ERRA National Men’s 6-Stage Road Relay, Sutton Coldfield

Another epic relay run for the annals

Alan Mead reports: Another year and another page in the legend that tells of Belgrave’s participation in the ‘National’ Relays, a fable stretching back now over some 70 years. This last year has been one of drama one way or another and came so close to a fairy-tale ending on the hallowed ground of Sutton Coldfield. And talking of fairies – the tent fairies – down to just two in number now – had once again been in action as the first streaks of dawn smudged a lowering sky; and we’re so pleased that they had done their work to keep us mortals dry as a steady drizzle fell for most of the day.

A very good team had been lined up but had managed to remain under the radar as we moved in for the attack – and we were still under the radar as the first few legs unfolded. Steve Davies loves the cut and thrust of an opening leg – he has a 17:20 on this course – and a successful run out over a road mile in Spain the previous week told us that he is moving towards the sort of fitness that will see him in indoor action over the next few months; but nothing could be further from ‘indoors’ than nearly 6k of damp roadway in Sutton Park. We had hoped that the gap to the leaders would be not more than 45 seconds and in fact it was 55 so not too much to worry about then although there were rather more bodies for Craig Ruddy to chase than expected.

Didn't 'Ruds' chase

And didn’t ‘Ruds’ chase, in his first Sutton Park outing, clocking a fine 17:50 and picking up 14 men before having the task wrested away from him by Captain Paskar. Craig had vowed he would 'come on a bit' in the few weeks between the area race and this one and he was as good as his word. A controversial run by Central AC’s Robert Russell had taken the Scottish club eight seconds clear – controversial in that Russell normally runs in England for Thames Valley H (as does Ali Hay who turned out on leg 4). The rule book is a minefield but, hey! Let’s not go there.

Meanwhile the Lion of Nagongera (apologies for using this metaphor again – but we do like it!) was hungry for team success and vying throughout the third stage with Beagle Kevin Skinner. Up to 13th place, then, at halfway, perhaps half a dozen places behind our target and with Sale H Manchester a minute and twenty-four up the road.

Into the top ten

What a treat to see our course record holder (17:00) Phil Wicks in the Belgrave team again and ready to do whatever he could in spite of being just two weeks away from the Frankfurt Marathon. Phil had some largish gaps to bridge but at 17:27 he was fourth best on the stage and, importantly, none of those faster than him were up ahead. The Bels were now into the top ten, 27 seconds away from the medal positions.

Another on the brink of a marathon is James Kelly who fitted in a Sutton Park appearance as part of his journey from Spain to the Toronto Marathon next weekend when he’ll be racing for England. The puddles and damp conditions seemed to have held quite a few back time wise but Jim’s 17:51 indicates that he is pretty much at his fittest ever, only 7 seconds down on his best for this lap. This was really getting too exciting. In 5th spot now we were just 14 seconds away from bronze medals although still wanting 1:19 to get on terms with Sale who had set out to enjoy their fourth tour of the park in the lead, 52 seconds clear of second placed Tipton. “Have you got a strong finish?” ribbed a rival as he jogged past our tent. Have we? You bet!

The announcer started to wax lyrical

“Goolab!” went up the cry on the course as the runner in claret and gold was identified. Nick ripped round the dog-leg and up the hill, pulling back one, two and then three men. Even the announcer started to wax lyrical as he was made cognizant of the situation by spotters on the course and recalled over the public address system Nick’s past glories at National and European level. The gap to Sale was coming down. ‘Alty’s’ Mr Norman up the far end of the loop was heard to exclaim, “You know, he can do this!” But in fact it was just too big an ask. Nick had gone out at a pace that might have done it, could it have been maintained, but to chase down a prey that was out of sight for much of the lap is a tall order. Nevertheless, fourth fastest of the day – and that on the last stage with few bodies around him to pull on – was a tremendous achievement.

So, silver medals it was, 28 seconds adrift at the end, and to be honest everyone was pretty chuffed.

There had been some thought to putting Nick and Phil on stages three and five until finally the thought kicked in of maintaining our usual policy when we “have a chance”; always moving forward and never letting a position gained ever be lost again throughout the race. Would it have worked differently? Who knows? One can’t help thinking that such a solid Sale crew would always have had a half minute advantage whatever we did.

1 Sale H Manchester 1:45:56; 2 Belgrave H 1:46:24; 3 Tipton H 1:46:58; 4 Morpeth H&AC 1:47:23; 5 Central AC 1:47:31; 6 Highgate H 1:47:35; 84 teams started; 80 finished inc. two n/s Cardiff AAC teams.

S Davies (35 team, 35 on stage, =104 of all 495 runners) 18:12; C Ruddy (21, =11, =52) 17:50; P Owor (13, =7, =47) 17:49; P Wicks (8, 4, =17) 17:27; J Kelly (5, =5, =55) 17:51; N Goolab (2, 1, 4) 17:15.

Fastest: 1 R McLeod (Tipton H) 16:55; 2 J Davies (Reading AC) 17:06; 3 Swansea H 17:11; 4 N Goolab (Belgrave H) 17:15; 5 W Gray (Brighton &H) 17:17; 6 S Mitchell (Bristol &W) 17:18; … 495 took part

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