Victories for Chester Le Street and Leeds at Relays

24 MAR2010

Wythenshawe Park Manchester was the location for this years Northern Athletics Spring Road Relays relays, and for once the weather was spring like. After a foggy start the sun broke through and for most of the afternoon conditions were ideal for racing on the flat and fast course, arranged by Sale's Dave Rodgers

Women's 6 x 4.8 k.Race

It was in Heaton Park in 2005 that Chester Le Street last failed to win this Northern Athletics Championship road relay, so would they achieve the remarkable 5 wins in a row. Well when Mike Bateman, the Morpeth team manager, saw the Chester le Street team sheet, he had no doubts they would. He describe their team as "Consistent ", and he was not far wrong, with 5 out of the 6 girls winning their individual legs. Their canny team manager yet again got it correct, with just the first leg girl coming in 5th, and even she still managed to join 4 other of her team in the top 10 fastest times of the day. They are an terrific team who demonstrate superb team values that all other clubs should aspire too.

In the runners up spot was Hallamshire Harriers, who were almost as consistent as Chester Le Street, with 4 second places in the team. On that initial first fast leg, Julia Russell brought the team in 1st place, with the 4th fastest time of the day, and they fell away slightly on leg 2, before unleashing Hatti Dean on leg 3. Hatti recovered 8 places with the amazing time of 16.08, some 29 seconds faster than anyone else, catching everyone but Chester Le Street. In the bronze medal position were Liverpool Harriers,who were just 2 seconds ahead of Trafford in what was the closest finish of the race. Liverpool, unlike the first 2 teams had been anything but consistent. There leg finishing positions were 7th, 13th,12th, 12th, 6th and finally 3rd, so again the team manager about right. It was no surprise that it was Jenny Clague on leg 3, pulled back 6 places and ran the fastest time of her team.
In 5th came Rotherham, led by Jenny Blizard, and in 6th place Holmfirth.

Men's 12 Stage, 6 x 4.8k, 6 x 7.4k.

Leeds started this winning run at that snowy Catterick course in 2008. They retained their championship at Stockport last year and it would be a hat trick of wins if they won today. To be fair to their team manager, he at least brought the trophy back, but not for long was it away from those blue track suits. Normal service was resumed after leg 1. where Simon Deakin finished in 3rd place behind the 2 fastest times of the day, Mike Buckingham, Holmfirth 21.58, and Patrick Martin, Sunderland, 22.00. So not such a bad effort. However Simon was the only member of that 12 man leeds team who did not finish 1st in his leg. Amazing consistency, that put their team almost 5 minutes ahead at the finish, yet they only had 2 athletes in both the fastest long, and short leg. top ten times. Host club Sale finished in the silver medal position, without ever challenging the Leeds team ahead of them, Gareth Raven producing their fastest long leg time.

Another struggle that raged throughout the whole race was between a resurgent Salford team, and the usual strong Morpeth contingent. It took Andi Jones on leg 2 to produce the 4th fastest long leg time which hauled Salford into 2nd position, whilst the flying Nick McCormick put Morpeth back into 2nd place on leg 6, with the fastest short leg time by some 36 seconds. Add the fact that Liverpool were never too far behind and that final medal position was undecided until the last one of the 12 legs. Salford were first away, but it was the blue vest of Morpeth that first appeared back on the track, with the red of Salford was just behind. The final medal position went to Morpeth, by just 10 seconds, but Salford with their blend of youth and experience, showed how much they have rebuilt their team.

Full results can be viewed on the Official website.