Well done to everyone who ran at Stratford on Saturday, it was great conditions for cross country with the temperature rising a bit from recent days, and pretty dry and firm underfoot. A course that could best be described as “undulating” was certainly challenging, but I thought was a great setting and made for interesting racing. Only 3 weeks had elapsed since Newbold, and Massey men had another good turnout of 33 men on the start line. Once again the ladies led us out with another strong showing of around 20 runners, and some excellent performances: keep up the great work ladies.
It was tough start up the first hill that seemed to go on and on, and a few more to follow as well as some long downhill sections, and the odd anthill to dodge, but very little mud which was nice. There were a few casualties throughout the field, and unfortunately we lost Gary Lawson and Brian Boyle, as well as Jerry Trill who pulled up towards the end but managed to finish the race. Another strong performance for Pete Freedman finishing 9th overall, and well done to Miguel Gomez who only joined us last month having moved to Coventry to study at Warwick Uni. Miguel has had to move back home to Spain, but co-ordinated a trip back to collect some of his stuff so he could run for Massey in the cross country: outstanding commitment! He is also planning to come back in February, and has been taken in by the Massey Ferguson spirit! Also a big well done to Paul Hulland who made the top 6 in only his second run for Massey in the Birmingham League, fantastic effort.
Special mention for all the improvers in the second race: Dean Clarke (12 positions), Simon Brown (2), Simon Neale (10), Jose Luis Sanchez (4), Paul Hulland (25), Steve Mumford (5), Dave Lee (19), Dean Semple (19), Marc Skelton (14), Pete Paprcka (6), Alan McDougall (10), Martin Smith (36), Leighton Jackson (19), Martin Judge (15), Ian O’Donnell (25), Graham Patton (14), James Padvis (28), Phillip Sellars (37), Daniel Connolly (36). And leading by example, I managed to improve by 5 places!
Overall Massey ‘A’ were down 40 points from the first race, affected by a couple of injuries, and finished 10th, but have moved up to 8th overall in the series. Stratford are within our sights in 7th position, with CLC Striders and Tamworth breathing down our necks. The ‘B’ Team had another strong showing, finishing 5th and bunching well with only 24 positions between 7th and 12th. The ‘B’ Team is comfortably 6th in the series, with 5th position within sight.
Once again there was some brilliant support for Massey Ferguson around the course, and a tremendous roar at the finish line. Thank you to everyone who supported, and of course all the volunteers who make it happen on the day, particularly Derek Burns. And of course another special mention for our Massey Ferguson centurions, Graham Patton and Dave Clarke who completed their 100th Birmingham League race for the club on Saturday: an incredible achievement that shows true commitment to the club. Dave and Graham have actually both ran more than 100 races overall, having both ran for other clubs in the past, but this is the first time anyone has reached this landmark for Massey Ferguson.
I hope everyone had a great day, and evening at the party: tired legs still made it on the dance floor. 6 weeks now to the next race in Telford on 14th January, keep up the training and have a fantastic Christmas and New Year.
Cheers
Ross – Men’s Captain
9 221 35:13 Peter Freedman A Team
38 222 37:50 Miguel Gomez M
50 210 38:34 Dean Clarke
75 226 39:47 John Hosie
100 213 40:51 Ross Cooper
109 228 41:19 Paul Hulland
112 240 41:33 Simon Neale B Team
115 209 41:43 Dave Clarke
116 206 41:44 Simon Brown
128 253 42:10 Jose Luis Sanchez
132 241 42:30 Jason Nicholson
136 261 42:55 Jeremy Trill
154 239 44:08 Steve Mumford
159 234 44:20 Dave Lee
164 256 44:35 Dean Semple
169 259 45:12 Richard Taylor
182 224 46:19 Kevin Hinson
189 257 46:53 Marc Skelton
195 245 47:17 Peter Paprcka
199 258 47:45 Martin Smith
200 237 47:47 Alan McDougall
209 229 49:06 Leighton Jackson
218 230 51:24 Martin Judge
219 242 51:44 Ian O’Donnell
226 214 52:45 Leon Coppola
232 244 54:52 James Padvis
235 246 55:43 Graham Patton
238 255 56:31 Philip Sellars
240 211 57:01 Daniel Connolly
245 223 64:37 Dave Goodwin
247 249 77:05 Dave Phillips
DNF Gary Lawson
DNF Brian Boyle
A Team
1 Leamington C & AC 2 4 11 12 18 37 84
2 University of Warwick AC 6 17 19 21 26 33 122
3 Worcester AC 7 10 29 41 49 59 195
4 Trentham RC 3 20 22 43 46 63 197
5 Dudley & Stourbridge Harriers 27 28 31 44 73 94 297
6 Telford AC 1 14 35 62 82 123 317
7 Tamworth AC 8 15 55 60 86 99 323
8 Stratford upon Avon AC 16 34 51 58 87 108 354
9 Bournville Harriers 24 30 32 90 91 95 362
10 Massey Ferguson RC 9 38 50 75 100 109 381
11 C.L.C. Striders RC 13 23 36 72 125 146 415
12 Northbrook AC 25 45 71 77 93 124 435
13 Gloucester AC 5 61 78 92 107 158 501
14 Dudley Kingswinford RC 54 88 98 118 119 122 599
15 Amazing Feet RC 39 53 74 130 135 173 604
16 Sparkhill Harriers 79 81 101 111 144 161 677
Staffordshire Moorlands AC dns
B Team
1 Leamington C & AC 40 42 48 52 56 69 307
2 Worcester AC 64 66 67 68 89 96 450
3 University of Warwick AC 47 57 65 84 103 105 461
4 Trentham RC 70 76 80 83 85 117 511
5 Massey Ferguson RC 112 115 116 128 132 136 739
6 Bournville Harriers 110 114 120 121 150 165 780
7 Stratford upon Avon AC 134 141 143 148 156 175 897
8 Northbrook AC 131 139 145 153 160 178 906
9 Tamworth AC 126 133 168 176 184 243 1030
10 Sparkhill Harriers 162 170 187 188 193 212 1112
11 Dudley Kingswinford RC 149 181 191 196 202 204 1123
12 C.L.C. Striders RC 152 157 171 216 217 220 1133
Senior Men Series Points Match 1 Match 2 Match 3 Match 4 Total BestOf2
A Team
1 Leamington C & AC 116 84 200
2 University of Warwick AC 116 122 238
3 Worcester AC 147 195 342
4 Trentham RC 191 197 388
5 Dudley & Stourbridge Harriers 264 297 561
6 Bournville Harriers 220 362 582
7 Stratford upon Avon AC 311 354 665
8 Massey Ferguson RC 341 381 722
9 Tamworth AC 456 323 779
10 C.L.C. Striders RC 381 415 796
11 Northbrook AC 482 435 917
12 Gloucester AC 566 501 1067
13 Dudley Kingswinford RC 723 599 1322
14 Amazing Feet RC 756 604 1360
15 Telford AC 1075 317 1392
16 Sparkhill Harriers 827 677 1504
Staffordshire Moorlands AC dns dns 0
B Team
1 Leamington C & AC 333 307 640
2 University of Warwick AC 444 461 905
3 Worcester AC 521 450 971
4 Trentham RC 613 511 1124
5 Bournville Harriers 564 780 1344
6 Massey Ferguson RC 720 739 1459
7 Stratford upon Avon AC 978 897 1875
8 Tamworth AC 919 1030 1949
9 Northbrook AC 1056 906 1962
10 Dudley Kingswinford RC 1018 1123 2141
11 Sparkhill Harriers 1182 1112 2294
12 C.L.C. Striders RC 1225 1133 2358