The weekend got underway with some more cross-country action for athletes from Wolverhampton & Bilston AC as the combined Warwickshire and Worcestershire County Cross Country Championships took place in Solihull. Looking to qualify for the Inter Counties Championships next year and gain a coveted Worcestershire County vest were Nahum Worrall, who finished 12th overall but 2nd Worcs athlete in the U13 boys race in 11.28, only a fraction over a minute behind the winner, and Gary Worrall who placed 53rd in the senior mens race in 36.33, bagging 14th spot in the masters category.
The was the usual pre-Christmas fast blast at the Telford 10k where Jack Pickett was 21st in 29.25 and listed as a W&B athlete although we are yet to clarify whether he is even still a member of the club. One who certainly is a member is James Neilson who ran a rapid 32.23 to place 13th U20 and 211th overall, Sam Thursfield was 407 and 4th U17 in 35.09, Beth Rawlinson ran 36.12 placing her 470th and 5th U20, Steve Newman was 512th in 37.11, Rob Edwards ran 42.11 for 772nd place, Nico Campbell was 887th in 45.55, Ian Thursfield 903rd in 46.15 and Danni Braine 1014th in 50.38.
There was some festive fun at Chasewater in the Christmas Pudding Dash where Andrew Flavell placed 6th overall and 1st M55 in 22.56, and over 10k there was a 3rd place finish for Ben Pilsbury in 39.59, Vicki Mackay was 4th overall and 1st lady in 40.05 and Peter McCullugh was 47th in 52.32 taking 1st M60.
A couple of club members took part in the Mortimer Forest Trail race over 10 miles on a course that was more fell than trail with lots of quad quivering hills and breakneck descents, and also a fair bit of mud too. Julia Condon was 175th in 2.49.42 and Imogen Harley was a place behind in 2.52.24.
And there was some overseas action for Dave Joynson who took part in the Generali sponsored Malaga Marathon. Dave came home in 3.14.55 in 1190th place and 13th in his age group. And to tidy up a missing result from last week, Darren Owen-Jones went in search of sunnier climes in the Lanzarote Half Marathon stopping the clock in 1.47.41 to place 248th and 27th in his age group, or as they put it 27th hombre veterano.
Dave Norman
