Mick Bromilow and his MKAC team did an outstanding job following the late cancellation of the SEAA road relays. Not only did they organise an event with alacrity and aplomb, but the running community supported them superbly turning out teams of very high quality.
Although as a Club HHH fielded a lot less teams (across the various age groups) than we were due to at Crystal Palace, the original venue for the SEAA relays, we did contest both senior events. The course was the short leg used for Southern 12 and 6 stage road relays, where of course HHH women are the current defending champions. Marginally over 5km on what is an undulating circuit, with changeovers on the track, and worth around 30 seconds vs a fast/flat 5km.
Sarah Grover ran a strong first leg for the women’s team, running marginally quicker than on her previous performance here, closing in 18.49 for 13th position. We welcomed to the team Charlotte Davies who has been training with us consistently over the summer period, and produced an excellent 5km season’s best of 19.00, finishing in 15th position. Martha Reynolds, who came in as a late replacement, then moved us up two places with a 20.06 clocking, with team captain Julia Wedmore producing an almost identical 20.05 to bring us home in 15th position of the 24 starting teams.
The men were led off by Mike Cummings, on a very competitive opening leg. Mike paced his effort very nicely and, capitalising on his track speed, was well placed to pass three other runners on the finishing track, including local rivals Kent AC and Belgrave.
Taking over in 20th, our U20 athlete David Moyse who has improved significantly over the last two months, ran an excellent leg clocking 16.43, for 25th position. Simon Coombes had contested several masters races the previous day at the very same venue, and in the circumstances ran a very solid 17.21 for 26th.
Late replacement Jack Hillier was a welcome sight indeed on leg four, and produced the team’s second fastest time with 16.29, for 24th. Great to see Jack racing again. Jeff Cunningham, that veteran of road relays, dropped just one place with his 17.06 clocking, and the team was rounded off with an excellent run from another of our younger athletes, Oliver Walker, 16.44, for 25th of the 48 starting teams.
Both men and women are able to send teams to the National Road Relay Championships, in two weeks’ time.
Keith Newton