ERRA National 12-Stage Road Relay, Sutton Coldfield

Looking for a miracle ...

Alan Mead reports

If 2009 saw absolutely everything fall perfectly into place, resulting in a club record for the course and the fastest time by any team this century, 2010 was somewhat different.

Troubles began back in March when Stephen Sharp and Nick Goolab booked warm weather training in Portugal, carefully avoiding the date of the race as shown in the UKA fixture list. Unfortunately the UKA list was wrong and the dynamic duo’s holiday dates actually clashed with the race! It was inconceivable that we go into the race without them so after much expensive reorganizing of flights and accommodation they were back in the team … until Iceland, having failed to shut down the UK with “cod wars” and dodgy investments, unleashed the fury of Eyjafjallajoekull on the British nation. Now that’s an excuse that doesn’t even feature in the legendary Phil Carstairs’ tome Reasons For Not Being Available To Race… “unable to get to the event as all UK air space closed due to volcanic ash in the atmosphere”.

With our Aussies back down under, Steve Davies on his honeymoon, Jonathan Blackledge short of training and all sorts of injuries and semi-retirements affecting the rest of the crew there were some desperate phone calls still going on as the team gathered for the race; and yet wild hopes were still entertained that by some miracle our running wounded would be able to raise their game to an extraordinary level and we could make the podium for a tenth successive year.

Above. Left: Great to see David Anderson back on the roads of Sutton Park - even if he wasn't happy with his run. Centre: After three months of injury an unfit Simon Jones added his talent to the team. Right: "Milesy the Magnificent". A few weeks running - and 12th fastest short stage of the day was posted by Mark Miles. Photos by Alan Mead.

Called into the squad

Will Cockerell was switched to opening long stage on Friday night – and if he came in a tin, the label on the outside would read, “finished in about 28 minutes”. We got exactly what we expected from the Cockerpillar: 28:08 and 33rd. The field was led by Altrincham and Morpeth, both expected to come back, while among our expected rivals for medals Leeds were 23rd, AFD’s Lindsay overcame an injury out on the course to limp home 25th and Bedford were handed the task of fighting back from 41st.

Also called into the squad on Friday, Hassan Raidi gained two spots on the volatile first short stage as Notts AC took over at the head of the procession. We were just about 2 minutes behind favourites Newham & Essex Beagles as David Anderson went into action. Making a big impression these days as a triathlete, DA gets by on less than a half of the running he used to do but he was well excited about being back in the relay team. Ten minutes later with lungs gasping and legs burning he knew he’d gone off much too fast and was desperately scanning the horizon for the gate that marks the turning point at the far end of the course: “it must come into sight soon, it must”. David was half a minute slower than he expected but we were up ten places and among the biggest risers of the lap. Biggest riser by far was Bedford’s Neilson Hall who tore past 23 men. Scots Shettleston Harriers were 18 seconds clear in the lead.

Yet another late call-up was Richard Ward, initially overlooked in spite of pipping two rivals the previous weekend in a parkrun 5k. Back in 2004 Rich ran 14:26 at Sutton Park and although generally settling for a lower standard of fitness has now nine times worked his way into the dozen – but he won’t like his clocking for this run when it shows up in the all-time stats. No places lost though, although some ominous gaps were opening up.

They breed ‘em tough in Boston. James Kelly had spent the previous few weeks working out in a swimming pool as a stress fracture had his team place in doubt. With a week to go his doctor said that he could run on it and although it might hurt, no more damage would occur. Of course Doc had no idea that “running” would interpreted as a 5 mile time trial followed by a burn-up in a National championship! In fact Jim was in some pain, particularly when it came to running downhill. As the finish line was crossed, he sank to his knees and Simon Jones was sent away. Still we were in 21st.

Injury problems ran deep

Our injury problems ran deep. Simon had been suffering for three months with a severe pain in his heel. He too had been in the pool until he’d begun to grow fins. He’d run in a local relay the previous week to see if he was in any sort of shape to assist the Bels and had finished that race disappointed and aching with a time of approximately 15:30 for 5k. Again, subsequent medical advice decreed that although further running would be very uncomfortable, the injury was healing and exercise would help disperse scar tissue. Another hero: he offered himself for a short stage and we moved up to 20th.

