ERRA National Men's 12-Stage Road Relay, Sutton Coldfield

Plenty of Belgrave action at the National 12-Stage

Above: Towards the end of Stage 7 - and James Kelly makes sure that the Bels still lead. Photo by Bryan Dale at www.racephotos.org.uk.

The 60th running of the National Road Relay was celebrated with some exciting racing in Sutton Park and just as on the 50th anniversary, it was Tipton coming out on top. The 'Whippets' hadn't been able to take the title on any of the intervening years in that decade so well done to them. And who won that very first National Road Relay in 1951 - held on the London to Brighton road in those days? None other than Belgrave Harriers. In spite of a few lean periods the race has always meant a great deal to us as a club and long may it continue to do so, even though we won't always be able to feature right at the sharp end.

Ten years ago the Bels claimed the runners-up position, the first shot in a decade long 12-Stage campaign that has brought us medals of every hue; but on this occasion with six front line men unavailable it was clear from the outset that the odds would be well stacked against us.

All were "up" for the race

There was no feeling of despondency though in the remainder of the regular team. All were "up" for the race, vowing that we should attempt to fight our way into the lead and hold it for as long as possible. Even the late news that the Sharpster was gastroenterologically challenged on his return from warm-weather training and needed be accommodated with a run at the end of the day, in case he had to dive into the woods, was greeted by hoots of derision followed by a team discussion on how we could bring men forward to cover the latest set-back.

To the course then, and there lying in a darkened corner of the tent was Stephen Sharp sipping a brew of Imodium administered by Nurse Maria, while the runners rolled in and the team manager declared a new running order (having first dangled before a spectating Spenny Barden the chance of a short stage outing).

In glorious spring weather Nick Goolab took charge of our opening leg and all expected him to return in the top three, maybe even first place, but there is no such thing as predictability in running and it was only a relatively lowly 15th that our young champion could offer. Nick was very unhappy with his performance and unable to explain his 'bad day at the office'. These things happen though, and by the end of the day the Goolab smile was back in place.

Steve and Ros Davies had decided to spend their first wedding anniversary at the 12-Stage (what better place?) and enjoying the additional challenge Steve charged through the field, coming up eleven places on the first short stage to clock 14:23. The leaders, Holmfirth, were a mere 16 seconds ahead. Great running.

Paskar aiming high

Shaftesbury were in second place thanks to veteran Tony Whiteman and an unready Tom Bedford had to muscle his way through the throng to get onto the road, mixing it with our own Paskar Owor (pictured right by Bryan Dale). Soon they were vying for the lead and as each turned up the pressure Paskar noted that his rival's breathing was sounding a little laboured - time to put the boot in. The Belgravian was away, and gained a 15 second advantage by the end of his stage. Probably fitter now than we have seen him since we first met in 2006, Paskar is aiming high this summer, hoping for a 3:38 1500 metre time that would see him earn Ugandan selection for the World Championships in Daegu, Korea, this year and the London Olympics next. We wish him luck.

With a new life style, marriage and a baby, Neil Speaight is currently some way short of his best road form but nevertheless increased our lead to 33 seconds by the end of his stint and was well pleased with his improvement since Milton Keynes two weeks earlier. Now Dan Mulhare set out, chased by Morpeth Harriers in the form of Jon Taylor, Josh Lilly, now of Tipton, and Birchfield's Edwin Kipkoir. Our advantage slowly increased ... until ... on the way back Dan slipped on some loose gravel and crashed to the ground. His face smacked against the loose stones but he was up and on his way in an instant. A cut mouth and hands and a damaged wrist were the least of his problems. He dare not open his mouth too wide for there were some nasty fragments floating around behind his swollen lips - the remnants of his front teeth? Mercifully the finish line was eventually reached and spitting the fragments out into his hand found that ... he'd got a mouthful of gravel. The teeth were ok! The Mulhare good looks were battered - but intact. What a hero! Still in first place then and the gap had remained at 33 seconds in spite of everything. Next stop the St. John's ambulance while David Anderson set out.

