News from South London Harriers
May 12th, 2007: National Open Masters Road Relay Championship Sutton Coldfield
Posted by Chris Phelan at 7:32 amRead Dave Kent’s report and results on the performance of SLH V50 and V60 athletes at the Masters Championship below:
20th National Open Masters Road Relay Championship, Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands
There is no hiding place for a club runner in a relay. You can’t feign injury, slow down, speed up, fade away, or give anything but your best. Your every move is scrutinised by your team-mates and more importantly by yourself – you simply cannot settle for anything but your best on the day. Needless to say the SLH over 50’s and over 60’s know this to a man and at Sutton Park maintained their current reputations as the most determined teams within the club.
Much was anticipated this year with the coming of age of Ray Marriott, who together with Barry Attwell and Ian Kitching would surely give us another realistic go at that over 50 medal. Competition for places within the over 50’s was very good on paper but the usual casualty list would leave Clive Edgington, Francis Upcott, Dave Kent, Terry Ward and Jerry Twomey by the wayside. A further and significant set-back was that Ray sadly had to withdraw late in the day with a fractured toe – walked into a clothesline pole by all accounts! The strong over 60’s team picked itself with Dave Newlands, Dave Parkinson and captain Bob Gevers giving it another go.
Military precision enabled 11 members to make the journey one way or another to the start in good time for the sorting of numbers and legs. Francis, as travelling reserve for the 50’s, had worked out a strategy and this was adopted despite our last minute change. Numbers were distributed and included the addition of age group indicators – its enough to race your own category let along another one! The Organisation was first class, the atmosphere great and the anticipation palpable. There was no need for a pep-talk.
Paul Williams got the over 50’s going on the usual ultra-competitive first leg which included the Ladies, the over 60’s and the incomplete teams. As planned, Ian Kitching would bring us up the order by 10 places before Nigel Bush, as expected, recording the only pb of the day. Star man Barry Attwell had no choice but to record our best time of the day gaining 8 places. This was more like it and with John Quaintance maintaining this position, we really thought we still had a chance of the top 10. Bravely our late addition, Ken Lee, ran himself nearly to a standstill but with the other clubs (unfairly) running their fastest runners on the last leg it meant we got 15th place. The over 60’s ran to form and finished a credible 12th place. Dave Newlands (23rd), Dave Parkinson (+2) and Bob Gevers (+9) which for those who know them just shows how good the race is.
The over 50’s and 60’s placements reflect the very tight and competitive nature of this event and our performances must be taken in this context. A lot of clubs would envy our record in this event and who’s to say the best is still yet to come. Our over 50’s captain is retiring as he will soon be too old to qualify, but don’t despair, because another irrepressible will be talking up our chances and I for one will not bet against him.
DK
V50/59
1 Telford AC 1-41-29
2 Salford H 1-43-10
3 Blackheath & B H 1-43-31
4 Oxford City 1-43-51
5 N. Belfast H 1-44-01
6 Wirral AC 1-44-09
7 Wesham RR & AC 1-44-21
8 Altrincham & D AC 1-44-45
9 Sheffield RC 1-45-33
10 BlackpoolWyre Fylde 1-45-42
11 Rotherham H & AC 1-45-53
12 Barnet & D AC 1-46-56
13 Preston H 1-47-22
14 Holmfirth H 1-47-35
15 SLH 1-47-47
(30 teams closed)
SLH
27 Paul Williams 17-50
17 Ian Kitching 17-40
16 Nigel Bush 18-15
8 Barry Attwell 16-34
8 John Quaintance 17-50
15 Ken Lee 19-38
V60/69
1 Oxford City AC 53-59
2 Clydesdale H 55-36
3 Birchfield H 56-46
4 Altrincham & D AC 57-35
5 Dudley Kingswinford 58-04
6 Hercules Wimbledon 58-08
7 Exmouth H 58-37
8 R.Sutton Coldfield 58-38
9 Team Bath AC 58-44
10 Cheltenham & C 59-19
11 Cambridge H 59-30
12 SLH 59-45
13 Redhill RR 1-02-38
14 Liverpool H & AC 1-03-16
15 Les Croupiers RC 1-03-26
(23 teams closed)
SLH
23 Dave Newlands 19-37
21 Dave Parkinson 20-49
12 Bob Gevers 19-19
Posted in Road Running
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