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

An epic chase in Sutton Park

All things considered one would have to say that it was a successful day, writes Alan Mead. We were just one runner away from the medals and two runners away from the win. Yes, most clubs can point to those who they were unable to include in their line-up, but sometimes the stars in the athletic firmament do all fall into a winning conjunction … and we have those stars. There are more medals to come for the Bels.

The news the evening before the race that an unwell Cockerpillar would probably not be able to run meant that reserve Martin Holm had to be called up ‘just in case’ and the ever-obliging Andrew Connick had to move to a ‘long-un’ … again. Then, at sparrow-chirp on race-day, as three Belgravians belying the 220 years that they shared between them erected the tent, further news came in that they did not want to hear: the Sharpster’s inflamed Achilles tendon would not take the strain of a long stage but he’d be alright on a short one. For the first two, the anticipated ‘run-off’ during warm up to decide which of them would tackle the now vacant long stage, proved to be unnecessary as the ‘pillar took a turn around a motorway service station to see how he felt … and it wasn’t good.

So at 12 noon Martin Holm was plunged into the first stage cauldron with instructions from everyone ringing in his ears … “just run your own race.” It was tough for MBH as he unexpectedly faced many of the UK’s finest road runners but he plugged away well and set things up for what had always been planned as a chasing game; and what an epic chase it was. Stephen grabbed 16 places back on stage two and Andrew Connick – a 1:51 800 man – came forward again over the 5 miles plus of the long leg and became more pleased with his time as the day wore on and other long-stagers came up some way short of their expectations.

Probably the highlight of the day was to see Nick Goolab on the road again after what Her Majesty would describe as an annus horribilis. Didn’t he just look the business as he glided up the final 300 metres, taking us up to 22nd? Welcome back Nick! All set for a tilt at 2:18 in the following week’s London Marathon, James Kelly felt good and looked great as he toured Sutton Park – but was surprised to find that all this good feeling didn’t lead to anything faster than a run eight seconds short of his 2009 pb. There’s no doubting his strength though, as recent back to back 68 minute half marathons have shown; we wish him luck for his 26.2 target.

Now living in Spain and working in Gibraltar, a far from his best JB was a minute and a three-quarters slower than his best for the short stage but he held the team steady in 20th as the race reached half way. Painful though his run no doubt was, a visit to Sutton Park was working its magic and he later vowed to return in better shape for the next one.

An already cool and breezy day seemed to take a chillier turn as the race progressed. The winning 26:01 on stage one, somewhat slower than is normally returned on the opening leg, was still standing up as the day’s best. Five different teams had taken their turn at the head of the field but Tipton Harriers were staking a strong claim as we rolled Russell into the fray … and that long-stage hoodoo mystified another Belgravian. Surely a 26-something would come from R D-C but, no, his 27:21 was exactly one minute slower than his 2009 clocking in spite of being eighth best on his stage. We were into the ‘teens’ though as Sp8y took charge and as good as his word he was ’45 seconds faster than at Milton Keynes,’ as he moved up three more to send out twenty-three year-old Michael Mulhare. Now we did see a sub-27 on the watch as Michael took us past Woodford, Highgate and Shettlestone into 10th. A betting man might well put something on a sub-26 from this man at some time in the not-too-distant future.

The gaps were large and Captain Wardy, head full of cold, didn’t see a soul on his short stage but moved up a place as Bristol & West ran out of men. His 15:30 for 9th best pretty much matched Sp8y’s 15:29 and their challenge as to who would be fastest come the National was accepted as draw. He tells us that this was his last relay – we can’t believe that! Tipton were now sure to be winners and Leeds the likely silver medallists but the rumours were that Birchfield would not be able to hold on to the bronze medal position … and they didn’t as one of their men now went 30:00 plus on stage eleven and Notts AC came through.

Large gaps or not, Paskar was intent on doing something special and we were a very respectable 7th by the time he’d disposed of Bedford & County and the Scottish club Central running to our best long stage time of the day – 26:42 – and fastest for his leg. Now it was all up to Steve Davies. At team selection time we’d hoped he’d be able to run us into the medals but although we hadn’t been able to place him in that position, he turned on another stage best and took us past Aldershot & Farnham to 6th and second best Southern club behind the Beagles who were 5th. It was a superb run from Steve who was 9th best on the day and although 8 seconds shy of his fastest, bearing in mind the conditions and the late leg, surely he'd just given us his best ever run on the circuit.

Now to start dreaming of 2013!

1 Tipton H 4:10:17; 2 Leeds City AC 4:13:12; 3 Notts AC 4:14:13; 4 Birchfield H 4:15:25; 5 Newham & Essex Bgls 4:15:53; 6 Belgrave H 4:17:01; … 69 teams started, 61 finished.

Belgrave runners (team change, team position, ranking on stage, ranking overall). M Holm (-, 50, 50, 195) 29:22; S Sharp 14:43; (+16, 34, 10, 20=); A Connick (+2, 32, 21, 123=) 28:18; 4 N Goolab (+10, 22, 7, 26=) 14:47; J Kelly (+2, 20, 14=, 68=) 27:23; J Blackledge (0, 20, 24, 148=) 16:04; R Dessaix-Chin (+4, 16, 8, 64=) 27:21; 8 N Speaight (+3, 13, 9, 82=) 15:29; M Mulhare (+3, 10, 4, 36=) 26:55; R Ward (+1, 9, 9, 84=) 15:30; P Owor (+2, 7, 1, 22=) 26:42; S Davies (+2, 6, 1, 9) 14:27.

For Woodford Green wEL, Stage 1: D Agustus (-, 25, 25, 59) 27:18.

Fastest long stages (5.38 miles): 1 P Martin (Stockport) 26:01; 2 T Shifferaw (Birchfield) 26:03; 3 T Davies (Cardiff) 26:09; 4 N Hall (Bedford) 26:13; 5 J Walsh (Leeds) 26:14; 6 J Gilby (Derby) 26:20; … 394 runners.

Fastest short stages (2.99 miles): 1 R Murray (Gateshead) 14:00; 2= F Baddick (Newham &EB), J Trollope (Birchfield), D Clorley (Luton) 14:16; 5 J Poole (Blackheath) 14:20; 6= M Buckingham (Holmfirth), P Pollock (Kent) 14:21; … 390 runners.

Pictures. Above left: Steve Davies set our fastest short stage time of the day - 14:26. Above right: Setting out on his long stage in determined manner - Paskar Owor. Below left to right: Long stagers James Kelly, Russell Dessaix-Chin and Michael Mulhare. Photos by Alan Mead

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