SEAA 12-Stage Road Relay, Milton Keynes

Southern 12-Stage title retained - record smashed!

There’s nothing like 12-Stage Road Relay racing. The weeks beforehand had been taken up with calculations, possible team composition, running order. Somehow it didn’t feel that we were quite as strong as we might be – but every time the calculations were done the result seemed to point to a course record – by miles – although Newham & Essex Beagles were expected to push us hard and maybe it would all come down to the last couple of stages. In the end the Beagles were close to the old record but our arithmetic had been correct and our own time smashed the previous best by 3 minutes and 55 seconds.

Pre-race nerves were set jangling early when a certain B team member was found to be answering the Team Manager’s phoned enquiry as to his whereabouts from his bed when he should have been meeting the bus at Battersea Park. A detour to pick him up then resulted in an unusual route to the M1 being taken and the bus being stopped by the Police near Admiralty Arch and escorted away from the Mall and Buckingham Palace. All this and we hadn’t even left London.

Conditions at Milton Keynes were not pleasant. At 11am it was cold and windy – and it just got colder and windier as the day progressed. But in spite of this the times clocked by our lads were out of this world. All day long expectations were exceeded – but let’s take it stage by stage.

Left: The Captain set the ball rolling with a personal record on stage 1.

Photo by Patricia Mead

Stage 1

Known to be in good form prior to the following week’s London Marathon, the oldest man in the team, Roger Alsop, was entrusted with getting the Bels off to a good start. Our Captain did more than that, for he pb’d by one second to bring the team in with just half a dozen men ahead, all lined up nicely for the next man to have a pop at …

1 Newham & Essex 24:15; 2 Milton Keynes 24:22; 3 Highgate H 24:26; 4 Luton United 24:35; 5 Bedford & County 24:39; 6 Shaftesbury Barnet 24:49; 7 Belgrave 24:50; 40 Belgrave ‘B’ 27:16; 52 Belgrave ‘C’ 30:08.

Fastest: 1 D.Mitchinson (Newham & Essex) 24:15; 2 R.Nifah (Milton Keynes) 24:22; 3 B.Pochee (Highgate H) 24:26; 4 P.Farmer (Luton United) 24:35; 5 M.Janes (Bedford & County) 24:39; 6 J.Trapmore (Shaftesbury Barnet) 24:49; 7 R.Alsop (Belgrave) 24:50; 40 M.Byansi (Belgrave ‘B’) 27:16; 52 F.Ward (Belgrave ‘C’) 30:08 (started late – actual time 29:33).

Stage 2

… and doesn’t Richard Ward enjoy “having a pop”. Phone calls back to base from the far side of the short course gave warning that Rich had taken the lead! Stung by the Team Manager’s suggestion that he’d run a 16:50, our young Belgravian had turned up the wick and burned to a 16:25 that surely would be difficult to beat in the prevailing conditions. No fewer than six Belgravians and ex-Belgravians were in action on this stage for as well as our ‘B’ and ‘C’ men, Steve Clarke was running a stormer for Medway & Maidstone, Dean Clark was pulling Thames Valley up through the field and Kevin Quinn brought Aldershot up two places with 17:43.

1 Belgrave (+6) 41:15; 2 Newham & Essex (-1) 41:18; 3 Bedford & County (+2) 41:35; 4 Milton Keynes (-2) 41:52; 5 Medway & Maidstone (+9) 42:05; 6 Highgate (-3) 42:30; 37 Belgrave ‘B’ (+3) 45:52; 55 Belgrave ‘C’ (-3) 52:37.

Fastest: 1 R.Ward (Belgrave) 16:25; 2 S.Clarke (Medway & Maidstone) 16:43; 3 L.Cadman (Bedford) 16:56; 4 P.Grime (Newham & Essex) 17:03; 5 D.Clark (Thames Valley) 17:09; 6 D.Castle (Milton Keynes) 17:30; 26 B.Barton (Belgrave ‘B’) 18:36; 55 H.Corbett (Belgrave ‘C’) 22:29.

Stage 3

We weren’t supposed to be leading at this point and as Paul Freary ran away down the starting slope in number one spot he had the unenviable task of holding back Newham & Essex Beagles who were just three seconds down. Paul’s subsequent 24:34 was close to his best ever run on this course but Warmby of the Beagles was in rampant form and took 42 seconds out of the Belgrave man. Nevertheless, Paul was second fastest on the stage and drew us further away from the rest of the field. Excellent running came from Lee Greatorex to bring the ‘B’s up five places.

