SEAA 12 Stage Relays - Sunday 5th  April, 2009.

The 12 stage relays returned to Milton Keynes this year and back to the normal course last ran in 2006.  The weather was fair and unusually for this venue, not too much wind.

With most of the  6 stage A-team out through reasons X, Y and Z the Mission was  to qualify in the top 25 A-teams for the finals at Sutton Park.  With 57 teams expected this could be a tough day - and it didn’t disappoint!

Alistar Lindsey running his first relay for us was in at the deep end with the first leg.  He did well with a nice solid run under high pressure and ran the team’s fastest long of the day with 26.04 and in 20th place.

Matthew Lewis ran next, taking a break from marathon preparation, and ran a great effort with the second fastest short leg for the team keeping the team in contention with 25th place.

Jack Bancroft took over from Matthew and ran a typically hard effort to hold on to 25th place in 27.09.

Pete Darton was next off and as usual did not let us down keeping us in the running with a 19.46 and 28th place.

Eliot Haimes ran the fifth leg and despite recent injury troubles kept us in 28th with 28.05.

Andrew Deamer put superb effort in with the team’s fastest short leg of the day of 19.07 and again the team were still in 28th place.

Tim Hawkins who is also in the middle of preparation for the Edinburgh Marathon came along to run the 7th leg and ran the team’s second quickest long leg in 27.02 and 27th.

 Dave Stanfield took a break from Newsletter Editor duties and ran a solid 20.50 keeping the team in with a shout in 28th place.

Jon Gilling was off for the 9th leg and snatched back one place to bring the team to 27th with a time of 27.56.

Our next runner had not ran relays for well over a decade [maybe two?].  Jon Rowe certainly remembered that 110% is required and held on to 27th with 21.09.

Team Manager Jon James took the responsibility for leg 11 and even with continuing injury concerns kept the team in 27th with 27.05.

Anchor leg man was Simon Prior and another athlete returning from injury coped well with the pressure of the last leg to hold on to 27th place with 20.51mins.  After he crossed the line he was handed what we were hoping for - the 25th A-team spot.

The team finished 27th but two teams ahead were not A-teams and so we were 25th A-team.

Well done to all the team on a great effort.

1st      Belgrave Harriers A                              4:09.53

2nd     Aldershot Farnham & District                 4:13.47

3rd     Woodford Green                                   4:17.28

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27th Wells City Harriers                              4:44.15