Medals Galore

Written by David Jones on 27/06/2024. Posted in News

Paula Williams being presented with the MMAC President’s award 23-24 and her new chain of office as President of the MMAC.
Oh and she won 5 gold medals!

A quieter week this week, which from a selfish point of view is quite welcome.

A handful of our vet’s T&F squad were in action at the Midland Masters Championships last weekend, with gold medals for Mark Reynolds and Phil Brennan, a silver medal for Jan Mclure and 5 golds for Paula Williams. Paula also collected her chain of office as the new President of Midland Masters Athletic Club.

Another handful of members competed in the Leamington Half with Ben Kruze the overall race winner with an almost 3 minute margin separating him from the second placed runner. Phil Reading, Matt Burdus-Cook and James Cottriall also finished in the top 20. Maisie-Joy Spriggs was 1st U20 female finisher, some 15 minutes ahead of the 2nd placed runner in that category.

Kete Sergent was out doing what Kate Sergent does, competing in another challenging event. This time it was the delightfully named Umbourne Ug 10k.

Meanwhile Huw Crosweller was supporting a friend as the friend completed the Bob Graham Round. This starts and finishes at Moot Hall in Keswick and consists of 42 peaks, 66miles, 27,000ft climbing and 24hrs within which to complete it. His friend finished in 23hrs 15minute. The things some people do.

Next week we should have a combined report on last weekend’s Heart of England and Combined Events meetings.

Take care.

David Jones

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Mark Reynolds topped the podium in the long jump.

Phil Brennan on his way to 800m gold

Racewalkers Jan McLure and Paul Hawkins

Midland Masters Championships
Pingles Stadium
23rd June

Report – Paula Williams

The weather was booked and temperature was up last Sunday at Pingles as masters athletes from across the Midlands and beyond assembled to do their thing on the track and in the field.

Stratford AC were represented by 6 athletes at the champs:
Paul Hawkins, Jan McLure, Phil Brennan, Brian Gravelsons, Mark Reynolds and myself.

Other Stratford masters athletes had entered, however due to injury and other trains couldn’t attend. So we missed: Elaine Ledden, Mark Illingworth, David Jones ……

Paul and Jan put in great performances in 2k walk in the heat. Paul and Jan kicked off the competition as the first event in the track was the 2k racewalk with Jan winning herself a silver medal. Unfortunately Paul who had been ill for almost a month prior was dq’d. Paul himself commented “I had my usual knee problem (unable to lock it straight), however it was Jan’s first judged A race. Although she was very nervous she walked very well to claim a silver medal and should be pleased. She thinks that she can do better. I’m sure she can too”.

Brian and Mark were together in their 100m sprint. Brian has been strategic about his training to date and ran a season’s best as did Mark who was in action again later in the day. Mark long jumped his way to a gold medal and another season’s best.

Phil Brennan had entered the 800m and the 1500m – utter madness in the heat on Sunday. A great performance in the 800m led to two things. A gold medal and the sense to scratch the 1500m. Well done Phil. Most wise as the temperature was creeping towards sauna level.

I was testing out my achilles from my injury back in March. I am happy with the way it tolerated my attempts at javelin, discus, shot put, 100m and 80mh. My hurdles had to be run twice as the first run had the final flight of hurdles in the wrong mark – stuff happens…meh!

Anyway 5 golds and no pain – happy P and time to start speed training.

My day was topped off by being presented with the MMAC President’s award 23-24 and my new chain as President of MMAC.

Always a lovely competition with some great results for the club. Well done SAC.

.

Race winner Ben Kruze

Maisie-Joy Spriggs on her way to finishing as 1st U20 female

Maisie-Joy’s Race

Report – Maisie-Joy Spriggs

I forget that I had entered the Leamington Half Marathon until I got the email reminder with 17 days to go meaning I really didn’t do any training for it.

