Once again Bournville’s men have managed to win the Division title and this at a time when cross-country is enjoying a renaissance among leading UK track and road athletes. Not only are we putting our club on the map, but doing so by using the country as a springboard. I predict dozens of PBs on the roads in the summer by those who regularly competed in the Birmingham league and a complete re-writing of club records from 5K to half-marathon.
15 lads turned out to secure a historical moment in the club’s short history on a gloriously sunny day at Stafford common. The day itself was not short of misery (the course was horrible – Steve James and his glass ankle would not have survived the warm up on this terrain; as it was, Deano was forced out due to a twisted ankle), heroics (Simon Varcoe stormed around to record his best race by far) and commitment (many thanks to Barry for taking charge – eventually – of the numbers; Jim and Alison for the tent, support and photos and Joe for getting me, Deano and Colin there on time!).
The Race
After a fairly sedate start, the action started with Jamie losing a shoe, then putting it quickly back on, and Deano twisting his ankle after about 5 minutes of running. This was extremely frustrating, as he is in the form of his short career and would have had a good burn up with Rob and myself. Jamie went on to record his finest run to date, taking 2nd after running shrewdly in 4th for a while (Jamie also clearly wins the BvH men’s cross-country championship by some distance). Next up for the club was your captain in a solid 6th spot, having just held off the much older Rob (7th), who had a great run considering the niggles he’d had in the weeks prior to the race. Next in was Sean in 16th, who used this race as a training run for the Fradley 10K in March; closely following in 19th was Mike F. who continues to frustrate his admirers by chronically under-training: he had ventured out training just once or twice between Cofton and Stafford league races. Completing the first team was Dave Harte in 25th, who has recently succumbed to the art of jogging blogging, not to be confused with what goes on in car parks up and down the country.
Simon Varcoe, 103rd at Sennerly’s, put that performance behind him by scoring as 7th man on the day with a scorching 47th. If there were a few league races left, I’d bet Simon would finish in the top 30, such is the blessing of youth. Let’s hope Simon stays with us for next year. Another excellent run was that by the improving James Taylor, who achieved his aim of finishing in the top 50 by coming 50th! Filing in behind Simon and James were some of the stalwarts of the club – experienced runners with good road times to their names: Phil continued his post-baby comeback in 54th (baby came to watch); Andy Wheeler was 61st – after having had a fair bit of time off due to illness – Paul Foot, who’s training had not been going well, finished 67th and Mike Berry, who had also been ill, made it around in 72nd, despite twisting his ankle a number of times. Mark Smith had another solid run in 91st, chased hard by our local newsman Bob Hockenhull in 95th. Rounding off our tight-knit squad of heroes was none other than Colin ‘the Carthorse’ Cartland, so anointed because in his hey-day he just kept going and going, usually at a great speed. Colin is generally to be seen shouting encouragement at Bournville runners when they are competing, so it was good to see him having a go himself, especially as he is just recovering from a more serious illness.
It is interesting to note that our ‘B’ team would have finished a clear 5th in Division 3 overall!
Well done everyone and your rewards will not just be in the silverware gathering dust in the club’s trophy cabinet, but rather in faster road PBs in the spring, summer and autumn.
Jon
