 Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow 88:49 (N Griffith 21:08, E Davey 22:41, K Clutterbuck 22:37, R Clutterbuck 22:24); 10 St Albans 88:59 (C Durbin 21:48, C O’Connor 22:49, C Cooke 23:39, F Weddell 20:45), 11 Bedford & County 89:13; 12 Winchester RC90:29; 13 Victoria Park H & Tower H90:58; 14 Thames Hare & Hounds 91:00; 15 AFD C91:08
Fastest: Grgec 19:30; Hall 20:34; Brown 20:35
47 teams finished
Masters men
The veterans’ races also took place with Kent AC dominating the M40s by over a minute and their Chris Busaileh, on the opener, was second fastest overall with 19:25. His time was later headed by Woking’s John Hutchins with 19:24.
It is a sobering thought to recall that when the first M40 race was staged here back in 1989 an Aldershot veterans’ quartet ran more than five minutes quicker without the benefit of go-faster shoes. In their squad that day was your correspondent and AFD coach Mick Woods.
Guildford & Godalming took the M50 race after being given a first stage lead by fastest overall Ollie Gosden, whose 20:04 was the best of the age group.
Another Guildford man David Williams was fastest M60 with 21:51 but second fastest Colin Ridley had given Colchester a good start and, after dropping back came through to win.
The Masters Women’s events were poorly supported but Aldershot added to their tally by adding the W40 event (there are no W35s here) but Aldershot added to their tally with another win.
St Albans’ Stacy Ward was quickest with a 22:05 clocking.
M40 (4x6km): 1 Kent 81:26 (C Busaileh 19:25, J Herrera 20:16, P Nation 21:25, A Paterson 20:21); 2 Southampton 82:50 (S Hoenig 19:41, M Risden 21:02, J Curtis 20:57, M Coffey 21:11); 3 Kent B 82:54 (R Laing 20:30, B Day 20:53, P Lighting 20:36, B Hope 20:57); 4 Phoenix 83:33 (R Brocklehurst 20:50, C Penrose 20:13, L Isaacs 21:32, S Hawkins 21:00); 5 Woking 83:44 (J Hutchins 19:24, D Brighton 21:11, A Mogford 21:31, S Egan 21:39), 6 Newbury 84:14 (A Ind 21:22, B Gerard 20:57, S Barnes 21:43, M Stone 20:13); 7 Holland Sports 84:29; 8 Brighton & Hove 84:54; 9 Abingdon 85:07; 10 AFD 85:45
Fastest: Hutchins 19:24; Busaileh 19:25; A Smith (AFD) 19:32
21 teams finished
M50 (4x6km): 1 Guildford & Godalming 84:44 (O Gosden 20:05, N Tearle 21:28, I Acreman 21:54, T Booth 21:19); 2 Kent 84:59 (P Sanders 20:59, C Greenwood 20:20 W Pitt 22:23, C Compton 21:18); 3 Medway & Maidstone 86:32 (N Wright 21:09, J Simmonds 22:48, R Tomlinson 21:40, J Lane 20:56); 4 AFD86:39; 5 Datchet Dashers 88:27; 6 Brighton & Hove 88:52
Fastest: Gosden 20:05; H Bristow (B&H) 20:15; Greenwood 20:20
18 teams finished
M60 (3x6km): 1 Colchester 94:55 (C Ridley 22:57, A Raynor 24:23, Mingay 22:55, P West 24:41); 2 Wells City95:32 (N Stevens 23:55, J James 21:08, D Hall 24:27, S Masters 26:03); 3 Tonbridge 98:37 (P Coleman 25:34, A Fullbrook 26:14, M Pitcairn-Knowles 23:24, G Saker 23:26); 4 Guildford & Godalming 98:43; 5 Kent 1:40:22; 6 Barnet & District 1:40:49
Fastest: D Williams (G&G) 21:52; M Tennyson (G&G) 22:25; Mingay 22:55
16 teams finished
W40 (3x6km): 1 AFD 67:50 (L Locks 22:31, E Wicks 22:25, L Wright 22:56); 2 St Albans 69:39 (S Ward 22:05, L Waterlow 23:25, K Dixon 24:09); 3 Stragglers 70:28 (S Biggs 23:16, J Daniel 24:09, N Hornzee 23:03); 4 Kent 72:26; 5 Ashford 73:32; 6 Vale of Aylesbury 74:29
Fastest: Ward 22:05. W60: C Elms (Kent) 23:37
14 teams finished
W50 (3x6km): 1 AFD 78:58 (A Gratton 26:19, E Pearson 25:55, H O’Connell 26:44); 2 G&G 79:06; 3 Dulwich R 79:48
Fastest: N Cahusac (G&G) 24:33
Just six teams finished
Young athletes
The titles were spread around, but the under-17 men’s race went to St Mary’s Richmond after their Tom Mythen ran the race quickest for their 4.6km trip on the third and final stage at 13.59.
For the women, the under-17 title was again Aldershot’s and it was their Kitty Scott who posted the fastest lap with a 15:36 clocking. This was after Tilly Robertson had sent them on their way with a fifth place on leg one. Sabrina Coppola Johansen edged them closer to the lead before Scott sealed it. This was their fourth in a row and their18th in total and a course record to boot.
