Halesowen Hillock

Sunday 7th May 2006

Above: Jane Hawkins, Worcs. champion over ten tough miles.

There was a better turn out by B&R at this year’s Hillock with seven runners as opposed to only four last year. There was the added attraction that the race had been named as the Worcestershire Multi-Terrain Championship. The course was the same as last year except for a minor change at about one mile where the course went through instead of alongside the cow shed. Having had little recent rain, the ground of the off-road sections was hard under foot except for a few soft patches in Uffmoor Wood. As the weather was overcast and mild rather than warm, many runners reported that their times were slightly better over the ten-mile multi-terrain course compared with previous years.

Above: Ian Keyte, first B&R runner to the top of Walton Hill at six miles.

Kidderminster & Stourport’s Tom Kenderdine led the race right from the start and the field of 163 entrants was soon strung out along the path alongside the Hagley Road. Ian Keyte was well up in the first ten over this fast stretch and after the turn into the farmland. Paul Collins, sporting a badly gashed shin from a fall in yesterday’s steeplechase, held back early on. Phil Anderson was third B&R runner over the fields and into the woods but was soon to pay for too fast a start. Mark Graham passed him just before leaving the woods and making the first road crossing.

Left: Paul Collins, first B&R finisher. Right: Steve James digs deep on the steepest climb.

The grassy course tracked the edge of the Clent Hills crossing many stiles alongside woods carpeted with of bluebells. The track alongside the deer fence led to the spine of Nimmings Hill, bared by the clearing of the gorse and bracken. The undulating paths eventually led down the other side of the hill and to St. Kenelms. This was crossed crossed and a short stretch of road gave the runners time to prepare for the stiff climb on the beaten sandy path up Walton Hill. B&R members Dagmar Prinzing & Jane Anderson were strategically positioned here to cheer us on and to catch our grimaces on camera (sorry Mark, they didn't spot you in time). At last the top of the course had been reached and the steep grassy bank on the other side of the hill took the runners down to the lanes that would lead them to Romsley. At this point it finally feels like you’re on the homeward leg and the public footpath from the carpark by the children’s playground led to about a mile back through farmland. The tenth mile retraced the path along the main road but the last stretch included the extra uphill to the finish after turning right at the island.

Left: Roger Beacham enjoys the challenge. Right: Phil Anderson looks forward to some downhill.

Tom Kenderdine won the race (62-18) by over two minutes from Bridgnorth’s John Allen. Ian had continued to lead Paul over the first nine miles but Paul passed him on the return through the cowshed and opened up a 15 second gap over the last mile to be eleventh in the race and first B&R home in 69-39. Ian was one place behind in 69-56, 15 seconds quicker than in 2005. Sixteenth-placed Mark Graham (72-10) was third B&R runner to finish and completed our scoring three that took the silver medals in the men’s team category in the Worcs. Champs. Halesowen AC had taken the gold in spite of many of their regular competitors marshalling rather than racing. Phil recovered from a bad middle stretch to hang on to 27th place. Jane Hawkins (81-59) was fourth woman overall and first in the county race. Roger Beacham improved his 2005 time by nine seconds but this year was second Vet 65 rather than first. Steve James looked very warm but ran determinedly to clock 91-04.

Finally congratulations to Halesowen AC for another well organised race and thanks for the welcome respite of the bar afterwards and the wonderfully hot showers in the changing rooms.

Leading male finishers:

1 Tom Kenderdine (K&S) 62-18

2 John Allen (Bridgnorth) 64-40

3 John Sanders (Telford H.) 65-36

Leading female finishers:

25 Jane Rowlands (Ludlow) 74-31

34 Denise Sanders (Telford H.) 77-42

114 Tracey Curl (Norwich RR) 80-56

B&R finishers:

11 Paul Collins 69-39

12 Ian Keyte 69-56

16 Mark Graham 72-10

27 Phil Anderson 75-44

49 Jane Hawkins 81-59

75 Roger Beacham 86-43

89 Steve James 91-04

Worcestershire Championship

Leading men:

1 Tom Kenderdine (K&S) 62-18

2 Andrew Butler (Hales.) 66-25

3 Stuart Geggie MV45 (Hales.) 67-31

Leading woman:

1 Jane Hawkins (B&R)

Men’s teams:

1 Halesowen AC

2 Bromsgrove & Redditch AC

(PA)