ERRA National Women's 4-Stage Road Relay, Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield
A's Solid, B's Crackin'
On balance this was a positive return for this determined, occasionally maddening, but always entertaining Belles squad writes Will Cockerell.
10 days out from the race we had a neat fit of eight down for two full teams to tackle SP's challenging slopes, but would they hold? Yes they did, with the only fly in the ointment being that 15 minutes before the noon gun, the first leg duo, comprised of England internationals Sam and Smurph, were hopelessly lost in another part of the park. Bloody Sat Nav... "Keeps 'em out of trouble"? Does it, my foot. The directions the organizers give are sound, and with the continued refusal of Royal Mail to grant the Belgrave tent its own post code, future slaves to the havoc-wreaking electronic beast that is TomTom should be given coordinates for Park Road, and not merely the vast expanse of parkland itself.
Well, Sam made it with minutes to spare and was directed straight to the start - no warm-up. Smurph was switched with the ever bullish Hester, who was about to find out what the violent anarchy that is Leg 1 of the 4 Stage is all about. Highgate's Becky Penty immediately crashed to the canvas at the gun to ask questions of Sam's steeplechasing form [tidy]. Sam ran a solid leg, maybe 25 seconds off optimum, but teeing up Nellie nicely. 35th became a heart-warming 23rd as Nell had a cracker, and for the B's Vicki all but matched her comrade's advance, with a score of +11.
It was great to see Catherine back on the major championship stage where she had clocked times in the low 15s from 2006-'08. She was a little off that today, but offered a big kick finish from a long way out, and knows that this course will never release a fast time from its vaults to someone who's been out for a season.
It was Tilly's 9th consecutive A-team 4 stage appearance - an great feat of consistency and club loyalty: 2,600 miles driven for those nine races alone, and thousands of miles trained on cold, dark, haunting Richmond Park nights after work with just a head torch for company. It was a tough call placing her in the team over the class of recent mum Sarah Murphy, but the latter gave the nod that this was the wise move, as she had no idea what her body would give her, on her return to serious racing. Tilly was her ever dependable self, but the bigger and better news is that the Smurph is back in business, as she cruised round with no pressure, looking as though she could be in for quick times with a couple more months' endeavour.
And even better news was to come from new signing Fee Maycock, who made her debut to club athletics in thrilling style. Exhibiting immaculate form and a raking stride, Fee brought the Baby B's up 10 spots on anchor to 45th with 20 seconds left to run. Three terrified bunnies scampered panic-stricken up ahead. Bang bang bang! All were exterminated in the final yards, for a stunning denouement to our day. As far as debuts go, this was a doozy.
So, how do we read it? Well, the A's had a tough day and hoped for more - but it'll come, and look at the plusses: Up 17 spots on last year, 8th Southern club and it's obvious where we can improve: Sammi's late arrival knocked our rhythm a little out of whack, Nellie has stacks of potential, CB has globules of fitness to regain, and the TM made a small flub; plus we have some fine runners lurking in the wings. But today was more about the B's who cracked their race sweet as a nut. 7th best B team in the land, as they matched the position of last year's A's, but went 34 seconds quicker. The planning starts now for the National Six Stage on April 14, 2012, as does the fight for places in the A, B and even C team.
1 Aldershot F&D 57:15; 2 Charnwood AC 58:20; 3 Bristol & West AC 58:50; 4 Birchfield H 59:07; ... 25 Belgrave H 1:06:01; 42 Belgrave H 'B' 1:09:18. 93 teams started and 72 finished.
Belgrave A: S Amend (team position 35) 15:45; N Quispel (23) 16:03; C Bryson (23) 16:29; M Heaton (25) 17:43.
Belgrave B: H Barsham-Rolfe (76) 17:59; V Goodwin (65) 18:05; S Murphy (55) 16:41; F Maycock (42) 16:33.
Fastest: G Steel (Charnwood) 13:45; C Purdue (AFD) 13:48; 3 J Coulson (Stockport) 13:51.
Restored from the club's earlier website, belgraveharriers.com, and published here as originally written.