1 Newham & Essex (+1) 1:05:10; 2 Belgrave (-1) 1:05:49; 3 Medway & Maidstone (+2) 1:07:21; 4 Shaftesbury Barnet (+3) 1:07:28; 5 Bedford & County (-2) 1:07:30; 6 Thames Valley (+5) 1:07:58; 32 Belgrave ‘B’ (+5) 1:12:33; 54 Belgrave ‘C’ (+1) 1:23:45.

Fastest: 1 M.Warmby (Newham & Essex) 23:52; 2 P.Freary (Belgrave) 24:34; 3 D.Leggate (Harrow) 24:49; 4 T.Crossland (Shaftesbury Barnet) 24:53; 5 C.Smith (Thames Valley) 25:01; 6 A.Moses (Reigate Priory) 25:16; 23 L.Greatorex (Belgrave ‘B’) 26:41; 53 Don Anderson (Belgrave ‘C’) 31:08.

Stage 4

Enjoying an earlier stage than normal, David Anderson still had only one man to chase but he ripped lumps out of the tarmac to pull back the deficit and then grab a lead of getting on for a minute. It was probably the best ever short stage run seen on the circuit because the conditions were far from ideal. Only Keith Cullen (Chelmsford) has ever gone faster – by a mere two seconds – and Dave’s staggering 15:51 had jaws dropping as those clocking the unofficial times could not believe their watches or their maths. The final finishing order had been established. The leading two clubs were to maintain their positions to the end while Bedford still had a fight on their hands to keep the bronze medals in their sights

1 Belgrave (+1) 1:21:40; 2 Newham & Essex (-1) 1:22:46; 3 Bedford & County (+2) 1:25:02; 4 Milton Keynes (+4) 1:25:32; 5 Medway & Maidstone (-2) 1:25:38; 6 Shaftesbury Barnet (-2) 1:25:52; 30 Belgrave ‘B’ (+2) 1:31:44.

Fastest: 1 David Anderson (Belgrave) 15:51; 2 J.Seamark (Thurrock) 16:47; 3 A.Bowden (Milton Keynes) 17:15; 4 A.Tanner (Bedford & County) 17:32; 5 N.Adams (Newham & Essex) 17:36; 6 A.Smith (Aldershot, F&D) 17:44; 27 S.Nelson (Belgrave ‘B’) 19:11.

Stage 5

Kevin Nash had a big cushion over Newham’s Ian Grimes but it was a luxury he did not take for granted. Further phone messages from out by the lake reported that he’d extended the lead to a “minute and a quarter”. When Gnasher finally flew up the finishing ramp that lead had doubled to a whopping two and a half minutes and our man had clocked our third fastest long run of all time. Surely now we’d crucify that course record – every man had been way up on predicted times. Blackheath climbed six places as a result of an unbelievable 23:42 from Spencer Newport.

1 Belgrave (0) 1:45:58; 2 Newham & Essex (0) 1:48:30; 3 Shaftesbury Barnet (+3) 1:50:52; 4 Medway & Maidstone (+1) 1:50:59; 5 Blackheath & Bromley (+6) 1:51:03; 6 Aldershot, F&D (+1) 1:51:06; 32 Belgrave ‘B’ (-2) 2:00:00.

Fastest: 1 S.Newport (Blackheath & Bromley) 23:42; 2 K.Nash (Belgrave) 24:18; 3 A.Hennessy (Wells City) 24:35; 4 A van Zyl (Shaftesbury Barnet) 25:00; 5 B.Stopher (Aldershot, F&D) 25:02; 6 S.Tompsett (Hillingdon) 25:02; 44 G.Reid (Belgrave ‘B’) 28:16.

Stage 6

Now it was the turn of the youngest man in the team. Eighteen year-old Jonathan Blackledge had run a handy 17:27 12 months earlier but has come on “a bundle” since then and was felt to be well worthy of an ‘A’ team place. As it happened, the selectors’ confidence proved to be somewhat understated as Jonathan, far from overawed by being handed a huge lead, extended the advantage to over three minutes. His 16:46 must surely put him among the elite band from whom the AAA team will be chosen in a few weeks time. A terrific run from Junior Galley ensured that our ‘B’ team continued closing in on Aldershot’s ‘B’, although Bedford’s ‘B’s were still more than three minutes ahead.

1 Belgrave (0) 2:02:44; 2 Newham & Essex (0) 2:05:54; 3 Aldershot F&D (+3) 2:08:14; 4 Blackheath & Bromley (+1) 2:08:26; 5 Bedford & County (+2) 2:08:57; 6 Medway & Maidstone (-2) 2:09:23; 31 Belgrave ‘B’ (+1) 2:18:29.

