Newham and Aldershot win at Southern Relays
Posted By Joe on March 27, 2012
Photo: NewhamandEssexBeagles.co.uk
Saturday in Milton Keynes saw the 2012 edition of the South of England Road Relays, run a week earlier than their counterparts from the North and the Midlands. Perhaps predictably, the titles went to Newham in the Men’s race, and Aldershot in the WOmen’s race, though the men’s race was a lot closer than many would have anticipated. Read on for our full report.
Men’s 12-Stage:
Led by Inter Counties and National Cross Country Champion Keith Gerrard, Newham and Essex Beagles took their third title in a row to finish ahead of Highgate Harriers, Kent AC and Woodford Green with Essex Ladies, as less than a minute separated the top 4 teams.
Victoria Park’s Paul Martelletti came home ahead of Aylesbury’s Anurahda Cooray, the two athletes recording the second and third fastest long legs of the day, and Shaftesbury’s Glenn Watts to lead after leg one, as the main protagonists languished further down the field. Newham’s Dave Mitchinson brought them home in 5th place to lead the charge for the top teams.
Recently crowned V40 World 1500m indoor record holder Antony Whiteman moved Shaftesbury up to the head of the field on leg two with the 5th fastest time of the day, as Steve Davies of Belgrave Harriers ran the day’s second fastest leg to move them up to third behind Blackheath and Bromley. On leg three, Kent AC were the big movers as Florien Neuschwander ran the day’s fastest long leg to move them up 14 places into 6th. Jake Shelley ensured than Shaftesbury remained in the lead, ahead of Highgate Harriers in 2nd thanks to Danny Russell, with Newham now back in 13th place.
Jermaine Mays ran the day’s third fastest short stage to again push Kent AC up through the field into 2nd place as Frank Bailey retained the lead for Shaftesbury on leg four. Joshua Grace pulled Aldershot into contention for a 4th place position, as Woodford Green and Newham remained down in 13th and 14th place. Kent AC finally took the lead on leg five through John Gilbert, running the 5th fastest stage of the day. Shaftesbury slipped one place to 2nd through Matthew Grant, and Steve Naylor brought Bedford up into 4th place.
Kent retained the lead on leg six as Alex Bellew pulled Bedford up to 2nd place, dropping Shaftesbury into 3rd. A fast leg from Newham’s Steve Hepples pulled them back up through the field into 7th place, wiliest Steve Sharp ran the day’s sixth fastest leg to move Belgrave up to 9th place. Belgrave continued their charge on leg seven as Paskar Owor ran the day’s 4th fastest time to put them 4th, and Ash Harrell ran the day’s 7th fastest to put City of Norwich AC 10th. Kent remained in the lead ahead of Bedford and Highgate.
Leg eight saw National cross country champion Gerrard run comfortably the fastest short stage of the day, a full 15 seconds faster than anyone else, as Newham began to make their presence felt, moving up into 4th place as the top 3 remained the same. Andrew Mariani moved Woodford Green up another 2 places into 7th place, a move which was continued on leg nine by Hywel Care, who ran the fastest time on the stage to put them 5th. Paul Rodgers moved Aldershot up to 4th, whilst Kairn Stone pushed Newham into the medals in third place.
Kent’s Paul Bell retained the lead on leg ten, with Newham now breathing down their necks as Frank Baddick moved them up into 2nd place with the day’s 4th fastest time. Highgate dropped one place to third, whilst Woodford Green’s Tom Beedell moved them up to 4th. Kent finally relinquished the lead they had held since leg five as Newham’s James Ellis moved them 38 seconds clear of Kent’s Mark Bruce with just one leg remaining. Ben Noad’s Highgate Harriers remained in 3rd, chased by Woodford Green’s Daniel Agustus.
The day belonged to Newham, however, as for the third time in the last three years, they came home clear to take the title with Stuart Major on the glory leg, chased home by Highgate’s Ben Pochee, Kent AC’s Andrew Dunwoody and Woodford’s Alex Cornwell, all four teams within one minute. Aldershot rounded out the top 5 as Mat Ashton brought them home, over 2 minutes back from 4th place.
Women’s 6-Stage:
In a race which was perhaps much more predictable than the Men’s event, Aldershot took home the Women’s team title from their own “B” team, who finished over 6 minutes back off their clubmates. It was a demonstration from a team which could afford to leave out both Steph Twell and Charlotte Purdue and still comfortably take home the title ahead of Dulwish Runners in 3rd.
Vicky Webster of Shaftesbury Barnet was the only athlete who managed to finish ahead of any Aldershot “A” team runner for the whole day, as she led her team home in first place on leg one from Aldershot’s Beth Carter. Webster ran the 4th fastest time of the day. Dani Barnes led Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow to third, as Debbie Niccol put Dulwich in 5th place, and Aldershot “B” finished in 10th through Leonie Smith.
Bryony Proctor gave Aldershot the lead they would never lose on leg two, as Katie Good moved Thames Valley Harriers up into 2nd with the day’s 5th fastest leg, and Charlotte Firth kept WSE&H in third. Iona Lake moved City of Norwich AC up to 4th, whilst Aldershot “B” mved up to 7th through Rachel Robinson. Emily Talon of Marshall Milton Keynes AC ran the third fastest time of the day to put them 8th. On leg three, Aldershot extended their lead through Lily Partridge, who pulled clear of Dulwich’s Shona McIntosh and Shaftesbury’s Victoria Walker. Aldershot “B” moved up into 5th place as the front end began to get a familiar feel.
Leg four saw the fastest time of the day as Emelia Gorecka, who has won everything on offer so far this season, ran the fastest stage by a clear 17 seconds to put Aldershot “A” out of sight over 3 minutes ahead of their nearest rivals, who by this time were their own “B” team. Montana Jones went past Shaftesbury’s Lisa Webb and Dulwich’s Kim Hainsworth to take 2nd place overall. The top two remained the same on leg five as Georgie Bruinvels pulled even further clear of clubmate Sharon Elder, whilst Ola Blame move Dulwich back up to third.
Emma Pallant rounded off a superb performance for Aldershot by bringing their “A” team home in first place with the second fastest overall stage time, triailing only her own teammate Gorecka. Charlie Wood brought Dulwich home to take third behind Aldershot”B”, who were rounded out by Ruth Haynes. Unlike the men’s race, the top three here were spread out by almost ten minutes. Aldershot will surely now go on the the National 12-stage in three weeks as favourites.
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