Macclesfield Ladies Master the Relays
The sun shining off the tarmac greeted us as we assembled for the British Masters Athletics Federation road relays held at Mallory Park motor racing circuit. Nestled in the Leicestershire countryside, but with excellent facilities and a very scenic setting, Mallory Park has become a wonderful new venue for these road races.
After a friendly debate as to whether it could actually make any difference if the timing chip was in your front or back number, the Macc Harriers contingent set off for a warm-up jog around the well-marked course. All races used the same 3 mile loop that wended its way up and down the smooth tarmac. There were no cats’ eyes to trip on, just many bits of rubber left where cars had screeched around the bends at high speed.
The morning has seen the older age groups compete, but now it was the turn of the youngsters: male and female V45s in our case, although several of us were V55s masquerading as 45s. This year we asked Sally Ann Hales to run up just the one ten year age group rather than the two she had bravely run up last time.
Kirsty Gill ran an excellent first leg bringing the team home in second place with a healthy gap over third. Her time of 19:36 also earned her the bronze medal for the third fastest leg of the day. Sue Stockdale ran a very well-paced leg in 20:45 to retain second place, handing over to Sally Ann Hales. Sally Ann called on all her many years experience but had to relinquish second place. She produced a comfortable finish in third, running a time of 22:45 which would have placed her ninth in the earlier W55 race. All in all, a great performance against nine of the best clubs from across the country.
Unfortunately, we could not field a complete men’s team but hope next year to try and at least match the ladies. We decided to run as an incomplete team and were able to provide great support for the ladies, dashing across the circuit to cheer them on at different locations. For the record: Matt Lynas (leg 1, 17:58), Gareth Stockdale (leg 2, 19:51), Ray O’Keefe (leg 3, 20:16).
Sunday also saw Masters competing around the country, most notably, Rob Whitby, representing England as part of the England Athletics Masters Road Running Initiative and running 75:22 in the AJ Ball Manchester Half Marathon. Matt Lynas moved off the roads and on to the track, to win the M55 10,000 m in 37:47 at the BMAF event in Oxford.
… and a date for your diary: this year’s Masters Cross-Country relays will be held on Saturday, 26 October at Long Eaton.
Matt