Now unlike the foregoing, Paskar Owor is as fit as a butcher’s dog and has had some good races during the winter, but there was no firework display for the Bels on stage 7. Paskar did gain four places but now 16th and with miracles in short supply, not to mention a few more runners to come who were not at their best, it looked as if even a top ten placing would be a struggle. We had to face the fact that we weren’t going to be able to get into the hardware. But as dreams of a medal disappeared, so did the pressure, and spirits remained high as ‘Milesy’ set out on an unaccustomed short stage.

Mark Miles and Gemma have both been ill over the winter with Gemma still not back to running. Milesy had managed to string together a few weeks of action and was prepared to turn out to help the team. The result was an amazing 14:37 for 12th best on the day. Wonderful! But such were the gaps that our colours were carried forward no more than two further positions – to 14th. This was some struggle.

Above. Left: Mark Pollard was fourth fastest on stage 10 and closed on the teams ahead. Right: Fastest man in the 2009 race but this year short of training after injury, it was probably Phil Wicks' hardest ever relay run for the least gain - one place. Photos by Alan Mead.

Fourth best on a loaded stage

One man with no problems – other than he’d really have preferred to race over the three mile circuit – was Dan Mulhare. Dan was fourth best on a loaded stage and gained five places. Like Mark, he too would end up as 12th best of the day but among the long stage men. At last things were beginning to look respectable. We were 9th but 46 seconds behind 8th and 2 minutes 47 seconds behind 7th.

Faster than most of those ahead, Mark Pollard was fourth best on stage 10. He took the Bels to within 11 seconds of Cardiff in 8th, leaving Phil Wicks with one man in sight to pursue. Phil quickly put the blue vested Cardiff man behind him and then worked oh! so hard to close the gap. Fastest man in the 2009 race but this year short of training after injury, it was probably Phil's hardest ever relay run for the least gain - one place!

Swansea Harriers, in 7th, were all but two minutes up the road after Phil’s stint. Not much Captain Neil Speaight could do about that. Neil had had several weeks off after his recently announced retirement from track athletics and a knee injury also hampered his preparations, but in spite of a lonely run to anchor the team he became our sixth consecutive man to feature in the top ten on his stage.

A final eighth place wasn't so bad bearing everything in mind. It was quite remarkable that among the long stages we had only two men inside the top fifty times and in the short stage list just one! And yet there we were 8th team overall. A texting Paul Freary summed up ... no medals but, "ten years in the top ten and the best team of the decade." There'll be many more good days to come.

1 Newham &EB 4:09:12; 2 Tipton H 4:11:26; 3 Shettleston 4:12:01; 4 Aldershot F&D 4:12:41; 5 Leeds City 4:13:58; 6 Bristol &W 4:14:15; … 8 Belgrave 4:16:43; 71 teams started and 62 teams finished.

Belgrave: W Cockerell (team position 33, stage ranking 33, overall ranking =109) 28:08; H Raidi (31, 26, =83) 15:29; D Anderson (21, 13, =82) 27:36; R Ward (21, 27, 149) 16:12; J Kelly (21, =19, =114) 28:14; S Jones (20, 13, =77) 15:24; P Owor (16, 9, =71) 27:28; M Miles (14, 2, 12) 14:37; D Mulhare (9, 4, =12) 26:14; M Pollard (9, 4, =63) 15:18; P Wicks (8, 3, 38) 26:54; N Speaight (8, 6, 53) 15:09.

Fastest of all short stages: 1 B Raeside (Notts) 14:01; 2 J Mellor (Liverpool) 14:10; 3 B Moreau (Aldershot F&D) 14:18 … 12 M Miles 14:37.

Fastest of all long stages: 1 M Geele (Newham &EB ) 25:37; 2 N Hall (Bedford &C) 25:59; 3 M Barnes (Altrincham) 26:02; … =12 D Mulhare 26:14.

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