February 2011

 

For a complete results
listing view the
Results Index

Featured events this month:

Barry 40 Mile Welsh Ultra Championships - 27 February

10 Mark Baker   5:37:03

Overall result: 10th Mark Baker - 5 hours 37 mins 03 seconds

Welsh Men's Ultradistance Championship:  1st Mark Baker – gold medal – Welsh Men's Ultradistance Champion

Mark in easy flow at 10 miles

What an incredible day. This was my fifth attempt at the Barry 40 mile race, and the 25th year the race has been held. It is one of the best organised events on the calendar, and race organiser Mick McGeoch can be proud of his fantastic support of ultradistance events in the last quarter century.

Previously my results in the Welsh men's competition have been 6th (2000), 4th (2001), 3rd (2008), 2nd (2009); an improving series, but surely not to continue to the final step in 2011? Some excellent runners were not competing due to an imminent 100Km competition, but the race programme still listed a daunting field of athletes.

The race is held at Jenner Park, home of Barry Town football club, and follows 161 laps of the 400 metre track around the football pitch. I was introduced to my lap scorer, set up my personal drinks on the home straight, and then took my place on the start line just as the heavens opened.

Nearly there - 5 miles to go

The first hour of rain was replaced by brighter conditions, and I was settling into a steady pace. At this stage I was in 3rd place in the Welsh rankings, but conditions were about to change. As I reached the marathon in about 3.25, a fierce wind appeared on the back straight, occasionally joined by heavy rain. Tired runners were battling to stay on the track, and there were several retirements from the race. By now, I had my head down, going into the teeth of the wind for 100 metres on every lap. I was also making sure I had enough drinks and nutrition on board. Then at about 32 miles I received the amazing news that I was leading the Welsh men's competition. I knew that there were only around 30 laps left, so I focussed on keeping going as well as I could. The last lap bell was music to my ears, and I enjoyed the final moments to finish as Welsh men's ultradistance champion.

At the presentation, I received the gold medal, to complete a full set of gold, silver and bronze medals. It’s unbelievable! Northbrook has a national champion. It looks like dreams can come true.

Read the Coventry Telegraph's report on Mark's achievement.

Action Heart 5 Mile - Wolverhampton - 27 February

  Richard Hands   35:52
  Angela Hands   49:59

Sleaford Half-Marathon - 20 February

165 Jack Langman   1:39:32 1st M70

Wokingham Half-Marathon - 13 February

137 Richard Hodge   1:24:08 PB
417 Clive Horton   1:33:10  
535 Lyn McDonald   1:36:31  
580 Craig McNaney   1:36:56  
637 Allan Walsh   1:38:15 PB
643 James Joyce   1:38:23  
864 Sarah McNaney   1:43:41  
1044 Dave Cooper   1:48:13  

Quite a few of us made the trek down to Wokingham yesterday for a blast at a flat, fast, well organised race. Conditions were overcast but favourable to good running as the course record went to the winner. I managed a 62sec PB and Allan broke 1h40 in style, having been paced round by James. Craig just missed out by a matter of seconds on a PB. With all of us under 1h50 I think it was jobs well done all round, and the Burger King visit before we left for home was well earned! - Richard

Birmingham Cross-Country League Race 4 at Cofton Park - 12 February

Men's Race

37 Nathan Holmes   39:35
58 Richard Hodge   40:52
89 Howard Andersen   42:20
117 John Wilson   43:22
121 Richard French   43:33
132 Steve Bottomley   43:58
141 Jerry Trill   44:33
183 Mike Wheeler   48:53
146 Pete Fellows   44:57
147 Paul Stead   45:09
160 Mark Baker   46:18
167 Pete Austin   46:45
170 Rob Barry   47:12
183 Mike Wheeler   48:53
205 Dave Crabbe   52:18
207 Jack Langman   52:57
213 Les Twamley   54:18
221 Andy Houston   57:09
222 Stuart Found   57:29
227 Fraser Barrett   69:11
DNF Paul Andrew - retired injured

 

Ladies' Race

28 Rebecca Smith   29:50

Northbrook men finished 16th on the day,
and 16th overall

 

Full results at www.birminghamccleague.co.uk

 

 

 

It was a humbling experience leading the Northbrook 19 in to battle against the Centurions. With only 30 points separating us and one race to go, the Centurions positioned themselves under the huge Northbrook banner at the start of the race and must have been intimated by the throngs of Northbrook runners and supporters who had come out to try and ensure survival.
The battle cries of 'Come on Northbrook' rang out on the start line and encouraged Vinny and me to run a sub 10 seconds for the first 100 metres, entering the first corner in touching distance of the leader! Things soon got back to normal as we settled down to the three laps of Cofton Park which included the near sheer ascent of 'Mount Cofton' on every lap.
It was a sorry sight on the second lap to see Paul Andrew suffering from a calf strain but this only spurred us on more to chase down the blue and white hoops of the Centurions. The supporters were fantastic and cheered on each of the Northbrook 19, every representative giving their all. The pain on every runner's face on the closing straight mirrored the effort put in by all.
In the end we just didn't make it, just 27 points separated
Centurions and Northbrook, which means we will be competing
in Division 3 next season. If we can get that same enthusiasm
from everyone who turned out today in the next season then
surely we will be celebrating as champions in February 2012!.

So....who's in for the Road Relays then? - John

Hell in the Middle - 12 February

  Dave Fawkner   2:29:02
  Corinna O'connor   2:29:03

This was the inaugural ‘Hell in the Middle’ race, part of the Hellrunner series, based at Cannock Chase. The distance was somewhere between 10 and 12 miles. We were promised hills, mud, hills, water features and hills and that is what we got. Some of the hills were so steep it was only possible to navigate them on your bottom (if you are a wimp like me). Parts of the course were like a roller coaster, running up and down them so much made my head feel like I had been on a real white knuckle ride. There was also waist deep water and the rather stinky ‘bog of doom’ to navigate. Paris Dave slowed to run with me to prevent causing himself any further injury, and to be honest it is definitely a race that is more fun run with someone you know. We especially enjoyed splashing along the stream. There was a decent goody bag including a long sleeve T-shirt for our efforts., and there was also a very long walk back to the car park, brrrrrr. I think I would do it again. Did I mention that it was hilly? - Corinna