MIDLAND WOMENS CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE
MENS BIRMINGHAM CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE DIV.1.
DEC. 5TH 2015
The Rugby & Northampton Ladies team sealed victory in Division Two of the Midland Womens Cross Country League when the second round match was held at Birmingham’s Cofton Park.
In a field of over 350 runners combining the two divisions Emma Bond led home the club in a magnificent 23rd place with a time of 24 mins 45 secs. Having just turned 18 two days earlier Bond improved 36 places from the first race. Her Junior team mate Rebecca Leadbeater, also 18, crossed the line next in 39th spot on 25:26 and the team was completed by Gabby Moriarty duplicating her position from the opening race in 44th with 25:47 and Sarah Bennett on 26:45 for 62nd
This performance would have placed them 5th in division one.
Tamara Hardman was the first R&N veteran home in 73rd overall and 19th in her age category with 27:10 and was followed by Juniors Leisha Mulvey ( 78th in 27:24 ) and Tilly Lea (167th in 30:11).
Closing off the Masters team, which finished 24th, was Minerva Chesser ( 251st in 33:53) and Marian Allen (340th in 40:56 ), while Christine Jerams made up the 10 athletes from the club with 41:04 for 341st
The Men were racing at Cheltenham in the Birmingham Cross Country League division 1 on the usual three lap 6 mile course around Pittville Park.
Five of the scoring six from the first race were missing and the club could only manage 15th on the day, which meant they slipped from 6th to 10th overall.
Stephen Marks led home the club with a best ever placing of 81st in 34:55 and Junior Jack Bond made the top 100 again in 98th with 35:29. Top R&N veteran was Paul Birch in 36:19 and he had a trio of runners within 13 secs of him. Joe Lantsbery recording 36:25 for 120th, Alistair McDonnell just one place adrift on 36:31 and one second behind Pete Belfield to complete the A team in 123rd.
The B team finished in 8th spot to climb to 5th overall and Veteran Iain Botheroyd finished 137th on 36:57 with team manager Vince Carroll coming home next in 149th (37:34 )
Junior Tom Charteress improved 78 places from the first race to record 37:45 in 152nd spot.
Just six seconds covered the three athletes closing off the B team with Nigel Roberts (163rd in 38:11), Terry Egan ( 164th in 38:16 ) and Neil Willsher ( 165th in 38:17 ).
Seven other athletes completed the 19 strong squad. They were, Jonathan Taylor (173rd in 38:36),
Max Chippington ( 193rd in 39:26 ), Pete Thomas ( 198th in 39:32 ), Junior Oliver Harvey ( 207th in 40:23 ), Adrian White ( 220th in 41:37 ), Adrian Reast ( 234th in 44:40 ) and John Saw ( 248th in 50:02 ).
