ECCA "National" Cross Country Relays, Mansfield

What a race - Morpeth win after a titanic struggle

Having been regular winners of various major endurance events over the last few seasons we are now often labelled as "boring". But we are beatable - as Aldershot and now Morpeth have shown. A team does have to raise their game to do it but that can only be good for the sport and it certainly makes sure that running fans get a hugely entertaining race.

Injury had sidelined David Anderson and Paul Freary, and with Spencer Barden competing in Belgium, only "Sharpy" was available from last year's winning team - but we still felt we could win.

Below: " ... the field tore down the first slope ..."

Leg 1

With a black ribbon pinned to his vest, in memory of "JJ", Kevin Nash trotted to the start line ready to “give it some”. The start was ferocious. Nasher was driving his legs as fast as he could but as the field tore down the first slope and then up and around the lake on the first of the two laps that made up each stage, he was placed in the high 20s. A group of five had broken away as the second circuit began, with Newham, Tipton, Harrow, Sale and Notts AC vests prominent. Kevin was now around 20th but moving strongly and overtaking runners as the distance began to tell. Through the woods and then up onto the high ground at the back of the course our man was still picking men off until the very end. His 11th place had given us a great start.

Leg 2

A tough race in the Birmingham Reebok Challenge the previous weekend hadn’t done Jonathan Blackledge any favours and he had to work very hard to keep the team’s forward momentum going. Blackheath’s Mike Skinner came tearing past on his way to the day’s third fastest, taking the Heathens into the lead in the process. Sale Harriers were making a good showing in second while Derby were also in contention along with Harrow for whom our second-claimer Richard Ashe was running 15:48.

Although the air was still and the rain had kept off, conditions were very sticky underfoot and it appeared that times were somewhat slower than the norm. Jonathan ran 15:22 in 2003 and one would have put money on him going faster this time round. Working oh! so hard he pulled back two places but had to settle for a return of 15:35. We were 9th – but 45 seconds off the lead.

Leg 3

It was beginning to look as if we would find it very difficult to get to the front but Stephen Sharp is going through a superb spell at the moment and is brim full of confidence. Immediately disposing of Tipton and Altrincham, he floated up to Windsor and they too fell away.

"Who's that!" gasped Morpeth's team manager Jim Alder. "Stephen Sharp," came the swift reply from a Belgrave supporter. "Whor! Of course. Thanks Lass" Still described as a "great club man" in the athletics press, Stephen's fame is beginning to spread.

In front, Ian Hudspith for Morpeth was also going well and as leaders Blackheath, Sale and Derby sagged, the whole field became prey to Stephen who was a man on a mission. Morpeth and Belgrave colours were side by side during much of this battle but eventually it was our man coming out on top and as the final hand-over was reached only Harrow were a stride or two ahead – and incredibly did not have a fourth man.

Leg 4

Hero of so many races, Mark Miles set out at the head of the pack with Sale seven seconds in arrears and Morpeth, in the form of Nick McCormick who ran so brilliantly in Sutton Park a fortnight earlier, just two seconds further back. What pressure for Mark, not feeling too confident after a disappointing 8th in Birmingham seven days earlier.

McCormick ripped into Sale’s advantage and within half a mile was a few strides behind “Milesy”. They were locked together as the first lap was completed, and setting out again the advantage now swung towards the Belgrave man. McCormick had definitely overcooked his initial charge and with spectators racing from one side of the course to the other to witness this titanic struggle, Mark went ahead. Two metres became ten … ten became twenty …

The Tipton lads were screaming their training partner Milesy on as the pair raced through the woods. The Newham boys back at the finish felt that Mark would have the edge; but with this race proving to be a thriller to the end there was more drama to come. Already, poor Mark was running close to the edge. McCormick overcame his bad patch and the gap came down … and down … until 50 metres out on the short sharp rise towards the finish, Morpeth’s blue and white colours went ahead. Mark’s legs had gone. It was pure memory and will power that kept him moving over the last few metres until, with legs buckling, he sank to his knees as the line was crossed.

Minutes passed before he could get up. Mark had given everything, and the respect he had earned (yet again) from the rest of the team was immense. It was a terrific run when he hadn’t felt at his best – and yet he was our fastest man. Such is the talent and courage in young Mark’s frame that one of these days he is going to do something unbelievable.

What a race!

Teams: 1 Morpeth H&AC 1:01:06; 2 Belgrave H 1:01:12; 3 Altrincham &DAC 1:01:44; 4 Aldershot F&DAC 1:01:57; 5 Blackheath & Bromley 1:02:24; 6 Sale H Manchester 1:02:50; 150 teams started; 120 finished.

A - K.Nash (11) 15:31; J.Blackledge (8) 15:35; S.Sharp (2) 15:07; M.Miles (2) 14:59.
B - R.Alsop (57) 16:50.

Fastest: 1 C.Thompson (Aldershot F&DAC 14:30; 2 M.Skinner (Blackheath & Bromley) 14:42; 3 N.McCormick (Morpeth H&AC) 14:43; 5 M.Miles (Belgrave) 14:59; 6 A.Bowden (Harrow) 15:04; ... 8 S.Sharp 15:07.

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