Bristol & West and AFD win national road relay titles

Athletes as soon as once more impress at English Highway Operating Affiliation males’s 12 and girls’s 6-stage championships at Sutton Park

ERRA MEN’S 12 & WOMEN’S 6-STAGE ROAD RELAY, Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, April 12

On a typically sunny, however usually overcast day, Bristol & West secured victory within the males’s 12-stage relay, whereas Aldershot, Farnham & District triumphed within the ladies’s 6-stage relay.

Simply as for the Midland Championship – two weeks earlier on the similar venue – Sutton Park’s authorities had determined to permit public entry by means of Streetly Gate on the far finish of the long-stage canine leg. This meant that the race was compelled into utilizing simply the earlier quick stage for all legs, 12 for the lads and 6 for the ladies.

Purists and old-stagers rued the lack of the lengthy legs in each males’s and girls’s races however others thought that the racing was extra aggressive and most popular the format. The choice is to probably search a two-lap lengthy stage, with its attendant difficulties, or decamp to a brand new venue equivalent to Mallory Park the place the British Vets now maintain their relays.

Males

Midland winners and English Nationwide cross-country champions Bristol & West made their intentions clear from the beginning and stayed forward for a lot of the race earlier than Highgate interrupted their get together on leg 9 by means of Peter Chambers. This was earlier than Will Battershill stormed to the second quickest time of the day with a leg of 14:30.

It was Bristol’s first victory since their phenomenal 1980 12-stage course document and marked the retirement of their long-serving workforce handle Mike Down. Nonetheless, it almost resulted in catastrophe as Battershill twisted his ankle on some gravel close to Keepers’ Pool. He gamely carried on with adrenaline making certain that he received up the ultimate hill, around the tight flip and as much as the end tape.

Then it was straight to the primary assist tent, an ice pack and elastic bandaging.

Battershill, who has a better of 8:21.63 within the 3000m steeplechase, stated: “I went out arduous from the beginning as I believed I may catch them however my ankle twisted by the lake. I ran it off after limping.” The quickest lap time would absolutely have been his with out the damage.

Because it was, that honour went to Pontypridd Roadent’s Jake Smith, who ran 14:28 on stage seven to advance his membership ten spots to eighth place. He stated: “I received out very arduous after which held it collectively and I get prepared for the London Marathon the place I need sub-2:10.”

Smith has solely had a few parkrun outings this 12 months however boasts respective 10km and marathon bests of 29:22 and a couple of:11:00.

Earlier there was the same old mud up on the opening stage, which was lowered to the three.165-mile lap beforehand used for simply the quick stage right here.

After Ben Alcock had led early on for Bedford & County, it was Belgrave’s Matthew Merrick who narrowly took opening stage honours from Highgate’s Seyed Ghafari in 14:46. Merrick stated: “I used to be second then, once we took the nook, I opened my legs and stretched it and he (Highgate) was respiration closely.”

Bristol & West have been again in an in depth sixth spot due to Midland first stage winner Felix McGrath however they quickly moved up and Kurt Taylor chased residence Liverpool’s Matthew Jackson on stage two, each working 14:58. However the star right here was Calum Johnson, who gained an unimaginable 21 locations to fourth for Gateshead with the third quickest time of 14:34.

After Dage Minors gave Bristol the lead on leg three, sluggish occasions then saved them away from the sector as Highgate closed, then misplaced floor with every passing lap, earlier than Chambers gave them hope by taking a 5 second lead on stage 9.

Earlier on stage 5 Cambridge & Coleridge’s Jack Grey closed seven spots to fifth earlier than revealing that their “second leg runner had not been launched.” Prime M45 Alastair Watson was only a tick slower than Grey with a 15:07 clocking earlier than saying: “I’m proud of that however the honour of quickest veteran had earlier gone to Kent’s John Gilbert who ran 15:05.”

Alexander Lepretre and Jacob Allen took them 31 seconds away from Bristol with only one leg to go they usually thought they’d completed sufficient to carry on. It was to not be, due to Battershill’s heroics. Sore ankle and all.

