Mercia Fell Runners Club

Rick Robson kindly took the first road junction marshalling spot for me this year, but mentally registered a spot of disgruntlement on the basis that I’d clearly allowed a hopeless false start as there was no way that this bloke in the green vest could possibly be that far ahead in the first 400 yards of the race, particularly as it was all downhill from the off…………………….

But in truth I’d done it properly, and although Robin Sedman-Smith could never be described as a slouch under any definition, he eventually had to accept second place by a margin of nearly two and a half minutes to this year’s winner and new course record holder Tom Humphries of Cannock and Stafford. Will Levett set his course record of 18.06 at the very first running of this event back in 2004, and only Mike James of Shrewsbury has ever previously finished in the 18 minutes and something category. So hats off, Tom, your 17.56 could be in the record books for a few years to come. Enjoy the Champagne, you deserved it!

Meanwhile, the rest of the field battled it out in gloomy, damp conditions, hardly the usual Steeplechase weather.

Anna Bartlett snapped the ladies prize again in a highly creditable 22.57(14th overall), and it was good to see first timer Heather Streetly pick up the LV40 prize. The resumed Haydn Jones/Graham Jones dust up gave Haydn a 12 second advantage, an unusually large gap between these two.

It was impressive to see the first 21 runners all back within 24 minutes, and those that took longer were equally wrapped up in their own battles for time.

I apologise if the presentations were a little delayed, but this didn’t seem to affect the Telford Harriers contingent who behaved encouragingly noisily in their Pews (indeed their own Pugh winning a ladies vet prize).

There might be a break from this event for a year or so, I’ll have to see. But in the meanwhile, thanks to all the Sheinton residents who donated such great prizes, the runners for being such a good natured crowd, residents again for your helping out on the night, and good old Keith & Pauline Richards who are always on hand for any running crisis regardless of its nature.

Three cheers for humanity!

Grahame Hughes
5 May 2010