Midland Cross Country Relays + Road Race Action

26 October 2021

After the success at the Midland Road Relays three teams headed to Wolverhampton for the Midland Cross Country Relays with high hopes. The athletes did not disappoint, producing 9 fantastic runs and one well deserved podium finish.

The U15Gs team consisting of Georgia Howell, Abigail Thornley and Ellis Woolley came home with an impressive bronze medal. Howell kicked the relay off running 12:26 for 5th on leg 1. Thornley then ran well to finish in 13:30 for 5th on leg 2. Finally, Woolley ran a strong, determined race to finish in 12:35, 2nd quickest on leg 3, and 3rd team overall.

(Photo: The U15Gs team with their bronze medals)

Rosie Reynolds took on leg 1 for the U13Gs team and ran a brilliant 12:52 to hand over to Olivia Avery in 4th. Avery was in brilliant form running 13:37 for 5th fastest on leg 2. Evie Avery then finished the race with the 4th quickest time on leg 3, 14:11 and took the team across the line in 5th place. 

Chloe Sheppard led the U17Gs team out with a superb run of 12:07 for 5th on leg 1. Freya Howell was then 5th quickest on leg 2 with 12:40 and Molly Dibden was 5th quickest on the final leg in 13:29. The performances together meant the U17Gs finished a fantastic 5th. 

The previous weekend Les Hampton also competed over half marathon in Swansea. Hampton had a brilliant race finishing in 1:31.11, over 4 minutes quicker than his performance in the Cheltenham Half Marathon a few weeks ago. Hampton then took on this weekends Newport marathon, finishing in under 3:30, 3:28.09. An amazing performance considering he occurred a puncture after just 4 miles and continued on for the remaining 22 miles with a flat tyre!

Martin Foster also took part in the Newport marathon. Foster ran an incredible race, knocking almost 10minutes off his previous best and smashing through the 3 hour barrier for the first time. His finishing time of 2:55.31 placed him 90th out of over 2000 competitors. 

Over in Stroud 4 Harriers competed over the half marathon distance. Martin Ford ran an impressive 1:41.05 to finish as 1st M70+. Sam Gilder ran well to finish in 1:46.44 and Bexley Turbard, better known as an brilliant pole vaulter, made his half marathon debut finishing in 1:39.28, the exact same finish time as Phil Turbard.