Birmingham Invitation Cross Country League

Midland Ladies Cross Country League

Birmingham Cross Challenge

Senneleys Park  - Sat. 27th October 2007

Good Opening Fixture for B & R

Above: Kevin Lanckham makes a splash on the last lap of the Birmingham League race.

With all 3 Divisions present at this opening Birmingham League fixture, over 600 senior men started out.  In our Division (Div. 2) some 211 finished the slightly less than 10k course. The day was mild and conditions under foot excellent.

Only two crossings of the notorious stream were required, a task that still threatened to be just too much for a number of B & R runners. Fortunately no one needed to be rescued by the local aqualung club.

And just who was the announcer referring to when he said “What a magnificent sight as the runners charge down the first hill” Not we back markers, I think, following the lung bursting climb at the start.

Above: Dave Kesterton first B&R finisher in the men’s league race.

Above: James Hood early on in the race.

The race winner as in 2006, was Jean Ndayisenga of Div. 1 club Birchfield Harriers in 29:41. Our first man home, with an excellent run, was the in-form Dave Kesterton, 6th in the Div. 2 race. Rich Malin with an equally good run was close behind in 15th spot. This set up the Club ‘A’ team for a good performance as Kevin Lanckham, Ian Keyte, James Hood and Jamie Dancyger all went well to finish highly placed.

The ‘A’ team ended 7th (out of 18 teams) with only 32 points separating us from a top 3 place.

Above: John Manley led the B&R 'B' team home.

The ‘B’ team was led home with solid runs from the fit again John Manley and stalwart Mark Graham. Then the fun started. Calvin Scoltock, obviously RADA trained and auditioning for the panto part of Cinderella, lost one shoe in his first crossing of the stream. Despite the handicap he pressed on (hopped on?) regardless, to be third home for the ‘B’ team. Some normality was resumed as the consistent Gavin Moorhead, with a good run, came in next before Phil Anderson was just home in front of Phil Richardson to reverse the finishing positions of their last race. Phil R’s race however was far from uneventful and a ducking in the stream was his reward (did he trip over on Calvin’s lost shoe?).

The ‘B’ team finished 2nd (out of 14 ‘B’ teams) but, Kenilworth and Leamington are hot on our heels.

Above: One shoe short, Calvin still races to the finish.

Above: Steve James survived the water hazard – but only just!

And still the fun wasn’t over. Jimmy Atkins and myself were next home, but because we had managed to avoid any embarrassing moments in our runs, Steve James thought he would make up for it by trying out his version of ‘bog snorkling’ (thanks to Ian Keyte for the quote!). Another rumour or excuse, probably put out by Steve himself, was that he was looking for Calvin’s shoe.

Above: B&R’s victorious U13 Girls team at the 2007 Birmingham Cross Challenge

Before the men’s race, junior Club members were successful in two events in the Birmingham Cross Challenge. The U13 Girls team of Orianna Ball, Charlotte Tongue, and with a gutsy run by Tamaryn Phipps-Jones, deservedly won gold, whilst Sally Hogan, Thomasina Ball, and Hayley Oliver all ran well to gain bronze for the U15 Girls team against strong opposition.

Three other juniors were less successful but did not disgrace the Club. Simon Lanckham, against older competition, finished in mid-field in the U17 Boys race. In the U15 Boys race, Lawson Phipps-Jones in 15th (from 21) and Jamie Scoltock, despite feeling ill, both nevertheless completed the course in good times.

The Club had just one Senior Lady, Ann Stuart, running in the Midland Women's Cross Country League race over two laps. On the back of setting a personal best in the recent Loch Ness Marathon, Ann showed little tiredness to finish strongly in 82nd place (from 174 finishers) in an excellent time of 29:29.

All in all, it was another great day out for Club members. Well done all runners. Thanks for the excellent support from families, friends and other Club members who gave us no opportunity to relax during the races. And what a good set of photos by John Dineen.

Len

Click for B&R photo gallery from these races

Men’s League Division 2 results

Individual Results

Team Results

Four clubs did not complete a ‘B’ team.

Click for full Division 2 results (pdf)