| Posn |
Time |
Competitor |
|
| 3 |
34.58 |
Jon |
Grix |
| 9 |
36.35 |
Kevin |
Woodward |
| 11 |
36.49 |
Sean |
Rose |
| 14 |
37.24 |
John |
Solly |
| 16 |
37.25 |
Mike |
Ferguson |
| 28 |
39.34 |
David |
Harte |
| 38 |
40.38 |
Andy |
Wheeler |
| 40 |
40.57 |
Geoff |
Meadows |
| 47 |
41.14 |
Gary |
Mason |
| 52 |
41.31 |
Andrew |
Crawford |
| 63 |
42.42 |
Simon |
Varcoe |
| 71 |
43.21 |
Paul |
Foot |
| 80 |
44.05 |
Steve |
Hopkins |
| 95 |
46.15 |
Stuart |
Page |
| 99 |
46.90 |
Howard |
Price |
| 101 |
46.55 |
R |
Don |
| 110 |
48.06 |
Shaun |
Hough |
| 135 |
59.55 |
Tony |
Ariss |
| |
Team Results |
Day's Pts |
|
Prev pts |
Total Pts |
Posn |
| 1 |
Bournville Harriers |
81 |
(3,9,11,14,16,28) |
297 |
378 |
1 |
| 2 |
Stratford Upon Avon AC |
131 |
(5,8,10,24,39,45) |
259 |
390 |
2 |
| 3 |
Sneyd Striders |
167 |
(18,19,21,31,36,42) |
446 |
613 |
3 |
| 4 |
Stafford Harriers |
186 |
(1,25,32,35,43,50) |
410 |
596 |
5 |
| 5 |
Trentham RC |
209 |
(2,15,17,51,57,67) |
323 |
532 |
4 |
| 6 |
Chase Harriers |
237 |
(6,7,33,53,56,82) |
463 |
700 |
6 |
| 7 |
Amazing Feet RC |
300 |
(13,37,41,55,62,92) |
739 |
1039 |
8 |
| 8 |
Aldridge RC |
333 |
(26,44,46,49,70,98) |
930 |
1263 |
11 |
| 9 |
Cobra RC |
339 |
(23,27,34,75,83,97) |
481 |
820 |
7 |
| 10 |
Telford Harriers |
399 |
(12,20,77,87,100,103) |
715 |
1114 |
9 |
| 11 |
Saracens RC |
404 |
(22,29,58,66,107,122) |
745 |
1149 |
10 |
| 12 |
Massey Ferguson RC |
538 |
(30,48,73,125,130,132) |
1295 |
1833 |
13 |
| 13 |
Peel Road Runners |
575 |
(4,96,111,118,120,126) |
789 |
1364 |
12 |
| - |
Droitwich AC |
- |
(89,94,108) |
|
|
|
| - |
Alvis RC |
- |
(102,106,116) |
|
|
|
Full results here. Photos here - thanks Sue, Alison & Rachel.
Wow what a day!
Having won Race 2 at Droitwich the guantlet was thrown down for Bournvilles men to continue and build on their form for Race 3 held at Cofton today: on home turf.....with it all to prove! By the end of the race we had not only picked up the gauntlet but had laughed at its limp natured wrist!!!
When all had finished and the sweat had dried Bournvilles men had won the race and now sit top on Div4, clear by 12 points with it all to play for in the last race to be held in Stafford in a months time.
So how did the race go?
Personally I had been looking forward to us fielding our strongest team ever while fearing just what the hills of Cofton would do to my heart, lungs and legs. A great balance of excitement and intrepidation to have. The morning though hadn't started well for me as I awoke a little battered....fearing that I was coming down with something. However I soon forgot the runners paranoia as I ran round all morning, eventually getting to the course at 1:50. The first person I saw was Mike! One down!Then at the changing tent Deano. Two down! Jogging along Jon Solly. Three down! Mike and I then went for a warm up and saw both Jon G and Kev. Four, Five and myself made Six. Everyone had arrived and was going through their rtiuals.
At the start of the race it was great to see a torquoise wedge of Bournville men like a bridge head. First over the top boys! The claxen went and by that time I had lost count of the number of harriers that started the race. Strength in depth and it was great to see!