Fastest: =1 J.Blackledge (Belgrave) and A.Fulford (Swindon) 16:46; 3 H.Hardy (South London) 16:52; 4 S.Ablitt (Aldershot, F&D) 17:08; 5 T.Hawkey (Blackheath & Bromley) 17:23; 6 A.Mitchell (Newham & Essex) 17:24; 22 J.Galley (Belgrave ‘B’) 18:29.

Stage 7

In the form of his life, Will Cockerell began the week preceding this race by falling foul of a bug that wiped him out for a day or so. It was touch and go whether he’d rule himself out of a long stage or out of the race altogether. By Saturday Will was confident enough to go ahead but on race day took things relatively steady in his tour of Milton Keynes to ensure that the team was not put at risk. Oh! and he reduced his best for the long stage by over a minute while he was at it! So close to being in the ‘A’ team, Knut Hegvold brought the B squad up six places while running 9th fastest for the stage. We were now within half a minute of taking control in the ‘B’ competition as well.

1 Belgrave (0) 2:27:47; 2 Newham & Essex (0) 2:30:44; 3 Aldershot, F&D (0) 2:33:44; 4 Bedford & County (+1) 2:34:07; 5 Blackheath & Bromley (-1) 2:34:48; 6 Medway & Maidstone (0) 2:35:37; 25 Belgrave ‘B’ (+6) 2:44:40.

Fastest: 1 M.Normington (Herne Hill) 24:49; 2 K.Stone (Newham & Essex) 24:50; 3 W.Cockerell (Belgrave) 25:03; =4 N.Miller (Bedford & County) and N.Altmann (Thames H&H) 25:10; 6 N.Anderson (Aldershot, F&D) 25:30; 9 K.Hegvold (Belgrave ‘B’) 26:11.

Stage 8

Charles Herrington ran right up to expectations as he kept our advantage over Newham & Essex Beagles hovering at just over three minutes. Bedford & County came back into third again thanks to a fine 16:15 from Hugh Lobb – tipped now as being likely first Brit in the following week’s London Marathon.

1 Belgrave (0) 2:45:07; 2 Newham & Essex (0) 2:48:06; 3 Bedford & County (+1) 2:50:22; 4 Aldershot, F&D (-1) 2:51:24; 5 Medway & Maidstone (+1) 2:53:43; 6 Herne Hill (+1) 2:53:53; 26 Belgrave ‘B’ (-1) 3:04:11.

Fastest: 1 H.Lobb (Bedford & County) 16:15; 2 A.Mussett (Colchester) 16:29; 3 S.Snow (Highgate) 17:16; 4 C.Herrington (Belgrave) 17:20; 5 S.Major (Newham & Essex) 17:22; 6 K.Johnson (Thames Valley) 17:33; 30 S.Connor (Belgrave ‘B’) 19:31.

Stage 9

The Essex club had turned in some fast long stage times – and here came another one from Ollie Laws. But could they get near us? Oh! dear no, for Martin Dent made his debut for Belgrave as a scoring competitor and celebrated by putting Paul Evan’s club record of 23:47 under severe pressure as he front ran to 23:49. Surely now the race and the record had been put to bed. And it was a double celebration, as Lloyd Catley took our second team to the head of the ‘B’ team race.

1 Belgrave (0) 3:08:56; 2 Newham & Essex (0) 3:12:34; 3 Bedford & County (0) 3:15:36; 4 Aldershot, F&D (0) 3:17:28; 5 Blackheath & Bromley (+2) 3:18:36; 6 Herne Hill (0) 3:19:56; 25 Belgrave ‘B’ (+1) 3:31:32.

Fastest: 1 M.Dent (Belgrave) 23:49; 2 O.Laws (Newham & Essex) 24:28; 3 M.Skinner (Blackheath & Bromley) 24:38; 4 A.Weir (Thames H&H) 25:05; 5 S.Holley (Bedford & County) 25:14; =6 T.Jackson (Shaftesbury Barnet) and M. da Silva (Thames Valley) 25:51; 25 L.Catley (Belgrave ‘B’) 27:21.

Stage 10

Last man into the team, Stephen Kennefick enjoyed leading the parade around the penultimate short stage, running four seconds quicker than his previous best. Back down the field Charlie Dickinson, entering the M55 age group later this month, took a break from encouraging his training group who had admirably filled out the ‘B’ team by showing them just how it should be done.