Having a quiet day have been 2023 winners Central AC, who had Andrew Butchart because the quickest lengthy leg runner two years in the past. Right here, the 2021 Olympian helped his membership up six locations to eighth, on leg eight with 14:43, earlier than admitting that he regretted his transfer to 26.2 miles, the place he failed to complete the 2023 New York Marathon.

He acknowledged that this summer season he’s aiming for a sub-13 minute 5000m – his private better of 13:06.21 dates again to 2019.

Bristol workforce supervisor Down had missed their Midland victory on the identical course two weeks earlier. He was fairly severely sick then and stated: “I used to be in hospital for 3 weeks and misplaced all my enamel.” He stated that he had lastly managed his squad to victory after 21 years of attempting.

The current quick stage has solely been used since 2014 and Emile Cairess held the lap document at 14:43 since 2019, earlier than this 12 months’s outing, however there was a severe revision to the most effective occasions this 12 months. This was probably as a result of athletes who may need run an extended stage, had that been on supply, have been distinguished on the quick one.

The highest six right here all bettered Cairess’ time and 9 of the publish 2014 course bests have been set this 12 months.

Males (12×3.165M): 1 Bristol & West 3:02:35 (F Mcgrath (6) 14:58, Okay Taylor (2) 14:58, D Minors (1) 15:22, M Campion (1) 15:17, J Morrow (1) 15:14, D Rigby (1) 15:52, L Burgess (1) 15:18, M Davis (1) 15:07, D Studley (2) 15:48, B Robinson (3) 15:08, J Millar (2) 15:03, W Battershill (1) 14:30); 2 Highgate 3:02:57 (S Ghafari (2) 14:48, T Chadwick (6) 15:26, F Grierson (2) 15:07, F Kent (3) 15:54, M Watson (5) 15:29, D Lewis (4) 15:40, R Poolman (2) 14:50, S Jinks (2) 15:43, P Chambers (1) 14:52, A Lepretre (2) 14:52, J Allen (1) 14:53, J Younger (2) 15:23); 3 Cambridge & Coleridge 3:04:27 (L McCarron (10) 15:04, N Shreeve (19) 15:55, L Conway (18) 15:40, S Anthony (13) 15:27, J Grey (6) 15:06, E (3) 15:04, O Newman (4) 15:19, M Bartram (3) 15:48, T Eager (3) 14:43, M Morgan (5) 15:47, N Mapperley (3) 14:50, E Spencer (3) 15:44); 4 Tonbridge 3:05:29 (A Howard (13) 15:07, C Gibbens (5) 15:01, L Mills (9) 15:49, T Higgins (2) 14:54, J MacDonald (2) 15:39, H Fraser (5) 15:55, W Beeston (5) 15:29, S Unusual (5) 15:41, B Cole (4) 15:28, J Kingston (4) 14:38, J Crombie (4) 16:07, J Higgins (4) 15:41); 5 Leeds 3:06:13 (J Corridor (19) 15:19, L Taylor (13) 15:17, S Flanagan (19) 16:05, A Dunn (20) 16:09, A Cole (16) 15:51, J Woodcock-Shaw (10) 15:29, A Baker (8) 15:40, G Rush (7) 15:08, M Bostock (6) 15:22, J Lunn (6) 15:31, R Allen (6) 15:03, J Sagar (5) 15:19); 6 Belgrave 3:07:00 (M Merrick (1) 14:46, O Garrod (8) 15:39, H Fry (6) 15:27, R Kelly (15) 16:20, E Jodrell (13) 16:03, S Sommerville (11) 15:56, B Coughlan (12) 16:02, H Hart (11) 15:15, R Serif (9) 15:12, J Hancock (9) 15:33, A Fyfe (8) 15:40, N Goolab (6) 15:07); 7 Kent 3:07:36 (R Sesemann (15) 15:10, J Gilbert (7) 15:05, M Nicholls (7) 15:37, H Tivnen (11) 16:05, B Clarke (10) 15:51, J Simmonds (9) 15:36, N Acfield (7) 15:54, J English (6) 15:35, F Delgado (8) 15:47, C Dockerill (10) 15:49, J Collier (9) 15:31, O Hind (7) 15:36); 8 Western Tempo  3:08:32 (B Value (29) 15:34, C Jones (20) 15:27, D Gillett (12) 15:09, D Owen (12) 15:52, J Cann (3) 14:39, D James (2) 15:05, Okay Evans-Lombe (3) 15:46, P Wylie (4) 15:53, M Kelly (5) 16:20, A Lee (8) 16:21, G Jones (10) 16:12, A Lygo (8) 16:14); 9 Central 3:08:41 (A Marshall (7) 15:00, J