AAA Women’s 6-Stage Road Relay Championship, Sutton Coldfield

Belles just miss the top twenty

Catherine Eastham writes:- It was very nearly a repeat of last year, when the Belles weren’t able to field a full team. This year, however, saw a bunch of athletes who won’t be upset to hear themselves referred to as ‘not at their best’. Birhan Dagne was full of cold; Sarah Murphy had been studying hard for exams; Tilly Heaton, Helen Smethurst and Louise Cooper had only had six days recovery from the marathon; and team manager, Catherine Eastham, really shouldn’t be calling on herself to compete at this level! Still, we did complete a team and an enjoyable day was had by all.

Stage 1

The fearless Sarah Murphy was happy to switch to leg 1 following a request from Birhan to swap. Sarah lined up right at the front, elbows out, willing to battle with the best. Unsurprisingly, the blistering fast start took its toll and Sarah admitted that she found the course tough going. Still, she brought the Belles home in the mid-30’s with a solid performance. We all know that she’s got plenty more to offer the relays in future years.

1 Swansea 16:11; 2 Charnwood 16:23; 3 Coventry 16:34.

Fastest: 1 C Dugdale (Swansea) 16:11; 2 T Kryzwicki (Charnwood) 16:23; 3 T Brown (Coventry) 16:34; 36 S Murphy (Belgrave) 18:35.

Stage 2

Suffering from a cold and breathing problems, Birhan Dagne showed what a team player she is by still competing for the girls. Sarah had set Birhan up in such a way that she was still able to pull back 21 places for the team, clocking the Belles fastest leg of the day at 16.44. The lead three teams had maintained their positions up front, although it was Salford’s Bev Jenkins who clocked the fastest leg time.

1 Swansea (0) 32:32; 2 Charnwood (0) 33:55; 3 Coventry (0) 34:24; 15 Belgrave (+21) 35:19.

Fastest: 1 B Jenkins (Salford) 16:20; 2 S Smith (Swansea) 16:21; A Hoban (Wakefield &D) 16:31; 4 B Dagne (Belgrave) 16:44.

Stage 3

With a sub 3:00:00 marathon in her legs, Tilly Heaton, was instructed not to overdo her race but to treat it as a training session and just pull the team round. Either she didn’t hear, or she’s in amazing form, as her sub 18.00 performance provided the Belles with their second fastest leg of the day. Tilly made it look so easy and she’s set for a solid summer’s racing if this relay’s anything to go by. Cathy Mutwa’s fastest of the stage just pulled Birchfield into the lead, but the margins between the top three clubs had closed considerably.

1 Birchfield (+17) 51:26; 2 Swansea (-1) 51:28; 3 Charnwood (-1) 51:31; 14 Belgrave (+1) 53:18.

Fastest: 1 C Mutwa (Birchfield) 15:59; 2 A Fox (Morpeth) 17:03; 3 C Martin (Telford) 17:08; 12 M Heaton (Belgrave) 17:59.

Stage 4

Helen Smethurst was delighted to be involved in the Nationals, despite having completed the marathon last week. Slightly disappointed with her 26-miler she was pleased to be able to go out and prove herself in a team race. Having had a fabulous year’s racing so far, Helen proved that she also has the potential to do some serious racing over shorter distances this summer. Clocking the 3rd fastest leg of the day for the Belles, Helen was also able to pull back a place, bringing the Belles just outside the top 10.

1 Birchfield (0) 1:09:33; 2 Telford (+2) 1:10:04; 3 Shaftesbury B (+12) 1:10:20; 13 Belgrave (+1) 1:12:09.

Fastest: 1 J Wright (Shaftesbury B) 16:57; 2 R Jones (Salford) 17:06; 3 L Jackson (Woodford GwEL) 17:09; 16 H Smethurst (Belgrave) 18:51.

Stage 5

The London Marathon had had a bigger impact on Louise Cooper than her team mates as, with tired legs, she found the switch to the shorter distance hard to cope with. Having been in a similar position last year, Louise knew what to expect of her body and was happy to go out and just bring the Belles home in a top 15 place. Her much appreciated run by no means reflects Louise’s usual ability over a short course. At the front, Birchfield were just holding on to their lead, but Bristol & West were gaining fast as Will Cockerell’s partner, Dorchie, pulled them up four places.

1 Birchfield (0) 1:27:43; 2 Bristol &W (+4) 1:27:50; 3 City of Glasgow (+5) 1:28:02; 15 Belgrave (-2) 1:31:59.

Fastest: =1 S Owen (City of Glasgow) and J O’Mara (Wakefield &D) 17:10; 3 D Lee (Bristol &W) 17:11; =24 L Cooper (Belgrave) 19:50.

Stage 6

Never has the glory leg been so misappropriately named! Struggling on as athlete after athlete passed by, Catherine Eastham battled along in a time that was slow even by her standards! Just missing out on a top 20 position, Catherine valiantly brought the team home in 21st spot. Having said “never again” last year, let’s hope that it’s a good many years before we see the team manager having to run a leg of the Nationals again! Still, at least the Belles were able to field a team this year. At the other extreme of the timings, Kate Reed of Bristol clocked the fastest leg of the whole day to pull Bristol into first place with a clear minute and a half lead.

1 Bristol &W (+1) 1:43:32; 2 Shaftesbury B (+2) 1:45:04; 3 City of Glasgow (0) 1:45:09; 4 Birchfield (-3) 1:45:45; 5 Highgate (+1) 1:46:22; 6 Wakefield &D (+3) 1:47:29; 21 Belgrave (-6) 1:53:12.

Fastest: 1 K Reed (Bristol &W) 15:42; 2 K Ramsey (Charnwood) 16:30; 3 L Elliott (Shaftesbury B) 16:48; 29 C Eastham (Belgrave) 21:13.

Fastest Overall: 1 K Reed (Bristol &W) 15:42; 2 C Mutwa (Birchfield) 15:59; 3 C Dugdale (Swansea) 16:11; 4 B Jenkins (Salford) 16:20; 5 S Smith (Swansea) 16:21; 6 T Kryzwicki (Charnwood) 16:23; 11 B Dagne (Belgrave) 16:44.

Restored from the club's earlier website, belgraveharriers.com, and published here as originally written.