1 Belgrave (0) 3:26:38; 2 Newham & Essex (0) 3:30:04; 3 Bedford & County (0) 3:33:10; 4 Aldershot, F&D (0) 3:35:20; 5 Blackheath & Bromley (0) 3:38:10; 6 Highgate (+3) 3:38:43; 23 Belgrave ‘B’ (+2) 3:50:20.

Fastest: 1 K.Bouchamia (Thames Valley) 17:23; 2 M.Kearns (Newham & Essex) 17:30; 3 T.Cook (Bedford & County) 17:34; 4 D.Burbridge (Highgate) 17:38; 5 S.Kennefick (Belgrave) 17:42; 6 D.McCarthy (Aldershot, F&D) 17:52; 15 C.Dickinson (Belgrave ‘B’) 18:48.

Stage 11

Fresh back from training in Portugal, the last two men Al Stewart and Stephen Sharp had been awaiting their turn for hours while the conditions had slowly deteriorated. A solid run from Al didn’t really do justice to his current form and he admitted to finding the swirling wind out by the lake a little troublesome although was not unhappy with his time. Our remarkable ‘B’ team were now three minutes clear of their rivals thanks to another strong performance from Warren Lynch.

1 Belgrave (0) 3:51:23; 2 Newham & Essex 3:54:25; 3 Bedford & County (0) 3:58:45; 4 Aldershot, F&D (0) 4:01:32; 5 Herne Hill (+2) 4:04:36; 6 Medway & Maidstone (+2) 4:04:42; 22 Belgrave ‘B’ (+1) 4:17:27.

Fastest: 1 A Robinson (Newham & Essex) 24:21; 2 A.Stewart (Belgrave) 24:45; 3 G.Williams (Medway & Maidstone) 25:26; 4 G.Thomas (Luton) 25:30; 5 T.Burke (Bedford & County) 25:35; 6 S.Wurr (Thames H&H) 25:36; 18 W.Lynch (Belgrave ‘B’) 27:07.

Stage 12

So the excitement was over – or was it? “How fast do I have to run for us to beat the record,” said Stephen Sharp. As if the Team Manager was going to tell him that all he had to run for that last 5.5k lap was a mere 19:55! Ignorant of the requirement and ignoring the blustery conditions Steve set out on a victory lap as if he had to do it all on his own. And in 16 minutes precisely he was back again having clocked the third fastest short stage run of all time. What a run – and what a team! A special word too for an unfit James Browne - waiting until the end of the day to take the 'B's out and complete their team while everyone else was enjoying the euphoria of a course record.

1 Belgrave H (0) 4:07:23; 2 Newham & Essex Beagles (0) 4:11:51; 3 Bedford & County AC (0) 4:16:54; 4 Aldershot F&D AC (0) 4:19:37; 5 Maidstone & Maidstone AC (+1) 4:22:18; 6 Herne Hill H (-1) 4:22:38; 21 (1st B Team) Belgrave ‘B’ (+1) 4:36:36.

Fastest: 1 S.Sharp (Belgrave) 16:00; =2 P.Larkins (Newham & Essex) and A.Lynch (Thames H&H) 17:26; 4 J.Renault (Medway & Maidstone) 17:36; 5 J.Bradley (Blackheath & Bromley) 18:00; 6 S.Coombes (Herne Hill) 18:02; 18 J.Browne (Belgrave ‘B’) 19:09.

56 teams started; 48 teams finished

Fastest legs of the day.

Short stage (5506m): 1 David Anderson (Belgrave) 15:51; 2 S.Sharp (Belgrave) 16:00; 3 H.Lobb (Bedford & County) 16:15; 4 R.Ward (Belgrave) 16:25; 5 A.Mussett (Colchester) 16:29; 6 S.Clarke (Medway & Maidstone) 16:43; =7 J.Blackledge 16:46; 17 C.Herrington 17:20; 40 S.Kennefick 17:40; 308 short stage runners.

Long stage (7978m): 1 S.Newport (Blackheath & Bromley) 23:42; 2 M.Dent (Belgrave) 23:49; 3 M.Warmby (Newham & Essex) 23:52; 4 D.Mitchinson (Newham & Essex) 24:15; 5 K.Nash (Belgrave) 24:18; 6 A.Robinson (Newham & Essex) 24:21; 10 P.Freary 24:34; 15 A.Stewart 24:45; 19 R.Alsop 24:50; 29 W.Cockerell 25:03; 315 long stage runners.

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