It’s rare that a week goes by at the moment without the club being amongst the medals somewhere. This week it was the turn of the senior men who took part in the Midlands 7 cross country championships at Halesowen. For Halesowen you may as well say Clent, and for Clent you may as well say climbing. For a cross country race there was 1200 feet of elevation over the 3 lap course, enough to make it a category B fell race and make the profile look like an alligators dental records, but we rolled our metaphorical sleeves up and with only a bit of moaning got on with it. The club were rewarded with team silver medals with Dylan Illidge first back for the club in 13th place in 45.00, Ben Foster was a place and only 16 seconds behind, Gary Worrall was 16th in 45.44, Derrick Milligan was 19th in 46.46, Paul Marson 21st in 47.22 and Ashley Atkinson completed the medallists with 28th in 49.10. Tom Pryor was 31st in 49.53, Paul Rogers pulled on the black vest for the first time with 35th place in 50.50, Ben Pilsbury placed 37th in 51.33, Adam Guy 38th in 51.39, Joe Flatley 40th in 52.12, Dave Norman 61st in 59.54, Tony Cheema 62nd in 60.58 and Paul Clarke 66thin 62.16.
Tom Isherwood turned his back on that treat to run the Alton Towers 10k, finishing in 12th place in 35.56 and taking 3rd M40. There was some off-road action in the Beckbury Trail Race, a 10k on trails and paths incorporating part of the old Badger Bite course. Lucie Tait-Harris was first home for the club in 15th overall, claiming the 2nd lady’s prize in 47.31, Rob Edwards was 44th in 52.14, Anthony Pinson placed 53rd in 53.37, Mark Perry was 78th in 58.41, Julia Condon 154th in 1.17.38, Imogen Harley 155th in 1.18.37. Rob Carrington raced the Conwy Half Marathon placing 709th in a time of 1.49.56. And Jon Hart stormed round the Brighton 10k course in a time of 31.40 to place 19th and 1st M45.
Finally, our marathon couple were in action again, this time in Italy, where they took part in the Verona Marathon with Dave Joynson finishing in 3.13.39 and Gill Mitchell stopping the clock in 5.06.11.
Dave Norman
