Avon Road Relays Bring a Hat Full of Medals: Keith Brackstone, Mike Down and Chris Elson got in some Team Manager training last week as the usual pre-race who is available and will run meant hours on the phone with emails, texts and phone calls up to the last minute. This week’s PB goes to Kim Whitlock who made the venue with help from Keith 5 minutes before the second leg started. Chris had similar experiences – in fairness to the latecomers the closure of the A370 and the signage to the venue didn’t help. Anyway to the race. Mike had been worried about rumours that North Somerset AC were going to try and turn the Senior Men over and his concerns seemed well founded when they had a healthy lead after 2 stages. The men started with Luke Evans (16.42) who ran a great leg before handing over to Jason Drew (16.40) – Luke was running his first race since rejoining the club and Jason his first since joining. Enter Matt Whitfield who turned things around running 15:42 to hand a healthy lead to Peter Le Grice (16.12) who was never troubled. Behind them the B team was running solidly and did well to secure third place. Rob Stuart (17.03), Richard Weeks (17.07), Andy Cooke (17.09) and Matt Krelle (17.01) all running well and very consistently. The club’s ‘C’ team were next home in fourth place with Mark Edwards (16.51) staking a claim that he should have been in the ‘B’ team. He handed over to Phil Lucker (17.21) then Iain Stuart (17.25) and Anthony Hall (17.33) to bring the team home well clear in fourth. The ‘D’ Team finished seventh with lead-off man Alex Whittaker running 18.05, Peter Brenchley clocking 18.25, Kieron McQuade ran 18.30 before Maciej Bialogonski ran the anchor leg in 18.03. Down the age groups the club was also cleaning up with Paul Jefferson (17.48), Steve Goss (17.20), Andy Malloy (17.42) and Richard Lowe (17.58) taking the Vet-40 team as they finished fifth overall. The Vet-40 ‘B’ team of Gareth Cullen (18.33), Neil Williams (18.13), Doug Jewell (18.59) and Jason Bidwell (19.04) all looked to be enjoying the event as well as they finished tenth. Not to be outdone Peter Mountain (19.13), Dave Gapper (19.07) and Dave Bedwell (20.23) took the Vet-50 honours, while Henry Cochrane (18.27), Billy Cochrane (21.58), Jack Millar (17.58) and Miles Chandler (17.05) took the under-20 team award. The men’s Vet-50 ‘B’ team also had a handy look about it and Steve Grant (19.57), Rob Colman (23.31), and Carron Downer (21.38) showed the depth the club is building in this age group – and no Phil Parry in sight! So pretty much a clean sweep for the men with Matt Whitfield recording the fastest individual lap and Dave Gapper the fastest vet-50. Not to be outdone the ladies soon established a lead through Jessie Sanzo (17.48) on the first lap who passed on to Annabel Granger (18.22) and then Helen Sharpe (18.30) for a dominant display of front running. Behind Nikki Brookland (18.12) returned to racing for the club and finally seems to be heeding the long offered advice of just go and enjoy yourself – she did and kept Jessie in her sights pretty much throughout. Rebecca Awde (18.58) – another athlete running for the club after a break – ran very well to maintain second place and Julia Belyavin (19.38) brought the ‘B’ team home as runners up. Bev Whitfield (19.57), Kim Whitlock (21.21) and Lisa Newing (20.07) were a very solid ‘C’ team, while the three amigos – Becky James (19.43), Nina Davies (20.55) and Fiona Eatherington (21.08) - formed their own team and again all performed well. As with the men the ladies did well in the Vets category with Sarah Everitt (19.40), Clare Jolliffe (19.41) and Jane Colman (20.57) all looking very relaxed as they took the county title – with Sarah getting the fastest leg in her age group – just one second faster than Clare. The club didnt win the age-35 category - but then we didnt enter a team - Jessie, Annabel and Nikki still knocking spots of their younger rivals - who needs Jo Pavey! Full results are available at: bristolandwestac.org/downloads/race-results-and-rankings/avon-road-relay-results/ It was a great morning’s running and a big thank you to Race Organisers Stuart Hancock and Kate Britten for putting the event on – we will be back next year - lets hope the weather is as kind as it was today. j.mp/1pZr80c
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 18:54:05 +0000
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