I wasn’t going for any time or position in particular, I just wanted to use it as a training run. To be honest, it was a hard race and I just had to keep thinking about getting to the next mile but I was very pleased with the outcome.

I finished the race in an hour and 33 minutes after some long uphills and I can understand what people mean when they said the course was undulating.

I was also the first U20.

Maisie-Joy Spriggs, Ben Kruze, Matt Burdus-Cook and James Cottriall

Leamington Half Marathon

Some 1600 runners completed last weekend’s Leamington Half, a race that was won by our very own Ben Kruze in a time of 1:11.10, almost 3 minutes ahead of the next placed runner.

Phil Reading was 9th in 1:20.33, Matt Burdus-Cook 13th in 1:21.04 and completing our 4 top 20 finishers was James Cottriall in 16th place with a time of 1:21.24.

Maisie-Joy Spriggs was 1st female U20 in 107th place with a time of 1:33.17. MJ was a full 15 minutes ahead of the next placed runner in this category.

Other sof our club members that I spotted in the results were Nigel Chidgey (405th – 1:47.55) and Olivia Hands (866th – 2:03.06)

Kate Sergent posing !

Umborne Ug

Report – Kate Sergent

Having run this demanding but delightful off road trail 10 k last year I decided that as I loved it so much that I’d run it again.

It is organised by Axe Valley Runners, (proceeds for the village hall) the organisers of the famous Grizzly and it is nearly all trail with 900 feet of ascent!

There are only about 150 participants mostly Axe Valley club runners and various other local groups mostly I have to say were highly experienced runners, so I was well out of my depth but that didn’t faze me!

I just loved it last year as the course is stunning but I did decide when I was all alone in the forest that I may not repeat it next year!!

It takes in a big section of the Widworthy Estate and the views are amazing.

I battled up the hills and tried to stay upright on the trails. I wasn’t last and I got a massive cheer from the crowd when I eventually finished about the same time as last year and there was a big shout from the race commentator for the Stratford runner!!

Huw Crosweller and views from the top of Kirk Fell.

A wee trip to the Lakes

Report – Huw Crosweller

For those of you who know about fell running or have read books such as Feet in the Clouds will no doubt have heard of the Bob Graham Round.

Start and finishing at Moot Hall in Keswick, It consists of 42 peaks, 66miles, 27,000ft climbing and 24hrs within which to complete it.

You can decide when to go, what time to start and which way round you travel. It’s just as much about completing it as having camaraderie and support of your fellow runners along the way.

Approx 1 in 3 attempts are successful in gaining club membership. Since 1960 there are approx 2818 successful attempts.

My job this weekend was to support my friend, Dave, in his attempt. Dave runs for Clayton Le-Moors who have a rich history with the BG.

After a short sleep in the campervan Friday night we woke at 1:30am to chow down some porridge and womble to Root Hall for 2:30am start.

Meeting the first of his support runners we headed off on time, in the dark and drizzle clockwise making our way up to Skiddaw.

Safely seen through leg 1 ( 3 peaks bagged) and completing the first change over I waved goodbye to Dave and his new support crew as they headed off on leg 2. My job now was road crew support along with his wife Jo.

Road crew consists of ferrying runners to the right handover points and back to their cars after they’ve finished their legs, plus making sure Dave had what he needed, changing socks, sorting out blisters and anything else required.

My running duty then resumed around 9pm as I supported Dave on the final section of the day leg 5. 3 more peaks in the dark and a run into Keswick. He finished in 23hrs 15mins.

Very inspiring and it’s now tickled my fancy even more to give it a go. I even plodded out to reccie the end of leg 4 on Sunday morning in the glorious sunshine going out from Honister Pass to Pillar and back.

If anyone is interested, a few people in the club have already said they are interested and we have a little WhatsApp group going.

Medals Galore

Midland Masters Championships Pingles Stadium 23rd June

Midland Masters Championships
Pingles Stadium
23rd June