Marshall (17) 15:53, L Beagley (16) 15:37, A Dunlop (18) 16:07, J Wooden (23) 17:05, S Inexperienced (21) 15:51, C Milne (15) 15:08, A Butchart (9) 14:43, H Hickey (7) 14:57, C Phillip (7) 15:42, L Fanotolli (7) 15:40, C Fullerton (9) 16:58); 10 VP&TH 3:10:44 (S Lewis (21) 15:23, R Bartram (24) 15:48, A Gladley (25) 16:01, H Wells (21) 15:43, A Lawrence (12) 15:20, D Howarth (13) 16:13, A Millbery (13) 16:11, J Hotham (15) 16:18, T Holliday (14) 15:51, A Dickson-Bell (14) 16:01, D Bolt (13) 16:15, L Minale (11) ); 11 Herne Hill 3:11:06 (D Shaw (24) 15:27, A Ludewick (11) 15:04, T Austin (11) 15:38, O Mills (16) 16:18, H Bell (21) 16:44, T Patterson (20) 16:20, M Roberts (17) 15:45, S Brashaw (17) 16:03, B Dewar (15) 15:32, A Clarke (13) 15:54, A Russell (11) 16:10, R Tanguy (12) 16:11); 12 Hercules Wimbledon 3:11:49 (C Eastaugh (31) 15:39, F Hessian (15) 15:03, A Walton (15) 15:45, C Wyllie (9) 15:20, J Stockings (7) 15:37, F Slemeck (8) 15:59, S Todd (11) 16:34, G Mallett (12) 15:45, O Carrington (10) 15:50, T Drayton (11) 16:39, V Baranov (12) 16:51, E Mallett (13) ); 13 Pontypridd Roadents 3:12:39 (M Ward (12) 15:06, J Heneghan (10) 15:21, P Copeland (4) 15:08, T Baird (7) 16:01, J Smith (20) 17:26, D Smith (19) 16:21, J Smith (9) 14:28, A Bull (10) 15:36, P Graham (11) 16:18, J Blackburn (12) 16:29, S Boreham (14) 16:51, J Peters (14) 17:34); 14 Meirionnydd 3:12:43 (R Owen (22) 15:23, D Kashi (27) 15:51, D Griffith (21) 15:46, R Challinor (23) 16:06, T Roberts (19) 15:51, A Jones (18) 16:17, G Stuart (18) 16:04, G Roberts (18) 16:14, B Harding (18) 16:48, O Roberts (18) 15:53, M Kendall (16) 16:24, R Bentley (15) 16:); 15 Corstorphine 3:13:32 (A Smith (9) 15:03, A Hoyle (21) 16:04, R Gardiner (17) 15:29, S Livingstone (19) 16:12, C McKenzie (18) 16:00, J Dunn (15) 15:58, J Eykelbosch (16) 16:14, J Barrable (16) 16:12, D Selman (17) 16:01, D Macaulay (17) 16:34, F Smith (17) 16:59, C Hunter (16)); 16 Salford 3:15:00 (C Davidson (30) 15:35, D Barratt (14) 15:06, J Birmingham (13) 15:30, A Ediker (14) 15:56, C Jones (15) 16:30, H Wakefield (7) 14:45, P Henderson (14) 17:18, A Chambers (14) 15:44, G Priestley (16) 16:40, Okay Darcy (16) 16:29, T Cornthwaite (18) 18:59, B Li); 17 Liverpool 3:16:09 (J O’Farrell (4) 14:56, M Jackson (1) 14:58, M McCarthy (5) 15:57, J Niven (5) 15:30, D Naylor (8) 16:19, T Rogerson (12) 16:41, M Ryan (19) 17:11, H Lupton (19) 16:13, S Campbell (19) 16:55, B Moorcroft (20) 17:04, H Care (20) 17:17, R Patel (18) 17:08); 18 Aldershot Farnham & District  (A Pointon (35) 15:44, L Stone (28) 15:40, C Charleston (23) 15:45, C Stephenson (25) 16:29, J O’Connell (17) 15:10, R Lovejoy (14) 15:49, S Eglen (10) 15:16, G Morris (13) 16:25, L Prior (13) 16:29, N Darlington (19) 18:21, J Langham (19) 17:39, J Boswell); 19 Morpeth 3:16:30 (P Smallcombe (16) 15:11, C Avery (9) 15:15, G Lowry (8) 15:29, F Brodie (4) 15:25, P Winkler (4) 15:22, J Dixon (6) 15:56, S Hancox (6) 16:12, C Marshall (8) 16:09, E Bond (12) 17:23, D Melling (15) 16:34, T Straughan (15) 17:35, R Hancox (20) 19:59); 20 BRAT 3:18:33 (D Robinson (55) 16:27, M Pearce (22) 14:41, R Vaughan (27) 16:38, D Bissuel (30) 16:53, W Maule (35) 17:28, J Tuffin (25) 14:51, H Brocklehurst (24) 17:12, O Jones (23) 16:43, D Teasdale (27) 17:55, A Lanz (24) 15:57, M Hill (24) 17:09, L Griffin (21) 16:); 21 Highgate B 3:18:44; 22 Bedford & County 3:19:02; 23 Notts 3:19:22; 24 Chelmsford 3:20:01; 25 Sale 3:20:10; 26 Cambridge & Coleridge B 3:20:26; 27 WG&EL 3:21:33; 28 Kent B 3:21:56; 29 Swindon 3:22:11; 30 Herne H B 3:23:11

