Birmingham XC Lge Div 2

Chris Rimmer and Paul Ward, in their first cross country race of the season were an impressive 2nd and 3rd in the opening Birmingham and District Cross Country League Division Two race at Leamington on Saturday. The race was won by Leamington's Richard Harper in 36.44 with Chris Rimmer then second just 17 seconds behind with Paul Ward, who recently got married just a further 2 seconds behind in 3rd. Greg Wilson warmed up for his forthcoming international race finishing 27th in 40.22 just one place ahead of his team mate Ryan Heath celebrating his 18th birthday weekend still managed to finish 28th and 6th junior in 40.31. Johnny Sanders made a welcome return to cross country action finishing 69th with Paul Williams completing the scoring 6 in 90th and Dave Tatton not far behind in 101st. The club finished 6th on the day with 219 points, but only 28 points behind 3rd placed Dudley and Stourbridge who were 3rd. The top 3 get promoted to Division 1. Rugby won the team race with 129 pts, Wolverhampton and Bilston were 2nd with 146 pts, Worcester 4th with 206 pts, Severn 5th with 213 pts.

The team were split on Saturday as another team of TAC senior men, a slightly slower group went to the North Wales XC Lge at Deeside. The club had 16 men out at both venues, another great turn out.

Birmingham Cross Country Division 2

The second Birmingham League race of the season was held in early December at Blackbridge,Gloucester. The Telford Ac squad repeated their victory from the opening race with 111 points ahead of host team Gloucester with 172 pts and Kenilworth were 3rd with 221 pts in the 18 team second division. This now puts them well clear in the league overall with 173 pts with 136 points clear of second placed Gloucester.

Chris Rimmer was the first Telford AC finisher in 2nd place in 32.41 just 12 seconds behind the winner from host club Gloucester AC. Craig Walker who has recently joined Telford from Wolverhampton and Bilston Athletic Club ran well in his debut appearance to finish 4th in 32.51. Will Joyce was the third TAC finisher in 15th 34.06 whilst Chris Bagshaw was 19th 34.41 with Richard Lucock current leader of the Battery Trophy rankings, for the most consistant TAC performer throughout the cross country season in 26th, 35.06. Other finishers were Ben McDonald 45th, Nick Andrews 63rd, Paul Williams 100th and Malcolm Dawes 124th.

Cross Country Season review so far...........

Hi All,

the cross country season is long and takes up a lot of everyones time but we are reaching the corner point where fixtures start to ease and I hope we can start to get the large telford support we had at the begining of the season.

Here is a update how the leagues are going to date:

North Staffs - With one race to go which clashes with the County Champs we are sitting at the top of the table with a healthy lead over our nearest rivals Vale Royal of 387points I have four names who want to run the league meet instead of the county so next weekend Telford could have county and their first league silverware. Individually in the womens Michelle Clarke is 4th over all and 2nd in her age group, Cherly Evans is 17th overall and 2nd in her age group. The men sees Richard Lucock in 10th, Jamie Anderson in 12th and Ryan Ordidge in 16th and 4th in the Junior mens. Paul Williams is 5th in his age group and Dave Davies is 8th in his age group.

Next one is December 12th Leek

North Wales League - We have had a good start to the league after the first two meetings at Colwyn Bay and Bridgnorth we had a huge 300point advantage over the next club, but due to a lack of athletes at Bangor it has seen 200 points slashed of the lead, hopefully we can field a strong team in the next two meetings and take Division 1 glory in the mens. The ladies contiune their strong position from race one and currently hold a 190point lead coming in to the final two meetings. Next One is January 16th Wrexham

Birmingham League - Telford had an impressive start to their campaign at getting back into Division 1 by taking a 75point lead away from the first meeting, Chris Davies coming 2nd and Mark Dalkins 3rd and Paul Ward 4th, unfortunately the three stars were unable to make the next meet and it was left to Chris Rimmer to lead the way in a impressive 2nd and Craig Walker making his debut in 4th I am awaiting the results but I feel we may have slipped to third when they come out and we need top two to be promoted. but obviously number one should be our aim in this division. Come on Lads next on is Jan 16th Sphinx.

Midland Womens League - The ladies had a nice start to the league with a couple of the top names missing but Cathy Ansell stepping up to the plate and coming in a very good 8th place backed up Michelle Clarke 18th and Cheryl Evans 55th saw Telford start in 5th, on to round two and the team fell apart failing so send out three runners. There was still great performances though by Kim Fawkes in 7th and Sian Webb in 12th well done ladies. The next meet is at Sphinx with the men on January the 16th.

Midland and National Champs - Margaret is now taking names for the championships and deadlines for entry are early in the new year so please either let margaret Know on

thekelchers@btinternet.com or myself at ctalbot23@hotmail.com

Birmingham Cross country league Gloucester

Another meeting down and another great Telford performance, Chris Rimmer taking the pace on early to lead the team home in 2nd, Craig Walker running for the first time since being cleared to run for us came home in 4th. Will joyce running on home turf came home in a great 15th place and Baggers came home in 19th continuing his come back after along period off through injury and illness. Richard Lucock continues his impressive season with 26th and the team was completed by Ben Mcdonald in 45th. Nick Andrews is coming back to fitness with every race finishing 63rd, Paul Williams once again putting in a consistent run coming in 100th and evergreen Malcolm Dawes completed the team in 124th.

Cannock and Stafford had a strong side out getting 6 runners up in the top 30 also gloucester had a strong team out, Telfords 111points may see us slip a place in the team standings we'll just have to wait and see for the results come out on:

http://www.birminghamccleague.co.uk/

Next league meeting we see the ladies run at the same venue it would be nice to get some ladies out to run with us. There were two great runs from Kim Fawkes 7th and Sain Webb 12th unfortunately we couldn't get other ladies out so Telford will not score in the team event and will have to re apply for a team slot next year.

