Midland Road Relays Sept. 2005

Sutton Park, Birmingham

Kevin Lanckham starts leg 4 for the B&R men’s A team

The senior road relays (men’s 6 stage and women’s 4 stage races) were held on Saturday 24th September and the Young Athletes relays the following day. The outstanding B&R performance of the weekend came from the U/15 boy’s team in claiming the medals for third placed team (Ben Richardson 14-31, Sean Bowden 13-43, Simon Lanckham 13-42).

Left: Paul Collins emerges from the shadows on leg 3. Right: Richard Malin fastest B&R man on the day.

This year, the senior men’s team were faced with a harder task to qualify for the National Relays as the rules have changed to allow B teams to take up places if they finish in the top 25 in the Midlands (albeit they would not be eligible for prizes in the Nationals). The A team gradually improved from 41st place to be just outside the qualifying places by the start of the last leg. Sixth runner Richard Malin, back in action after a serious illness, then ran the fastest leg of the day for B&R (19-01) to gain 9 places. Nineteenth place in 2 hours 2 minutes ensured that the club’s men will race again at Sutton in October. 103 teams started and 85 finished the race. The first three places went to Notts AC (1 hour 49-58), Bristol & West AC (1-50-33) and Telford AC (1-51-57).

Team captain Barry Cooke (pictured left, keeping track of team results with Phil Carbutt) suffered an injury at the top of the steep hill early in his lead-off leg for B&R men’s B team but refused to drop out and completed his lap (ahead of only one other runner). Phil Carbutt, returning from injury, started well adrift but ran a time faster than some of the A team and clawed back 29 places. The B team finished 51 st in 2 hours 13-58. The turnout was so good that four runners ran as an incomplete C team and led the B team over the first two legs, with Dave Lewis their fastest runner in 22-05.

Men’s A team (position at end of leg in brackets): Dave Kesterton 20-27 (41), Ross Matthews 20-24 (37), Paul Collins 20-48 (34), Kevin Lanckham 21-03 (31), Damian Lewis 20-17 (28), Richard Malin 19-01 (19).

Men’s B team: Barry Cooke 26-20 (101), Phil Carbutt 20-25 (72), Ian Keyte 20-54 (64), Paul Atkins 22-01 (59), John Dineen 21-28 (52), Phil Anderson 22-50 (51).

Men's C team: Alan Elsmere 22-51 (76), Steve Elsmere 23-53 (71), Craig 24-50 (80), Dave Lewis 22-05 (71)

The senior women’s team (1 hour 14-41) finished 33 rd out of 65 complete teams. Jeanette Malin set the pattern for the Malins by recording the fastest time for the B&R women’s team. Helen Russell ran well in her first race back after breaking her ankle. The women’s race team medals went to Charnwood AC (59-22), Bristol West AC (1-01-20) and Tipton Harriers (1-01-59).

Women’s team: Heather Blamire-Brown 18-34 (44), Helen Russell 18-50 (40), Ann Stuart 18-57 (38), Jeanette Malin 18-20 (33).

Click here for pdf of full results of women’s race.

Other B&R results:

U/13 girls A (13 th): Sally Hogan 16-29, Thomasina Ball 17-35, Laura Porter 17-23.

U/13 girls B (incomplete): Rosie Walker 19-25, Hayley Oliver 18-54

U/15 girls (22 nd): Kelly Oliver 17-23, Alice Green 17-56, Amy Irish 19-25