Quickest: 1 J Smith (P’pridd) 14:28; W Battershill (B&W) 14:30; C Johnson (Gate) 14:34; J Kingston (Ton) 14:38; J Cann (W Tempo) 14:39; M Pearce (BRAT) 14:41

Ladies

Aldershot’s ladies had been a dominant drive of their six-stage race since their first victory in 2008, however this was their first win in just below a decade.

They began off with Phillipa Bowden, whose run of 16:53 positioned her fifth within the post-2014 timings lists. They then misplaced the lead earlier than regaining management mid-race after which went on to beat Metropolis of Leeds by simply over a minute.

Bowden stated: “I used to be in entrance after a mile however was telling myself there was anyone behind. I like Highway Relays, they’re good enjoyable.”

It was Jade Morgan who led for Liverpool on the finish of stage two after gaining 9 positions however chasing her arduous all through have been 2019 second placers Herne Hill. This was by means of the efforts of Lucy Jones, whose quickest ladies’s lap of 16:48 noticed her membership acquire 12 locations to second. Her time positioned her fourth on the post-2014 lists.

Jones stated: “I’m simply down from Fort Romeu. I felt easy and fairly even, though it was heat.”

Herne Hill stayed second on the mid-way level after Harriett Preedy’s 17:42 for Aldershot put them three seconds forward. Twins Millie after which Maddie Jordan-Lee pushed the Aldershot lead out to just about a minute, earlier than Niamh Brown completed issues off because the workforce gained by 69 seconds.

Brown, who has been an everyday in Aldershot groups in recent times, stated: “It’s my first race again after seven months out with a long-term sickness earlier than I began again in February. The coaching goes nicely however I couldn’t have completed it with out these guys.”

Metropolis of Leeds had moved as much as second by means of Dominique Corradi on stage 4, earlier than Georgia Malir improved their place on the penultimate leg. Jenny Walsh had sufficient in hand to see off the quicker Sophie Tooley of Herne Hill.

