Telford Athletic Club had a great day at the Mens Birmingham League and Womens MIdland league races. The mens team were promoted to Division One last season after finishing 3rd in Division 2. The Birmingham League Division One is well known as one of the strongest leagues in the country. The club have found life tough in the top division and after the first race at Leamington were 16th and bottom, after the second race at Northampton they moved up to 14th and still in the relegation zone. The third race of the season was held at Coundon Park, Coventry and Telford put out their strongest squad of the season with 13 runners taking part. Paul Ward, this years county champion again led the team home in a superb 16th in 28.37 behind the overall winner Jack Gray from Birmingham Rowheath ( BRAT ) who won in 27.34. Chris Rimmer was the second scorer to finish in 28th ( 29.12 ) whilst Chris Davies made a welcome return to the team finishing 52nd in 30.21. Ryan Heath was the fourth man home in 100th, 31.57 with Jamie Davies 134th ( 33.03 ) and John Sanders 147th ( 33.41 ) completed the scoring six. Stephen Reid was the next man home in 155th, 34.09, then Ashley Slater 165th in 34.22, with David Tatton and Paul Coupe were 174th and 175th with just one second between them. Rick Hailey was the 12th man home in 220th 37.03 with Daron Fincham in 246th completing the line up in 45.31. The team finished with their best team score of the season and finished 11th out of 16 teams on the day with 477 points giving them a seasons total after three races of 1619 points putting them into 13th overall and out of the relegation zone for the first time as three clubs will be relegated at the end of the season. Birmingham University won on the day with just 70 points, with Tipton second, whilst Loughborough University are the overall leaders.
Claire Martin led the womens team home at Droitwich as she finished a brilliant second to the world triathlon champion Non Stanford who was running as a guest. Stanford won the race in 21.36 with Claire Martin finishing in 22.04, well clear of third placed Kate Ingle from Sutton Coldfield. Michelle Clarke, the club's assistant cross country secretary was the next finisher in 38th, 25.25 whilst Denise Sanders from Shifnal was the third scorer in 91st, 28.05. Julie Kirby was the next home making a welcome return to racing finishing 99th in 28.18 whilst Sharon Clayton completed the team 154th in 32.09 with 251 overall finishers in the race. The team were the first masters team home out of 25 teams with 131 points whilst Wolves and Bilston were second and Kenilworth 3rd both well behond with 189 points. Their score of 131 points also put them a crediatbel 12th overall out of 36 competing teams.
Paul Sanderson.
