THE MIDLANDS 12-Stage Relays took place at Sutton Park at the weekend and there was decent representation from Bromsgrove & Redditch Athletic Club which put two teams out.
The course was made up of four long legs of 5.08km, followed by eight short legs of 3.1km.
However, the men’s race was not all plain sailing. With a runner turning up late due to traffic problems, the B&R team had to be changed at short notice and credit must go to team managers Len and Calvin who stayed cool and got the team through.
The men managed to qualify for the National Road Relays which also take place at Sutton on April 16.
Leg one fell to Richard Malin and he recorded the fastest long leg of the day for B&R of 30.17. Kevin Fisher clocked 32.46 and then came Calvin Scoltock, who arrived on site only to be told he had to get his kit on and run. Unfortunately the changeover was missed by a minute and he finished in a time of 35.10.
Sean Bowden, who was due to run a short leg, ended up doing a long leg in order to help the team out and clocked 32.49.
The B&R short legs were as follows: Paul Atkins (20.06), Ian Keyte (19.18), Mike Hanson (18.36), Paul Collins (20.06), Steve Brooks (20.03), Malcolm Duff (18.23), Adam Parr (running his first road relay, 18.58). Mark Appleton brought B&R home with the fastest short leg of the day of 17.55 and helped the team to a finishing position of 28th out of 64 starting teams.
The B team was only made up of four runners so it was an incomplete squad. However, the four runners all ran long legs and did the club proud.
Anthony Warner clocked 35.56, Curt Price 39.25, Peter Taylor 43.24 and David Snape 39.00.
Bristol & West were victorious, Cheltenham Harriers were second and Notts AC third.
The B&R ladies’ team had no issues. The women’s race is made up of six legs, with one and three long and two, four, five and six short.
All the women ran fantastically and did the club proud as they finished 25th out of 57 starting teams. The women’s team have also qualified for the National Road Relays.
Results: Thomasina Ball (39.30), Tamara Freeman (21.14), Ruth Gameson (41.04), Mel Hepke (22.22), Alison Pickup (24.28), Debbie Simpson (25.12).
Charnwood AC won the women’s event, ahead of runners-up Birchfield Harriers and third placed Notts AC.
Ex-B&R runner and Redditch-based Joe Smith ran his first race for his new club Tipton Harriers and clocked the third fastest time on leg seven of 16.47 to help Tipton to a fourth placed finish.
