District clubs rise to the occasion at Cotswolds Hilly

Kenilworth’s men’s A team also broke the ten-hour barrier for the first time in the club’s history and for the first time by any club since Leamington C&AC ran 9:59:02 in 2000.

Beginning at the Fountain Clock in Stratford town centre and ending at the Sports Club close by, the 100- mile relay race comprises ten legs of approximately ten miles, incorporating a loop into the heart of the Cotswolds and back again.

The race is infamous for its numerous hills and undulations and endless discussions over which leg is the hardest.

Martin Dorrill set Kenilworth ably on their way with a sub-60 minute first leg (59:23), handing over just behind the leader to team captain Phil Gould.

Gould quickly passed the leader and pulled away on the demanding second leg, clocking a superb 57:22.

Rich Simkiss, improving after injury, set a scintillating pace on the third leg to set the outright fastest leg of the day with 55:52.

With a commanding lead established, Paul Andrew continued the streak of sub-60 performances with a super 58:19.

Phil Fusi more than justified his inclusion with a great run, setting the fastest leg five run of the day (62:34).

On the long leg six, Andrew Siggers ran 61:50, nearly nine minutes faster than his nearest rival, before handing over to Jim Sawle, who clocked 59:26.

Andrew Holbrook ran 61:20 and handed over to Matthew Kingston-Lee who successfully negotiated the longest climb and descent of the day at Ilmington to set the fastest leg nine time of 59:00.

It was left to Stuart Hopkins to run the glory leg back to Stratford and the finish.

Heavy triathlon training meant Hopkins was a little run-rusty. Nevertheless, he set the quickest final leg of the day (59:25) to bring Kenilworth home more than 35 minutes clear of second-placed Leamington.

Leamington’s time of 10:34.57 was their fastest since 2008 and featured sub-60 performances from both Jamie Langley on leg four and Guy Allen on leg nine.

Leamington results: Men’s A team: Leg 1, Craig Bower (1:01:32); 2, John Muddeman (1:00:24); 3, Nick Tawney (1:00:29); Jamie Langley (59:47); 5, Steve Howes (1:06:56); 6, Steve Hundal (1:10:47); 7, Jimmy Bull (1:03:53); 8, Paul Griffin (1:05:33s); 9, Guy Allen (59:55); 10, Matt Butler (1:05:57). Men’s B team: Leg 1, Mick Aston (1:40:03); 2, Mick Denney (n/a) 3, Brian Miller (n/a); 4, Paul Caruana (1:12:36); 5, Steve Roberts (1:11:08); 6, Steve Webb (1:16:47); 7, Dave Potter (1:04:43); 8, Graham Garlick (1:10:48); 9, Bert Payne (1:19:11); 10, Graham Roberts (1:25:59).

Kenilworth’s men’s B team won the B team Shield and finished fourth overall, with their time of 10:52:49 just a minute outside the club’s A team time in 2010.

Leg 1, Clive Pearce (62:03); 2, Phil McCorquodale (60:51); 3, Jon Mettyear (65:30); 4, Pete Bryan (65:32); 5, Richard Green (67:00); 6, Roger Holmes (73:33); 7, Sean Mitchell (66:24); 8, Richard Steel (64:13); 9, Liam Chapple (65:11); 10, Paddy Roddy (62:28)(.

The men’s C team, captained by Gwyn Davies disqualified themselves for an illegal changeover during leg nine.

Spa Striders’ ladies, dominated the women’s event for the fourth year in succession, setting a new course record in the process.

Dawn Clark, Bethan Gwynne, Charlotte Everard, Esther Wollaston, Melissa Venables, Carolyn Wilkinson, Vicki Smith, Caroline Whitehouse, Lucy Burnett and Michelle Clements knocked more than ten minutes off the previous mark.

Kenilworth Runners sliced nearly an hour off their 2011 run to finish second in 12:47:17.

Kenilworth Runners’ Ladies results: Leg 1, Ros Matthews (1:15:02); 2, Jayne Mumford (1:17:37); 3, Tina Crow (78:26); 4, Imogen Peace (1:09:49); 5, Sara Habib (1:21:06); 6, Sally Hicks (1:25:53); 7, Lucy Beaumont (1:19:32); 8, Rebecca Smith (1:17:00); 9, Kath Foley (1:17:15); 10, Nardia Poole (1:06:35); Total time: 12:47:17.

Leamington C&AC Ladies: Leg 1, Zara Blower (1:07:20); 2, Carol Blower (1:31:42); 3, Susie Tawney (1:14:28); 4, Anouk Molliex (1:20:44); 5, Faye Barr (1:16:54); 6, Claire Doughty (1:39:33); 7, Andrea Jahasz (1:37); 8, Rachel Burney (1:13:11); 9, Wendy Woodhouse (1:25:00); 10, Cara Davidson (1:30:06).Total time: 13:56:54.

Three other Striders teams - two men’s and a mixed also navigated their way around the course, some more ably than others, with the final team coming home well into the evening.