14th February 2018

Following on from her superb Dubai Marathon performance last month, Rugby & Northampton runner Emily Waugh continued her stellar form on the roads in the UAE with another personal best and club record in the RAK Half Marathon.

 

Racing in a world class field in the city of Ras al-Khaimah, Emily achieved a time of one hour, 15 minutes and seven seconds, finishing as the 15th female home and 47th overall. Her time was only seven seconds off Great Britain selection for the half marathon, and ranks her fifth in the UK so far this year.

 

There was success domestically too, with the club’s young athletes securing the West Midlands Young Athletes Cross Country League title, holding off Wolverhampton & Bilston AC in the fifth and final round of the competition.

 

Individually, there was overall gold for under-11 Arthur Tilt and under-13 Alice Bates, who both claimed victory in three of the four races.

 

Series silver was earned by Lewis Robson, finishing behind Tilt in the U11B category, and U17 athlete Amy Walker in her final season in the WMYACCL. Olivia Williams completed the individual honours with bronze in the U13G category.

 

On the day, it was the U13G – led by Bates – and the U17M who claimed team triumphs, both leading to first place overall. Bates’ winning time of 8:56 was backed up by Williams (fourth – 9:10), Alice Bennett (sixth – 9:14), Abigail Thayanithy (eighth – 9:24) and Madeleine Jacks (15th – 9:37).

 

The U17M clinched the win with three fine runs. Matthew Chronicle was the first R&N runner home, finishing third in 15:54, and was soon followed over the line by Muss-Ab Hassan (16:08) and Adam Caulfield (16:19) who secured sixth and seventh.

 

Due to the half-term, the team was weakened somewhat, but that didn’t stop an impressive all-round showing. The U11 boys and girls both finished second on the day, which was enough to claim top spot for the series overall. The aforementioned Robson was first home around the Aldersley Park course in 5:19.

 

The U13B finished fourth in the final round, but their previous dominance meant they held on for first. The U15B were second overall after finishing third on the day, while the U15G and U17W finished third across the five-round series.

 

The team victory means it’s now eight overall titles in nine years for the club, and credit must go to the athletes, coaches and team managers for making the latest success possible.

 

Elsewhere, Dominic Jones achieved a top-five place as R&N ensured their place in Division One of the Mens Birmingham Cross Country League for the seventh consecutive year.

 

Jones, 24, had a terrific run over the 5.3-mile course at Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton to finish a superb fifth in 29:13, in what was the fourth and final race of the season.

 

The result placed him fourth overall in the individual standings, and he also clinched the R&N Senior Mens Club Championship, helping the team to finish ninth on the day and maintain 12th spot in the final league table.

 

Four other members of the scoring six also gained their best ever placings in the league, with Alistair McDonnell the next finisher in 55th spot (31:31) and junior Ben Musgrove claiming 61st with 31:48.

 

The top veteran from the club was Stephen Marks in 75th with 32:11, and he was followed by personal bests from Dean Oldfield (139th – 34:25) and Joe Childs (142nd – 34:30).

 

The B team also finished ninth with Jon Taylor recording 34:31 in 143rd, leading home Nigel Roberts (159th – 35:12), Joe Lantsbery (166th – 35:36), Vince Carroll (192nd – 36:42), Adam Bebbington (a best placing of 198th – 36:56) and Paul Furness (210th – 37:25).

 

Completing the 16-man squad were Max Chippington (233rd – 38:32), Terry Egan (246th – 39:30), Adrian White (276th – 41:40) and Adrian Reast (279th – 42:45).

 

At the same venue, the R&N ladies were competing in Division One of the Midland Womens Cross Country League where, over a 3.5 mile course, Gabriella Moriarty led home the club with her best ever performance. She finished 10th with a time of 22:40, while Bethan Goddard sealed the Senior Women’s Club Championship, crossing the line in 24:55 for 28th spot.

 

Lorna Latimer was making a return to competition after giving birth and had a good run to finish 51st in 26:29 and veteran Zoe Shepherd completed the team with 27:05 for 65th. Joining her in the Masters team were Tamara Hardman (79th – 27:26) and Alison Cobb (87th – 28:04).

 

The R&N Veteran Women’s Club Championship went to Angela Copson BEM, who was the only lady from the whole club to complete all four races. She recorded 28:20 in 94th position.

 

With 13 athletes competing for R&N this was their biggest turnout of the season, but it wasn’t quite enough to maintain their status in Division One.

 

The squad was completed by Helen Jones (102nd – 29:27), Minerva Chesser (113th – 30:15), Kate Williams (130th – 31:04), Tilly Lea (145th – 32:32), Efthymia Katsogianni (146th – 32:45) and Krasirmira Raykova (153rd – 33:58).