Midland Counties Men's 12 Stage Road Relays

Sutton Park

Saturday 31st March 2007

B & R Men qualify again for National Relays

Dave Kesterton (left) and Matt Addison ran the fastest long and short legs for B&R.

Out of 45 teams B & R finished in a very creditable 16th place in a strong field and maintained its good record of qualifying for the National event.

The weather was generally fine for racing apart from gusty winds and a thunderstorm in the middle of the race.

Left: Jamie Dancyger sprints off on leg 2. Right: John Dineen catches his breath after leg 6.

Dave Kesterton got the team off to a good start on the long first leg (5 ¼ miles) and was 16th man home. The next two short legs (3 miles) run by Jamie Dancyger, in his first road relay, and a flying in-form Matt Addison (15:04) improved the Club’s position to the lofty heights of 11th in the race. Despite strong runs by Kevin Lanckham (second long leg), followed by 2 short legs from Andy Freeman and John Dineen, making a welcome return to racing, the Club had slipped slightly to be in a comfortable 16th place at the half way stage.

Left: Richard Malin about to run into the storm. Right: Ian Keyte splashes out on leg eight.

During the second half, the team maintained its 16th place thanks to excellent runs throughout the team. Rich Malin, on the next long leg, made light of the thunder, lightening and heavy rain to return in a fine time of 29:58, before Ian “it rained on me as well” Keyte and Paul Atkins continued the good work over the next two short legs. Not to be outdone James Adie, Richard Shardlow, in his first Club race, and Mark Graham also all went well and it was never in doubt that the Club would be rewarded with a high finishing place on the day.

Left: Jamies Adie on the way to the turn at Streetly Gate. Right: Richard Shardlow finishing on his club debut.

Comments from non-runners at the time of the thunderstorm were “what storm?” and “it will do the runners good”. But it would be wrong not to add that we (around 15 of us) were all cosily sheltering in the team tent at the time and scoffing flapjacks.

Left: Quickest B&R woman Helen on leg one. Right: Caroline on the last bend on leg four.

In the women’s six stage race, B&R had an incomplete team with four runners completing the three mile lap: Helen Russell, Anne Stuart, Jane Anderson and Caroline Cummings.

Thanks to all who raced and well done. Thanks also to the continued great support from reserve runners and relatives to make the day another enjoyable ‘Club day’, and for the great pictures by camera men Andy Freeman and Phil Anderson.

Len Quartly

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Selected results     

Teams

B & R Individual times (L = long leg)