Belgravian grit

After four weeks of total inactivity due to illness DA had only returned to work the previous week. He'd attempted a couple of runs in the last few days and, knowing that we were struggling to put a team together, he made a Thursday night offer to run a short stage. True Belgravian grit - and yet again it was a claret and gold vest remaining at the front of the procession as David increased the margin to 37 seconds from Newham & Essex Beagles with Morpeth a further 17 seconds in arrears.

Stage seven and the 'big guns' were wheeled into play; James Kelly had some serious opposition intending to run him down. Now working in Spain, there was still no way that Jim was going to miss the National Relay and after working at his researches during the day on Friday, he flew from Madrid to Luton, got a train to London and then another from there to Birmingham, a third to Lichfield and a fourth to Shenstone before meeting up with the team. And still we led. It was our fifth stage in the front while the Beagles held second and now Tipton moved into contention in third.

We always knew it couldn't last, and Malachi Byansi later admitted that taking up his place on the start line at the head of the field was both the best and worst moment of his 22 years in athletics. It was a game run from Mal who had to face a horrible onslaught led by Morpeth's Nick McCormick running fastest of the day - 13:49. Six teams came by before Mal could relinquish responsibility to Richard Ward.

It's an obvious fact that without six long stage runners we could not finish a team so Richard, putting his own ambitions for a tasty short stage to one side, stepped into the breach. He didn't enjoy it one bit. A 10k race with a crowd round him and no doubt he'd go well but long stages in the relay when the gaps have opened up are a specialist occupation. Well done Wardy - we couldn't have done it without you.

Up front Phil Nicholls had set things up nicely for his club by taking Tipton into first place, which position they also occupied at the end. But it was close, as Morpeth clung to second, briefly going ahead themselves on stage 11 through Ian Hudspith, before a Beagles charge on the last leg threatened both but could only reach silver medals.

For the Bels it was damage limitation. Mike Trees leaked just the one spot on stage ten - to 10th - and with a solid run from Will Cockerell and the now partially recovered Stephen Sharp on last we had found our level for the year.

In spite of everything it was an extremely enjoyable day. We saw plenty of action and have proved that we can continue to do the business in Sutton Park.

1 Tipton H 4:10:36; 2 Newham & Essex Beagles 4:10:58; 3 Morpeth H 4:11:02; 4 Notts AC 4:12:09; 5 Birchfield H 4:12:19; 6 Bristol & West 4:14:25; 7 Leeds City 4:14:57; 8 Cardiff AC 4:16:56; 9 Swansea H 4:17:17; 10 Belgrave H 4:17:41; 63 teams started; 60 finished of which 1 was disqualified.

Belgrave: N Goolab (15) 27:06; S Davies (4, 3) 14:23; P Owor (1, 3=) 26:34; N Speaight (1, 14) 15:09; D Mulhare (1, 4) 26:42; D Anderson (1, 10) 15:12; J Kelly (1, 9) 27:33; M Byansi (7, 31) 16:25; R Ward (9, 18) 28:44; 10 M Trees (10, 19) 16:03; W Cockerell (10, 14) 28:35; S Sharp (10, 6) 15:15.

Fastest short stages: 1 P Nicholls (Tipton) 25:48; 2 E Kipkoir (Birchfield) 26:03; 3 J Walsh (Leeds) 26:06; 4 M Buckingham (Holmfirth) 26:07; 5 S Batochir (Morpeth) 26:08; 6 P Martin (Sunderland) 26:10; ... 14= P Owor 26:34; ... 21 D Mulhare 26:34.

Fastest short stages: 1 N McCormick (Morpeth) 13:49; 2 J Mays (Kent) 14:04; 3 J Beattie (Newham &EB) 14:05; 4 D Clorley (Luton) 14:11; 5 A Heyes (Hallamshire) 14:18; 6 J Shanes (Newham &EB) 14:19; ... 8 S Davies 14:23.

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