So I hope to see you all on January 16th, we need two teams out one at Brimingham league and one at Wrexham for the North Wales League, we are well placed in both leagues and are looking forward to silverware from both leagues so this is calling all athletes.............

http://www.birminghamccleague.co.uk/images/ResultsDiv205Dec2009.pdf

Glad to report Telford are still number one in the team and whats more were number one on the day as well with 111 points to gloucesters 172 extending or points lead to 136 points well done lads lets get a good team out again and almost make the title ours at the next meeting.....

Birmingham Cross country league Race 1: Senneleys

Photo courtesey of Brian Smith:http://www.flickr.com/photos/baldeagle/sets/72157622527667635/

Well where do I start, first of all I would like to thank John Bradley and Malcolm Dawes for arriving early with me and putting up the tent in what can be said was awful conditions, Thank you......

First Up in the juniors was Chloe Murphy, running in the U17 womens race in wet and windy conditions and with a injury to her hamstring came home in 5th position, well done Chloe. In the U15 boys race Luke Tatton was flying the flag, still with weather conditions against the athletes and on a tough course Luke had a spirited run to finish17th.In the U13 girls Isabel Bradley ran a superb race to finish 5th. In the U15 girls we had two athletes putting in great performances Lauren Pestana finishing in the top10 in 8th and making it a family affair Sarah Tatton came home in a great 12th place.

The first of the Midlands womens league races saw a small womens turn out, but none the less the size didn't matter because the ladies ran brilliantly. Cathy Ansell leading the women home in a fantastic 14th place overall, Michelle Clarke came home next in 29th also 3rd in her age group, Cherlyn Evans ran superbly to finish 69th. The women had to go through the stream which the organisers decided very cruelly to clean it out and widen it which ment it was nearly impossible for the ladies to hurdle it. On the tough undulating course we had Juliet Hoad coming back from injury to finish 111th, Lisa Blagden 123rd running strongly all the way to the finish and Susan Baker came in 186th. Well done to all the ladies. Looking forward to seeing your next race report.

The first of the mens race saw Chris Davies almost lead from start to finish showing impressive hurdling technique over the water and coming in a brilliant 3rd and second in the league, I don't have at the time of writing this report have full race results but here are the athletes who ran and there provisional results in the league:

Chris Davies 2nd
Mark Dalkins 3rd
Paul Ward 4th
Chris Bagshaw 13th
Will Joycee 16th
Richard Lucock 24st
Greg Wilson 30th
Chris Carter 36rd
Ioan Illie 37th
Johnathon Hockey 45nd
Jamie Davies 53th
Nick Andrews 64th
Simon Vines 68th
Rick Hailey 72nd
John Garmson 78th
Paul Williams 94th
Steve Jones 98th
Dave Tatton 132nd
Alan Mcdonald 134th
Malcolm Dawes 140th
Darren Fincham 181st

As soon as I get full results I will update the report, thank you ladies and gentlemen for running and showing the Birmingham League Telford are a force to run against. I hope you all had fun and I hope you felt well supported by your fellowTelford athletes.....

Full results are in and there are a couple of places different to how it looked but we finished with 59 points to Gloucesters 170 well done lads:
http://www.birminghamccleague.co.uk/images/ResultsDiv224Oct2009.pdf

Well done to all see the men at the next one, the battery Trophy will be interesting this year.

Midland Womens Cross Country League

Photo courtesy of Brian Smith - see all of Brian's photos from last years event.
The ladies have got the season under way winning the first two North Wales leagues and had good individual performances in the first North Staffs league.... Now the big league is here with the first race of the Midland Womens League at Senneleys Park. Here is the full fixtures:

24th October: Senneleys Park

5th December: Birchfield

16th January: Sphinx

13th Febuary: West Bromwich

For further details look at: http://www.birminghamccleague.co.uk/

Team Captains For the Ladies are Nellie Sanders or Claire Martin

Good Luck for the season Ladies......

Birmingham Cross Country Challenge

Photo courtesy of Brian Smith - see all of Brian's shots from last year.

Hi for anyone who wants to enter the Birmingham Cross country challenge, postal entries closed on the 12th of October. But you can still register on the Birmingham and district website until the 18th of October.

http://www.birminghamccleague.co.uk/

Senneleys is being run on the 24th of October.

The first Birmingham League race incorparates all divisions for the men and the Midlands Womens league. So I hope to see a large turn out for the men and ladies sides. Remember if you don't get in the challenge you can still run this classic cross country course for the Telford Team in the League.

If your running let Chris Talbot know on ctalbot23@hotmail.com or ring on 01952 256887 0r 07740781760

For results for the challenge please visit:

http://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2009/index.htm

Scroll down untill you get to October the 24th, the junior results and womens results are shown there. A full race report will be given on the Birmingham x country league blog.....

Birmingham Cross country League

The big one is just around the corner, Senneleys Park has it all parkland and water jumps make it a classic cross country course.

On the 24th of October Telford will once again toe the line with all divisions and prove we should be up in the top leagues.

Please join us and help take Telford Back up into Division 1

Let me know if your running via e-mail ctalbot23@hotmail.com or ring 01952256887

directions can be found at:

http://www.birminghamccleague.co.uk/images/Senneleys_info_sheet.pdf

The Info is for 2006, mens race is still at 2.30, U17men is now at 11.30.

For a time table have a look at:

http://www.birminghamccleague.co.uk/images/2009_ENTRYFORM.pdf

This gives a full timetable.