Hercules Wimbledon took the boys’ U15 title as Charlie Nicholson gained ten places on the final lap to secure third for London Heathside with the fastest lap time of 8:59.
Windsor won the U15 girls title as Kara Gorman took them into the medals on the last stage with a race record equaling 10:00. However, Hy Athletics Club’s Isabella Buchanen had already smashed that time on the opening 3km stage with 8:52.
Madison Kindler anchored for U13 girls’ winners Brentwood Beagles and shaved one second from her own course record with 10:11 and their total time was more than a minute quicker than the previous best.
The under-13 boys race also say two new records as Blackheath’s Emery Aldridge’s 9:49 and his club’s overall time also up set the record books.
U17 men (3×4.6km): 1 St Mary’s 43:05 (M Solomon 14:28, D Jelfs 14:39, T Mythen 13:59), 2 Tonbridge 43:15 (W Bachelor 14:17, E Prendergast 14:04. O Graffin 14:55), 3 Cambridge & Coleridge 43:43 (S McDonald 14:15, A Johnson 15:03, F MacLennan 14:26); 4 Blackheath & Bromley 43:50 (B O’Grady 15:00, O Ward 14:37, J Hill 14:14); 5 Chiltern 43:55 (J Holdsworth 14:54, T Ford 14:27, E Johnson 14:34); 6 Herne Hill 44:22 (C Holmes 14:45, L Roch 15:19, T Clerkin 14:18); 7 AFD 44:30; 8 Sutton & District 44:33; 9 Havering 44:39; 10 Winchester RC 44:54
Fastest: Mythen 13:59; Prendergast 14:04; Hill 14:14
65 teams finished
U15 (4x3km): 1 Hercules Wimbledon 28:46 (J Fraser 09:39, M Harrison 09:50, T Creed 09:17); 2 Bedford & County 28:57 (F Williams 09:17, O Henderson 09:40, E Gibbs 10:01); 3 London Heathside 28:59 (A Kirk 09:44, R Willis 10:17, C Nicholson 08:59); 4 Brighton & Hove 29:04; 5 Bracknell 29:05; 6 Cambridge & Coleridge 29:15
Fastest: Nicholson 8:59; T Thom-Watts (B&H) 9:11; E Langley Aybar (Brack) 9:14
75 teams finished
U13 (4x3km): 1 Blackheath & Bromley 30:05 (H Beeraje 10:12, Z Evans 10:04, E Aldridge 09:49); 2 Shaftesbury Barnet 30:29 (H Henderson 10:33, L Ward 09:53, D Pascal 10:04); 3 Reading 30:46 (W May 10:06, R Odin 10:38, N Mazieres 10:03); 4 Crawley 30:57; 5 Winchester & District 31:10 (H Fox 10:31; H Lee 10:41, E Shawcross Campbell 09:59); 6 Chelmsford 31:27
Fastest: Emery Aldridge (B&B) 9:49; L Ward (SB) 9:53; B Welch (WSEH) 9:54
67 teams finished
U17 women (3×4.6km): 1 AFD 49:18 (T Robertson 17:09, S Coppola Johansen 16:34, K Scott 15:36); 2 Chelmsford 49:47 (E Harrold 16:39, L Wilkin 17:06, J March 16:03); 3 Aldershot Farnham & DAC B 49:53 (K McBride 16:35, O Garcia Davis 16:28, K Ealden 16:52); 4 Hercules Wimbledon 51:03 (I Harrison 15:55, L Paulson 17:30, R Evans 17:39); 5 Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow 51:34 (C Bullock 18:14, T Ferguson 16:08, G Colley 17:13); 6 Cambridge & Coleridge 51:55 (I King 17:17, J Christmas 16:19, J Hames 18:20); 7 City of Portsmouth 52:08; 8 Wells City 52:22; 9 Chiltern 52:32 (E Wildman 16:24, I Robinson 18:05, A Whitfield 18:03); 10 Chelmsford B 52:33
Fastest: Scott 15:36; Harrison 15:55; March 16:03
36 teams finished
U15 (3x3km): 1 WSEH 31:22 (Z Allan 10:30, H Lucas 10:53, K Gorman 10:00); 2 Chelmsford 31:33 (L Sanford 10:30, A King 10:31, E Kelly 10:33); 3 Aldershot Farnham & DAC 32:03 (F Croucher 11:27, N Walmsley 10:34, P Guest 10:04); 4 Chelmsford B 32:44; 5 St Edmunds Pacers 32:50; 6 HY 32:59
Fastest: Buchanen (Hy AC) 9:53; Gorman 10:00; Guest 10:04
53 teams finished
U13 (3x3m): 1 Brentwood Beagles 31:20 (S Davies 10:18, L Esterhuysen, 10:52, M Kindler 10:11); 2 South London 33:34 (G Shade 10:49, I Errington 11:46, S Lange 11:01), 3 Aldershot Farnham & DAC 33:43 (E Jones 11:17, I Goodey de Diego 11:23, M Dury 11:04); 4 St Edmund Pacers 34:33; 5 City of Portsmouth 34:40; 6 Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow 34:42
Fastest: M Kindler (B’wood) 10:11; S Davies (B’wood) 10:18; L Graham (St Mary’s) 10:47
44 teams finished