National Masters Road Relays 2005

Sutton Park, Birmingham 21st May  

Team bronze for B&R women

Congratulations to B&R's Women's 45-54 team who won bronze at Sutton Park. Bronwen Cardy returned to competition for the club and led the team out with 18-48 for the first three mile lap. Ann Stuart (21-01) and Kate Haley (21-20) kept the momentum going to bring B&R home in 3rd place in 61-09, holding off 4th placed Bingley Harriers by just 21 seconds. Gold and silver  medals went to Wrexham A.C. (57-04) and Redhill R.R. (59-04). The B&R team were understandably very pleased and were so excited that they nearly missed their moment of glory when called up for their medals (B&R's only medals of the day). The womens 35-44 team was incomplete with only Jane Anderson running a leg (20-08).

Men's over 50s race

B&R's over 50s team ran in the six stage race starting in the morning. Alan Ellesmere ran what was to be the team's fastest time of the day on the first leg. Steve James continued to make his way back from injury, running the 4th leg for the team. The team finished 34rd out of the 46 teams that closed out in a time of 1-54-50 just 14 seconds and 2 positions behind local rivals Halesowen. The race was won by Oxford City A.C. in 1-41-15 with Invicta East Kent and Stockport Harriers taking second and third respectively.

B&R men's O50 team

Alan Ellesmere	18-11
Clive Brown	18-34
Vince Rollason	18-30
Steve James	21-38
Steve Bach	19-15
Gordon Hardy	18-42

Men's 40 - 49 race

The team ran 2-16-28 for the eight leg relay to finish 24th out of the 55 teams that completed the race. This is an improvement on the 43rd place in 2004 albeit there were more complete teams (64) that year. The team also had the satisfaction of finishing ahead of Birchfield (26th), Halesowen (28th) and Kidderminster & Stourport (37th). This year's race was won by Bristol & West A.C. in 2-03-09 ahead of Telford A.C. (2-07-10) and Clayton-Le-Moors Harriers (2-07-24).

Track specialist Russell Rawlins ran the fastest leg for the B&R team in 16-09. Paul Collins returned to racing in the red & blue vest after a lengthy break from competition and ran a fine 16-25 with Ian Keyte and Phil Carbutt very nearly matching his time.

B&R men's 40-49 team

Russell Rawlins	16-09
Ian Keyte	16-33
Steve Clews	17-43
Dave Kesterton	17-10
Dave Cleverley	18-07
Paul Collins	16-25
Phil Carbutt	16-29
Phil Anderson	17-52