First of all, let’s start this weeks round up by congratulating all our athletes on a very successful year competing at whatever level, and wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Here’s to many more great performances in 2025.
We’ll continue our festive theme with our home race, the Turkey Trot. Those that can remember the old race of 5.6 miles, up to the Molineux and along the Stafford Road, before the Sunday morning traffic before treacherous will recall frozen turkeys being lobbed off the back of a lorry like rugby balls at the finish. Unfortunately, these days the roads are much busier and the food regulations much more stringent, so to answer the most common pre-race question of will there be a turkey for all finishers? The answer is no, and the answer to question two, is there a vegetarian option? See the answer to question one.
Although those racing are mentioned here a great deal of effort from Adam Guy as race director and many others from the club, together with friends and family, put a huge shift in over the week leading up to the race and on the day itself to ensure another successful event. One that attracted almost 200 entries and a rather high-profile winner, the victory going to Andrew Davies of Maldwyn Harriers in North Wales in a time of 24.58. Andrew came 7th in the marathon trial for the Tokyo Olympics and has a 2.14 marathon PB, a PB of 64.46 for the half and 29.39 for 10k, he can also blast around a park run in 14.21. A special mention must go to Dave Newport on the lead bike for managing to stay ahead on him. 2nd place went to Wolves & Bilston athlete, James Neilson, who crossed the line in 26.19 and 3rd place went to former Wolves athlete, Grant Cummings, now with Derby AC who finished in 27.44. In the ladies race the win went to another former Wolves athlete in Beth Tabor, who transferred to Tipton Harriers, Beth stopped the clock in 29.17 placing 13thoverall and also claiming the course record prize. 2nd place in the ladies race went to Juliet Potter of Charnwood AC in 30.00 and 3rd was Lucy Calrow, back on home soil, now of Tipton Harriers, in 31.32.
Sam Thursfield claimed the 1st U20s prize coming home in 4th place in 28.01, Derrick Milligan was 6th in 28.23, Dylan Illidge 7th in 28.28, Alex Blair was 9th in 28.36, Tom Pryor 10th in 28.59, Alex Kelly 11th in 29.05, Ashley Atkinson 14th in 29.17, Steve Newman 15th in 29.24, Paul Marson 16th in 29.37, Tony Cheema was 26th in 31.55, Andy Horton 27th in 32.15. Lucie Tait-Harris claimed 1st F50 and 33rd overall in 33.15, Serge Guy was 35th in 33.18, Mark Judge was 36th in 33.19, Sabrina Thomas 37th in 33.25 and Rob Edwards carried on his excellent cross-country form placing 38th in 33.41. Simon Calrow bagged the 1st M65 prize and 44th overall in 34.19, Mark Illidge was 46th in 34.44, Maria Calleia was 47th in 34.51, Rob Edwards, the one from Codsall, was 53rd in 35.59, Emily Simmonds 54th in 36.03, Veronika Foster 57th in 36.15, Ian Thursfield 59th in 36.31, Niamh Young 64th in 37.02, Vanessa Landreau Barnes 71st in 38.13, Anna Moore 72nd in 38.17 claiming 1st F45, Russ Blair was 75thin 38.36, Dave Hendy was 90th in 39.44, despite the added ordeal of having to run past his house twice, Mark Perry was 97th in 40.47, Danni Braine 98th in 40.52, Craig Buggins 100th in 41.10 and Laura Davies 108th in 42.20.
It may be nearly Christmas, but marathons don’t stop for the festive period, this meant that Dave Joynson and Gill Mitchell were on their travels again, this time to the south coast to take part in the Portsmouth Coastal Waterside Marathon. Dave completed in 3.30.27 to place 83rd overall and 4th in his age group, Gill crossed the line in 6.03.58 in 596th and 35th in her age group.
Dave Norman
