The team were back out for action in the start of the fiercely competitive Midland Women's Cross Country League in beautiful sunshine and a home fixture at Pittville Park, perfect conditions for cross country! Harriers had put together a well planned event with much appreciated help from volunteers from the other local clubs too! This event sees the ladies back in Division 1 after one season of absence but back with a more appropriate level of competition compared to Division 2. 

The race got off to a ferociously paced start, packed at the front with Birmingham and Loughborough uni students. Nicole Frith worked her way through the field over the 2 lap course and was first Harrier home in a strong 21st position followed by Rachel See in 46th. Jane Fairbairn and Petra Vymetalova worked well together to finish in 52nd and 56th completing the scoring for the Open team and as leading Masters.  Ellie Balfe running consistently well completed the Masters scoring team in an overall position of 68th.  Marie Brush had her first outing in cross country since her recent return to the club and ran brilliantly to dip into the top 100 in this strong field. Following her for Masters was Jo Wilkie, Adele Potts, a great run back from injury from Sarah Shepherd and Clare Hawling. With the biggest turn out from the club in many years Mel Schofield, Jodie Hatton-Belliard and Angela Pippard were next home showing real strength in numbers for the club. 

Overall the team finished a fantastic 5th out of 18 teams behind a field dominated by strong university teams from Loughborough and Birmingham. City of Stoke are also proving big rivals in third followed by Birchfield Harriers. The Masters also had a brilliant result coming 4th behind City of Stoke, CLC and Bromsgrove & Redditch. We're set up well for the season and looking forward to travelling North to Wolverhampton for the next fixture.