A small contingent of B&R runners made the short journey to this year’s Hillock race. The race stuck to its well-established route with a fast stretch on the footpath alongside the Halesowen bypass before turning left and heading over the farm tracks and fields. The off-road section then took in a loop within Uffmoor Wood and the meadows along the north side of the Clent Hills. The gently undulating route led over the western end of the hills followed by the downhill wooded path to St. Kenelm’s pass. A brief stretch of road led to the most testing hill on the course, the wide rutted path from the car park to the top of Walton Hill. Tired legs were then tested by the steep grassy downhill but afterwards there was some relief on the quiet country lanes near Romsley. The final mile or so retraced the early section of the race before turning right at the traffic island for the extra hundred metres uphill to the finish. Ian Keyte continued to add to his recent tally of races with another top ten finish. Gordon Hardy and Dave Stokes were the next B&R runners home and, as far as I can make out from the results table, Roger Beacham was first in his age category. The Hillock is a great race over a varied and at times testing course that is mainly supported by local runners but deserves a wider reputation.

First three men finishers:

1 Mark Garratt 01:05:12 Senior Road Runners Club

2 Stuart Geggie 01:07:14 MV45 Halesowen

3 Matt Giles 01:07:34 Senior Stourbridge

First three female finishers:

43 Emma Hornby 01:19:59 Senior Kidderminster & Stourport

57 Jean Turner 01:23:25 FV40 Telford Harriers

59 Jane Staite 01:24:36 FV40 Telford Harriers

Bromsgrove & Redditch runners:

8 Ian Keyte 01:10:10 MV40 (4th male vet)

45 Gordon Hardy 01:20:36 MV50

64 David Stokes 01:25:09 Senior

68 Roger Beacham 01:26:52 MV65 (1st male 65)