Predictably the start was steady as it was uphill and the six of us let things settle.........well apart from Jon G who was of course by then already up with the leaders in a breakaway group of the top 10. The next five of us were all bunched together around 12-17 separated by no more than 10 yards. This was a fantastic feeling to see that the Saturday training was paying off and that we were all confident to be up there. At this I took a look back and realised that the top 20 were already clear of the rest of the field. This was going to be a tactical race to get us all as high as possible. I leant over to Kev and Deano and whispered what I has seen....' Let the course do the work for us!'. Kev, Deano and I swapped places over the first and second laps as we formed a line 11, 12, 13. Mike and Jon Solly were behind but I couldnt quite tell how they were doing. Looking good, looking good.
Then disaster on the beginning of lap 3! Deano pulled up clenching his calf. Damn that looked bad. Kev and Deano had just put 5 yards into me so now Kev was left on his own as Deano limped out. To his credit he never flinched and strove on and from that point on all I ever saw was his back racing away from me. (I think I'm going to not let him train with me again.......he's getting toooooo good).
As I had hoped we were more than holding our own as the hills took their toll on people around us. Then I had another glimpse and could see that Jon Solly and Mike were still high up but I had a significant gap between me and the next man. The trouble was that there was also a significant gap between me and the runner in front and as we crawled up the hills one last time, wind blasting and me doing a great impression of the old crone in Snow White, all hunched and shuffling, I first thought 'we have we hold'. Along the ledge though I noticed me clawback a few yards but this ended as we sped down the only part of the course that might be considered 'easy'. So with less than 1/2 mile to go Kev was chasing down the runners in front of him and I still had one infront of me to chase. Then again I thought 'we have we hold' but as this witch turned the corner onto the final climb there were our supporters cheering and if I am honest demanding more! (I know who you are Alison and John!!!!!!!!). So I bit the poisoned apple and charged up the hill, chasing, chasing.
I got within 5 yards and then the demons kicked in..........surely the guy infront must hear me coming. He must have something left and here am I killing myself on the hill. So I waited for the poison of the apple to work its tricks.................................but hang on I'm still closing and there cant be more than a 100 yards. So the poison didn't arrive and I charged down the finishing line of trees my arms flailing. For a split second I could see Chariots of Fire in my mind and as I hit the final flat 25 yards I kicked...closer...closer...closer and like Alan Wells dipped on the line to overtake my prey.
I then collapsed on the floor. Well you have to dont you!
So that was me and then as I recovered the news came flooding in. Jon G had come 3rd, Kev had caught his frontrunners and was in the top ten, I was next and Jon Solly and Mike had come in around the top 15. Then best news of all was that Dave Harte having been warned of Deano's plight had come in the top 20. Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!! but now we still have it all to do. With Mike, Jon Solly and Deano to get fit we have a great chance of finishing first after Stafford the final race. Go harriers go!
What a great day. Thanks to everyone who helped out, who ran, who marshalled, who arranged, who shouted and who supported.
Cheers
Sean!
Paul writes:
Division Four of the Birmingham and District Cross-Country League is set for a nail-biting climax next month after the BvH men overtook Stratford and opened a narrow 12 point lead.
21 BvH men turned out, so the race was also a great opportunity to see who's Christmas consisted of minced pies and mulled wine, and who used the break to clock up some extra miles. Jonathan Grix clearly hasn't been helping himself to the leftover cake, since he was the first Harrier over the line in third (although he was inevitably miffed that he had narrowly failed to secure second!) He was followed by a rejuvenated Kevin Woodford just in the top ten. Sean Rose was third with John Solly and Mike Ferguson making it an unprecedented five BvH counters in the top 20.
It would have been six but for Dean Parker sadly having to put out of the race with a calf injury. Given the sheer hard work Dean has put in over the last few months, this was a particularly cruel blow, and I'm sure everyone wishes him well for a swift recovery.
With Dean out, Dave Harte stepped up to the plate and put it in an exceptionally gutsy performance to come in 28th as sixth counter.
It was great to see some x-c virgins in the BvH squad too. Tony Ariss and Ryan Donaldson spring to mind, and I hope they haved acquired a taste for the earthy (literally and figuratively) charms of the event, and come back in future for some more helpings!
There is no doubt that stepping in at the last minute to put on the race has caused a few sleepless nights. However, the decision to do so was vindicated by the performance the team put in, assisted in no small way by the large number of Bournville marshalls and supporters and familiarity with the terrain. Many thanks to everyone who came and provided a continuous stream of 'come on Bournville' around the park and helped set up and take down the course, and to Mark, Joe, Jim and Jonathan in particular for the planning, coaching, preparation and hard work on the day.
Thanks also to Colmers Farm School and the Council Parks Department for their assistance.
Results to follow.
Paul Foot
