South of England Road Relays – Aldershot - 28 - 29 September 2002

The winter road racing and cross country season got under way at the weekend as senior and young athletes teams contested the South of England road relays at Rushmoor Arena, Aldershot.

The senior men’s Six Stage event set the scene for a good winter season when the senior men fielded two full teams in the Southern Road Relay for the first time for many years, with the welcome return to action of club 800m & 1500m record holder Des English. Although still not able to finish in the top twenty teams to qualify for the National event nearly everyone who competed produced a personal best time for the course with the returning English and Gavin Maley both running under 20 minutes.

A Team (41^st of 91 teams starting)

Rob Dickenson - 20m.16s; Des English 19m.30s; Gavin Maley 19m.38s; Rob Warner 21m.07s; Andrew Hunter 22m.00s; Martin Heys 22m.46s.

B Team (52^nd)

Graham Pritchard 20m.31s; Neill Collins 21m.38s; Gary Howard 22m.19s; Martin Chester 21m.35s; Trevor Keys 22m.25s; Ian Mulley 21m.45s.

The senior women’s four-stage team also performed well, although also outside the top 20 (46^th of 64). Laurie Cossey carved over a minute off her best time for the course (14:41) and she was supported well by Faye Powell (18:57), and veterans Lesley Felton (15:04) and Ruth O’Sullivan (17:34).

Of the young athletes teams in action the under 15 girls trio of Vicky Smith, Katie Richardson and Lauren Clark were best placed in seventh of the 57 teams who started. Katie’s opening leg of 11:26 proved to be 14^th fastest. Lauren Clark’s 12:11 leg kept the team in contention before Vicky Smith’s 11:35 anchor (19^th fastest overall) brought the team home 7^th.

The under13 girls also recorded a top ten finish as Amie Adams (9:20), Clare Robinson (9:18)and Ingrid Deane (9:11) came home in eighth of the 49 teams.  The under 17 girls team of Carmel Munson (13:07) , Natalie Adams (12:07) and Ria Lyons (12:09) just missed out on a top ten placing as they ended up 12^th.

The under 15 boys – Ashley Reece, Christian Newton and Martyn Chambers were unable to complete a team, due to the late withdrawal of Ross Clarke, following a rugby injury.