BIRMINGHAM CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE AND MIDLAND WOMEN’S XC LEAGUE NEWBOLD COMYN. LEAMINGTON FEB 8TH 2020
The Newbold Comyn course is arguably one of the best in the region and with good weather, it was a day to celebrate all round. Our men were looking to defend their title and the women who hoping to hold off teams close to them to secure a medal position.
The Men's race is 10km over two laps which means two attempts at successfully crossing a very deep ditch, made more difficult by the wet winter we have had. Howvever, the team made light of this and took on the challenge to secure the title once more and add to the Midlands title won two weeks previously.
Omar Ahmed yet again led the team and his first place finish gave him a total of 4 points for the season, meaning he took the individual title by some margin. Next home was Tom Beasley in 7th with the other scorers for the team being Kadar Adbullahi 9th, Mike Tanner 13th, Jonathan Bradford 20th and Ed Banks 21st. This gave the team 71 points on the day over 40 points ahead of the team in second place. Close behind those scoring for the team were Max Walk 25th, Abraham Ahforom 26th. Orlando Corea was next home in 40th followed by Dan Swain, our only junior in 66th, an improvment of 11 places on his last race. Andy Ridley was next in 71st with Jonathan Read 70th, Ben Griffiths 81st and finally Matt Biggs 154th.
There has been much to celebrate all season and many of these athletes will be vying to become National Cross Country Champion in a few weeks time. Thanks also go to Andrew Peat in his first season as team manager.
Senior Women
There is a great camaraderie and enthusiasm brought by the University teams to the league but it is even more satisfying when we manage to beat them, says team manager, Eddie Cockayne, with a team of working girls, who have to fit training around their jobs and families. This is what our ladies did at this race and it meant that the team had done enough times to win on the day and finish second overall to one of the strongest University teams in the country.
Bryong Gunn negotiated the ditch on her way to a fine 3rd place
A wide fast start saw the athletes rapidly disappear and not reappear until towards nearly the end of the first lap which saw Bryony Gunn as ever up with the leaders, Bryony is one of the most determined athletes you will meet and has been instrumental in our success this season. Kelly Butler who, had never done cross country before this year, was not far behind then came supermum, Carli Baldwin and Ejiro Okoro as ever dressed for possible Arctic conditions.
Lizzie Watters, Francis Vickers who was way up in the Masters race then Sarah Conway and finally Emily Evans. As ever not much changed on the second lap so the final run in saw Bryony finish 3
rd
. Kelly Butler 10
th
, Ejiro just outsprinted Carli to finish 12th and 13th respectively which closed the scoring
.
Lizzie was 24
th
, Francis 26
th
and 2
nd
master, Sarah was 55
th
and Emily 141
st
That meant that Birchfield won on the day by 14 points and overall finished 2
nd
but only behind a very strong University team who have a great many athletes to pick from so we were proudly the first Club team.