For many Wolves & Bilston athletes this week’s muddy field was surprisingly similar to last week, while the seniors had been at Warley Woods seven days ago it was the turn of the kids as the West Midlands Schools Championships took place on Saturday. I apologise in advance if I’ve missed anyone as the schools results just give an area rather than a club, we should be alright but you never know.
There was a win in the Inter Girls (years 10/11) over 3.2k for Isobelle Jones who crossed the line in a time of 11.13, Megan White took 3rd place with 11.58, Zena Asbury was 13th in 13.07 and Millie Williams was 18th in 14.06. There was a 2nd place finish for James Neilson who claimed silver in the Senior Boys (year 12/13) over 4.8k in a time of 15.12.
Also, over the country Gareth Briggs ran as a guest in the Southeast Lancashire cross country league fixture at Heaton Park where his Wolves & Bilston vest was amongst those of East Cheshire, Hyde, Oldham, Prestwich, Rochdale and Salford. He did the vest proud with a 25th place finish in 39.12 and take 2nd MV50.
Twenty-four hours later the club were out in force hosting the postponed Turkey Trot. After having to put things off from before Christmas due to icy conditions everything was in place to get this one underway until the weather almost put paid to the event a second time earlier in the week, but a small group were out at 8.00 to run the course (twice) and carry out a risk assessment. It was all systems go using an alternative start/finish area away from the track to ensure things passed without an issue. The results record who did what race wise, but they don’t register the amount of work that went on behind the scenes from Adam Guy and his team of marshals, officials, admin staff and those just willing to muck in and get things done to ensure the event was a success.
And there was a new course record for Luke Vine of Tipton Harriers who crossed the line in a blistering time of 24.20, around a minute quicker than the previous record over a slightly different course but over the same distance. Matthew Scarsbrook of Birchfield Harriers was 2nd in 25.41 and Daniel Robinson of BRAT was 3rd in 26.31. Ben Foster was first back for the home club in 6thplace in 27.47, Rob Cartwright was 7th in 28.40, Dylan Illidge was 8th in 28.49 and 1st U20, Paul Marson was 9thin 29.26.
Lucy Calrow claimed the win in the ladies race coming home in 30.02 to place 11th overall, Lucie Tait-Harries of BRAT was 2nd lady in 31.49 and Tipton’s Jessie Walker was 3rd in 32.14.
Joe St Quinton was 13th and 2nd U20 in 30.18, Derrick Milligan was 15th in 30.43, Paul Clarke was 19th in 32.00, Simon Calrow claimed a few scalps on the way to winning the MV60 prize finishing in 22nd overall in 32.27 holding off Pete Hood who was 27th in 33.18. Tony Cheema was 29th in 22.29, Keith Carter 31st in 34.09, Rob Edwards 34th in 34.52, Andy Dyall 35th in 34.52, Mark Illidge was 36th in 35.10, Ben Mescam placed 37th35.18, Sean Rowe was 39th in 35.30, Darren Edwards was 44th in 36.22, Lee Partridge was 46th 36.46, Peter McCullagh was 54th in 37.08, Lionel Spittle was 57th in 37.25, Paul Horton was 63rd in 38.27, Mark Perry was 64th 38.41, Rob Carrington was 66th 38.49, Craig Buggins was 69th in 39.26, Duncan Davies was 73rd in 39.53, Russ Blair was 81st in 41.20, Liz Walker was 96thin 45.00, Ivan Fletcher was 110th in 49.51 followed by a small group of Julia Cooper who was 112nd in 56.53, Julia Condon was 113rd in 56.53, Imogen Harley was 114th in 56.52 and Danni Braine was 56.54. Lesley Stamps finished in 120th place in 1.03.46.
Dave Norman
