Birmingham Cross Country League Div. 2 – 3rd Fixture

Wyken Croft Park, Coventry

Saturday 13th January 2007

Another set of good cross country performances

Left to right: Dave, Mark, Barry, William & Phil enjoy well-earned flapjacks at the finish.

Mild and very blustery conditions faced runners over the twisting and undulating 9km course. Despite recent heavy rain, the course was in surprisingly good condition although some lower lying parts did resemble mini lakes.

Bromsgrove & Redditch fielded 12 runners (out of a total of 162) and so maintained its boast of being one of only five clubs (from 13 in the division) to have two teams complete in each of the three fixtures.

The promise of double flapjacks as a reward for good performances was obviously the spur our runners needed and they responded well.

Left: Dave Kesterton continues recent good form. Right: A pack shelter from the wind behind Kevin Lanckham.

The ‘A’ team was led home by the improving Dave Kesterton in 16th place, whilst in 43rd spot was Kevin Lanckham who produced another strong run to be next back for the club. For long periods Jamie Dancyger headed both Ian Keyte and Gavin Moorhead but could not keep up his fast early pace. Ian (58th) overtook Jamie on the last lap and only missed out finishing a few places better in a tight race to the line with runners from other clubs. Gavin (74th) also took advantage of the tiring Jamie (76th) on that last lap to be our next finisher. Completing the ‘A’ team sextet with another fine run was Mark Graham (90th).

Left: Ian Keyte battling with Sphinx & Warwick Uni. runners. Right: Jamie Dancyger ahead of the famous black vest of Birchfield.

On the day, the team came 11th, a result which could have been much better had not injuries prevented James Adie and Phil Carbutt from running. B&R also lie 11th in the table after the three fixtures and we will be hard pressed to make up ground on the clubs above us in the last fixture in February.

Left: Mark Graham leads Phil Anderson on lap one. Right: Calvin Scoltock hams it up for the camera at the top of the long hill.

For the ‘B’ team, Phil Scarr (96th) ran well and was first back. Phil Anderson (98th), Calvin Scoltock (106th), Andy Freeman (121st), Barry Cooke (129th) in his first race after injury, and Phil Richardson (139th) all produced good supporting runs to improve the team’s league standing after the three fixtures.

The ‘B’ team was 7th on the day and again it was a case of ‘so near yet so far’ with only 27 points separating us from the 4th placed team. Nevertheless, after the three fixtures, the team had made up a lot of points on 4th placed Leamington ‘B’ and a similar performance in February could see us climb a place in the league.

Thankfully, no one took me up on my rash offer to clean their spikes after the race whilst, almost needless to say, the excuse for not running (we have to help with marshalling) offered by Roger and myself was not well received and by general consent was considered to be a very poor second to Paul Atkins’ ‘door’.

Thanks and well done to all who ran. Also thanks to all Club supporters (around twelve stalwarts) for their encouragement and to Tony Woodward for his camera work.

Len Quartly

	‘B’ Team results	Points
1	Staffs. Moorlands	269
2	Kenilworth	573
3	Birchfield	619
4	Sphinx	662
5	Northbrook	672
6	Tamworth	676
7	B&R	689
8	Leamington	862

Forthcoming Cross Country fixtures:

Sat. 20th Jan. Gloucester League at Droitwich

Sat. 27th Jan. Midlands Champs. at Stafford Common

Fourth & final fixture in B’ham League is on Sat. 17th Feb. at Northbrook, Coventry.