NATIONAL ROAD RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS

National Road Relay Championships.

Chris Davies led the Telford Athletic Club senior mens 6 stage road relay team to the fastest time that the club have ever run in the prestigious National Six Stage Road Relay Championships held in Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield. Having competed in this event for almost every year of the clubs history this was an outstanding team performance as the six men ran 1 hour 50 minutes and 30 seconds for the six legs of 5.8 kilometres,improving on their previous best set in 2003.
Davies from Newdale in Telford, has the best record in the country in the National Road Relay Championships, as he holds the course record of 16.25 in 2003, 14 seconds faster than anyone else, he also has the 4th fastest time of 16.42 set in 2007.

On Saturday he had to be up for 5.30 to do his morning post round before heading to Sutton Coldfield to take on the best in the country. This event attracts the best teams from throughout Great Britain who have to qualify through the area road relays. Mo Farah, the European Indoor 3000m champion, representing Newham and Essex Beagles was the star attraction amongst a host of other internationals in the mens and womens races.

Mark Dalkins fresh from his North Staffs League victory ran the opening leg in 17.36 finishing 22nd, the club's second fastset time of the day. Chris Rimmer went out on the second leg finishing 28th in 18.37, before handing over to Chris Davies. Davies stormed through the field despite having a slight ankle injury and improved 22 places to move Telford up to 6th in 16.42, which equals his time from 2007 as the 4th fastest ever. Chris Bagshaw ran 19.30 on the 4th leg before handing over to Chris Carter, promoted to the A team after his impressive run in the Midland relays, who ran 19.39 finishing 25th. Paul Ward who now lives close to the course ran the final leg in 18.26 finishing 22nd in a new club best time.

The race was won by Newham and Essex Beagles by over a minute from last years winners Belgrave, with Aldershot giving the Southern Counties a clean sweep in 3rd. Telford were the 5th MIdland club behind Tipton 8th, Birchfield 9th, Nottingham 12th and Bristol 13th.

Mo Farah who ran the 5th leg for Newham, had the fastest time of the day as he chased Chris Davies's much envied course record, he ran 16.33, the second fastest ever, 9 seconds quicker than Davies on the day but still 8 seconds slower than that the course record. Farah, the top distance runner in Europe is well supported by UK athletics with lottery funding and would not have had to do a mornings work before he raced.

Telford's womens team finished a very good 19th on the day in the womens 4 stage relay held over a slightly shorter 4.3 kilometre course. Cathy Ansell, now based in London as she starts a new university course returned home to run the first leg in 15.16 finishing 24th. Claire Martin ran the second leg in 15.01 moving up to 14th. Michelle Clarke ran the 3rd leg in 16.12 in 15th whilst Nellie Sanders completed the quartet in 16.29 finishing 19th in a total time of 1 hour 2 minutes and 58 seconds. Aldershot comfortably won the race with Chester le Street second and Norwich third, Telford were the 4th Midland team, behind Bristol 4th, Charnwood 6th and Birchfield 7th.

Telford had 2 B teams on the day and their times were Cheralyn Evans 17.20, Lisa Blagden 19.13, Juliet Hoad 22.08, John Sanders 20.38, Wayne Dashper 20.00, Richard Lucock 19.59, Jonathan Hockey 20.13, Paul Williams 21.42 and Dave Mansbridge 20.03.

Paul Sanderson