Sports City, Manchester
Sunday 24 September 2022
Cameron Bell
Sunday’s race involved 2 mind-numbing laps around Manchester’s more successful football ground in recent years (sorry Keith), as well as it’s equally riveting car park. After a few last minute unfortunate cases of covid, nearly 4 full mens teams journeyed to Manchester. Special mention to Alex who travelled all the way to try and run, only to get rebuffed by the officials. I think we can all agree however, Alex did a great job of cheerleader ! 2, 4, 6, 8, who do we appreciate? and so on. Mens A: In what is often considered a baptism of fire into the winter grind, the Northern Road Relays got off to a harrowingly quick start, with Hugo Milner of Derby posting a first mile split of 4:23. Somewhere in Hugo’s dust, I brought the A team back in 6th place passing the responsibility onto Connor Milnes. Fuelled by the rage of being blanked by the Leeds athlete in the waiting pen, Connor produced a fantastic run, fighting elbow to elbow (almost literally) to keep pace with the current Yorkshire XC champ. Connor returned the team in the silver medal spot (20:05). Next up James McCrae, who stepped up last minute to the A team, ran a strong leg to keep the team in the medals at halfway (21:00) Kudos to James for producing a “McCrazy” run – over four times his preferred distance. Mr “I’m top of the fantasy football league”, Andy Heyes, then showed his class, really putting some distance into Blackburn, to return the team to second place with a healthy gap to the third (19:59). Fuelled by his vegan superpowers, Tommy P, opened his winter with a strong run to cement the teams position in the silver medal spot (20:36). On his world renowned glory leg, Euan Brown produced a typically “unspursy” performance, finishing in a strong and composed fashion to hold off the National 5000m champ from Blackburn, and in turn winninng Hallamshire’s first (silver) medal in living memory at this event (20:14).
Men’s B team: On his welcome return to racing in the famous red vest, Bertie had a great run to bring the B team home in 24th (20:52). A strong start in the teams bid for a place at the nationals in a fortnight’s time. Alex Mason, swapping the beautiful hills and trails of the north… for laps of a car park – had a strong run to start his winter season, bringing the team up to 20th (21:19). A product of the north west, in the form of Jed Bartlett, gave the B team a surge up into the top 12, overtaking 8 runners on his way to a very solid 20:51 performance. Mr Consistent, John Birch was next to toe the line. By now, everyone knows what to expect from John, and he didn’t disappoint – displaying a perfect example of self-pacing to return the team home in 13th (21:09). Big D (David Lewis), a man who loves Hallamshire with every bone of his body (I’m convinced would literally die for the club) had a typically gutsy run, to move the team up into the top 10 (21:25). Nice work on those wide sweeping corners Dave. To bring the team home, Jonny Crickmore, running in some red shorts (naughty boy) had a really impressive run, showing great strength to bring the B team home in an impressive 10th (20:41). Two teams in the top 10 at northerns really shows the strength in depth we have at Hallamshire at the minute – a good sign for the future.
C Team: The C team, would have also qualified for the nationals with their final position of 25th. However, only two teams from each club are eligible to move on. Nonetheless this shows Hallamshire’s domination of the north (apart from Leeds, has to be said – one day boys… one day). Full to the brim of inspiration from the world class John Egan (Ireland’s new prolific centre back). Keiron Sexton got the team off to a good start. Like James, racing much further than he likes to, Keiron brought the team back in 50th place (22:00). Another of our international imports, in the form of Wyatt Hill, took to the stage next. Wyatt had a great run, overtaking 9, to return the team home in 41st (22:08). Matching his time, fresh off a successful summer fell season and some tasty New England kit, Ben Sharrock gained a further 4 places at the halfway mark (22:08). The fastest two legs of the C team came from Toby Antcliff and Hugh Mackie (21:46 and 21:32 respectively). Over these two legs, the pair racked up another 13 overtakes, a feat even Lewis Hamilton would be chuffed with. The anchor leg to bring the team home fell to Christian Battersby. Now juggling training with a medicine degree, Christian had a great run to bring the team home in 25th (22:38). D team: Craig Fishwick, racing over a distance which resembles about 50% of his summer weekly mileage, started his winter really strongly – using his recent gym gainz to bring the team home in 77th (23:05). Luke Townsend, who had to put his beloved ties to Blackburn to one side for the day, had a good run the maintain the teams position (23:55). His good friend and ginger comrade, Sam Kenmore, then had a great run, over taking the most of any HH athlete on the day, to push the team up into 60th place (22:40). For those who cant be arsed to do the maths – that’s a whopping 17 places. Joshua Panthradil started his winter strongly, putting to use all those summer sessions at Lodge Moor to good use, to maintain the teams position just outside the top 60 (24:17). Up on the fifth and last leg for the D team was Pete hodges. A last minute step up, Pete had a good run to help the team finish 63rd with a leg to go (24:42).
Another one of Pete’s stellar performances involved keeping Keith none the wiser to the upcoming evening’s event, despite literally living under the same roof for the last few weeks. Lastly, I think I vouch for everyone in saying a massive thank you to Keith and Susie for being a huge part of a lot of our lives for all this time. Sunday night gave us a great opportunity to celebrate Keith and Susie’s involvement in the club and show our gratitude for everything they’ve done for us all. From their countless hours on the road (often just to watch us slog it out in the pissing rain), to Susie’s legendary Thanksgivings meals and photography skills, they will be sorely missed. There really aren’t words to sum up how important Keith has been and will continue to be, both to the group and to many as individuals. Good luck in your French adventure and thank you for everything.
Cam