Belgrave workforce supervisor Charlie Dickinson had collapsed through the race however a teammate took him to hospital. He was compos mentis and stated the day after the race: “I’ve been below the cardiology division for a number of years with a primary diploma coronary heart block and, after a number of assessments, they saved me in final evening for extra assessments.

“The end result is extra deterioration within the coronary heart and they will match a pacemaker subsequent week, so hopefully I might be again to regular quickly.”

Ladies (6×3.165M): 1 AFD 1:46:01 (P Bowden (1) 16:53, L Gent (5) 18:36, H Preedy (1) 17:42, M Jordan-Lee (1) 17:39, M Jordan-Lee (1) 17:36, N Brown (1) 17:35); 2 Leeds 1:47:10 (H Townsend (5) 17:16, E Curran (8) 18:37, Okay Ballantyne (3) 17:48, D Corradi (2) 17:48, G Malir (2) 17:46, J Walsh (2) 17:55); 3 Herne Hill 1:47:47 (D Hey (14) 18:03, L Jones (2) 16:48, B Proctor (2) 18:23, O Stillman (3) 18:21, H Keenan (3) 18:41, S Tooley (3) 17:31); 4 Belgrave 1:48:13 (M Corden-Lloyd (16) 18:11, E Bradley (9) 17:45, P Oliver (7) 18:33, S Hicks (4) 17:30, L Peters (4) 18:38, Okay Popadich (4) 17:36); 5 Guildford & Godalming 1:49:52 (S Lecoutre (4) 17:13, E Warren (3) 17:50, H Knights (8) 19:41, A Crane (5) 17:54, E Hudson (5) 19:13, S Monk (5) 18:01); 6 Crew Tub 1:51:07 (T Nickell (15) 18:04, F Spruit (13) 18:31, I Grey (13) 19:21, S Wilson (11) 18:52, A Wallace (6) 18:13, A Domville (6) 18:06); 7 Swansea 1:52:19 (M Williams (26) 18:59, G Tutton (16) 18:25, H Kinane (10) 17:52, C Edwards (6) 18:17, M Mitchell (8) 20:18, S Howells (7) 18:28); 8 Tonbridge 1:52:40 (Okay Goodge (17) 18:19, C Alexander (4) 17:04, R Lefay (6) 19:03, A Souter (7) 19:16, L Thompson (7) 19:23, L Slack (8) 19:35); 9 Edinburgh 1:52:50 (Okay Walker (2) 17:04, M Sanchez-Oller (7) 18:37, A Vincent (11) 19:48, V Barthelmess (12) 19:46, H Cox (9) 18:37, P Carcas (9) 18:58); 10 Les Croupiers 1:52:55 (A Beynon-Evans (12) 17:46, N McDonald (14) 19:26, A Griffiths (15) 19:24, M Goddard (14) 19:09, N Kuiper (11) 18:39, L Flynn (10) 18:31); 11 Bristol & West 1:53:10 (C Baker (8) 17:30, Okay Entwistle (10) 18:33, A Hammersley (9) 18:42, H Inexperienced (9) 19:43, Okay Unusual (13) 20:17, D Bruce (11) 18:25); 12 Salford 1:54:09 (S Bent (13) 17:51, E Platt (6) 17:41, E Russell (12) 20:14, L Lombard (10) 18:59, B Donnelly (10) 19:11, N Mason (12) 20:13); 13 Thames Valley 1:54:09 (C Hartley (27) 19:00, H Blake (15) 18:16, E Sheridan (17) 20:04, L Blythe (17) 19:39, L Dasilva (17) 19:40, T Barlow (13) 17:30); 14 Liverpool 1:54:53 (F O’Hare (10) 17:37, J Morgan (1) 17:09, N Donnelly (5) 19:17, M Hope (13) 21:29, B Dowsett (14) 19:59, A Smith (14) 19:22); 15 Belgrave  B 1:55:17 (M Canham (25) 18:51, S Haileselase (20) 18:53, A Gandee (16) 19:20, G Holden (15) 19:01, L Goodson (15) 20:13, L Mangan (15) 18:59); 16 Cambridge & Coleridge 1:55:54 (E Ruane (6) 17:18, A Clarke (11) 18:53, E Leggate (4) 17:40, M Hodgson (8) 20:17, R Lloyd (12) 20:17, L Velocity (16) 21:29); 17 Birchfield 1:56:26 (B Gunn (3) 17:09, A Taylor (21) 20:41, R Nicholls (14) 18:41, S Banks (18) 20:58, S McManus (16) 18:59, E Watters (17) 19:58); 18 Serpentine 1:58:03 (M Bagnati (28) 19:01, N Sheel (19) 18:40, S Dunley (20) 20:22, M Hemmings (19) 20:13, S Flanagan (19) 20:51, H Woodhead (18) 18:56); 19 Charnwood 1:58:34 (H Seager (20) 18:28, A Seager (22) 19:26, Okay Jalland (18) 19:44, J Anthony (16) 19:01, R Newport (18) 21:44, Okay Ramsey (19) 20:11); 20 Kent 1:58:40 (C Oxlade (33) 19:42, C Elms (30) 19:41, A Fawcett (25) 19:32, E Skinner (20) 20:56, M O’Connor (20) 19:58, A Parker (20) 18:51); 21 Metal Metropolis 1:59:51; 22 Bristol & West B 2:00:44; 23 Highgate 2:01:12; 24 Royal Sutton Coldfield 2:02:42; 25 Sale 2:04:06; 26 Birtley 2:05:27; 27 Holmfirth 2:06:30; 28 Tonbridge B 2:07:38; 29 Bromsgrove & Redditch 2:07:39; 30 Kent B 2:07:51

