Leamington C&AC pip Coventry Godiva to claim Track & Field promotion place

Determination to compete in every event, along with inspired performances from several individuals meant Leamington won the final meeting in Solihull to pip big-city rivals Coventry Godiva to the second promotion place by half a point.

The result was a fitting finale for team manager Marion Childs who is stepping down after ten years in the post.

Josh Guest led the way with a winning high jump clearance of 1.90m, while Phil Gould’s two years of hard work paid off as he finally broke the two-minute barrier in the 800m (1.59.9).

Laura Clarke came close to besting her 400m time, while Mary Donaldson was runner-up in a hard-fought shot put competition and Rebecca Kitching, who recently returned to competition after several years out, finished second in the pole vault (2m 40cm).

Meanwhile, after a long, slow recovery from injury, Leamington C&AC’s Sue Harrison made a return to the racing scene in a low-key trail race at Coalport, near Telford.

The Railway Ultra offered runners the chance to run varying distances from nine to 38 miles along the route of a disused railway, with Harrison taking on the 19-mile option.

Harrison aimed to run a steady pace to test the progress of her recovery and was satisfied with a time of 2hr 2min 55sec, which put her first lady and fourth overall out of 36 finishers.

The 19-mile race was won by Paul Wass in 2:09:34.

Seventeen Spa Striders headed over to Hook Norton to run the beautiful and undulating Hooky 6.

Paul Edwards was first back in a time of 36:37 for 11th position, followed by Andrew Bonjour (39:14).

Carolyn Wilkinson (39:37) led the ladies home in third position overall and first V45.

Fiona Edwards was next across the line with a time of 43:13 followed closely by Clare Hinton (43:47).

Graham Garlick clocked 40:16 for 38th to lead home the Leamington C&AC quartet, with Paul Okey 20 seconds and four places back and Nick Tawney (42:52) just pipping his wife Susie (42:58).

Richard Broadbent was the leading Kenilworth Runner in 55th position in a time of 42:07, with clubmate Louise Andrews third LV35 in 42:27.

Tom Dable finished 176th in 53:09 and Pauline Dable was 199th and first LV65 in 56:57.

There were 244 finishers and the race was won by James Bolton of Woodstock Harriers in 32:25.

Selected others (Spa Striders unless stated): 43, Simon Parsons (40:38); 58, Hartwig Busch (42:12); 80, Clive Parpworth (43:33); 100, Matt Leydon (45:12); 111, Adam Newton (46:16); 116, Anne Hurrell (46:43); 120, Doug Rattray (46:50); 137, Hannah Smith (49:06); 162, Amanda Wiggins (51:43); 179, Claudine Piper (53:23); 202, Dave Lithgow (57:14); 217, Gary Perkins (60:00).

Kenilworth Runners’ Mark Alldritt finished 553rd in the Rock n Roll Dublin Half Marathon in a time of 1:38:04.

The race was won by Craig Ruddy of Belgrave Harriers in 1:09:40.