Road Relays
Ladies
Despite a busy racing calendar, injuries and illness Leamington Cycling & Athletic Club showed their strength in depth to field two men’s and two women’s teams at last Saturday’s Midland Road Relays in Sutton Park.
Women’s A team equalled the best position this event and were a mere 6 seconds of their best overall team time set 10 years ago. Led off by Natalie Bhangal, she held good form to hand over to Megan Rothman in 15thposition with a time of 16.31 over 4.33k race. Megan then moved the team up 3 places with an excellent 16.34, these times moved them to 3rd& 4threspectively in LCAC all- time records over the distance. Wendy Daniels, ran 17.06 in moving up one place with Zara Blower 17.45 bringing the team home in 1.07:56 for a top dozen place, matching their best from 2008 and just outside a club record at the event. The race was won by Birchfield Harriers in 1.02:57.
A second team manged 40thoverall out of 101 finishing teams gives the club a boost with the Cross Country season fast approaching. Jade Holt led the B team off with 18.20 (42nd), followed by Sarah Price and Eve Walpole both running 19.28 and maintaining the same placing. Courtney Depala brought home the team with 19.41 (40th) in a time of 1.16:57.
Men
The men run a slightly longer course of 5.88k and with a decimated squad it was always going to be a tough ask to make the qualifying National position of the first 25 A teams. Charlie Eastaugh, keen to show his improved form went off to record 18.33 which is the 5thfastest all-time for the club handing over to Dean Mawby. Despite a solid 21.20 from Mawby the quality meant the team slipping down to a more realistic 29th. Charlie Staveley ran 21.21 (34th) before debutant Iain McLaughlin’s excellent 20.35 (32nd) backed up by Jack Savage’s 20.36 (28th). This knocked 2 minutes off Jack’s previous best on this course. The A team ending up with Vassilis Andreoulakis 21.01 for a team total of 2.03:37 in 30thposition.
The B team, with an average age of 54 were also in attendance finishing 86thout of 107 finishing teams. Led off by Jason Hill’s pb of 21.45 (73rd), Club Chair Nick Tawney 23.50 (81), John Knibb 22.34 (72) and Kevin Walpole 23.51 (74). The team was completed by 64 year old Dave Potter 25.51 (77) and late replacement Alex Montgomery 28.43.
RECENT COMMENTS