Quickest: L Jones (Herne H) 16:48; P Bowden (AFD) 16:53; C Alexander (Ton)/Okay Walker (Edin) 17:04; B Gunn (Bir)/J Morgan (Liv) 17:09

ERRA MEN’S YOUNG ATHLETES’ 5km CHAMPIONSHIP, Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, April 12

Billy Eccles received the occasion underway by simply getting the higher of Mansfield’s Jacob Nugent within the under-17 males’s occasion, profitable by only a few seconds in 15:27 – an enormous enchancment on his 16:12 final 12 months.

He stated of his rival: “He received 25 to 30 metres forward as I pale however I received up and took it with 400m to go, getting across the final nook first.”

The under-17 ladies adopted them across the 5km lap and Lincoln Wellington’s Isla Porter had a cushty victory over Jasmine Wright in 17:41. She stated: “We gained the relay final 12 months. With plans to race 1500m and 3000m on the observe, Porter states her dream is an England vest.

It was additionally shut within the under-15 boys’ occasion the place Tom Thake simply received the higher of George Watkins in 16:03. He stated: “After two-and-a-half-km we have been away from the remainder and we have been setting the tempo.”

Gabrielle Pinder took the lead of the under-15 women’ race after one kilometre and went on to win in 17:25.

U17 Males: 1 B Eccles (Bure) 15:27; 2 J Nugent (Mansf) 15:30; 3 J Ryan (Mansf) 15:48

TEAM: 1 Mansfield 13; 2 Bedford & County 18; 3 Tipton 47

U15 Boys: 1 T Thake (Hallam) 16:03; 2 G Watkins (WG&EL) 16:05; 3 Okay Sridhar (Darl) 16:07

TEAM: 1 BRAT 37; 2 Halesowen 46

U17 Ladies: 1 I Porter (Linc W) 17:41; 2 J Wright (Salf) 18:01; 3 H Cross (Lov) 18:14

TEAM: 1 Halesowen 15; 2 Liverpool 24

U15 Ladies: 1 G Pinder (N Marske) 17:25; 2 I Yorke (Warriors) 17:47; 3 R Muphu (Liv) 18:30

TEAM: 1 Liverpool 21; 2 Warriors Pentathlon 22

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