It was mission accomplished and in some style as Kenilworth Runners dominated the 2011 Warwickshire Road Race League (WRRL). The Men’s Team scored the maximum possible score (120) in the senior and veterans categories to win the team competition; the senior men filled the top three in the individual competition and took first place in three of the five age categories. The ladies team played their part in a most successful campaign with three individual third place finishes in their respective age groups.

At the end of 2010, Kenilworth Runners’ Men’s Captain Phil Gould stated his intention to make the 2011 WRRL a priority for 2011. The nine race series began in April with the Regency 10k and ended in October with the Rugby 10 mile race. The league incorporated the cream of local road races, including the phenomenally popular Two Castles 10k race, and the longest race in the league - the Kenilworth Half Marathon. The shortest race was the BRAT 5km race held in Birmingham in July. In both team and individual competitions, it was the best six results from the nine races which counted.

Richard Simkiss was the overall league champion; clocking two victories and four second positions to crown another excellent season. He was followed by team mate Phil Gould and Connor Carson, who also dominated the V40 category with a perfect score of six victories. Mick Williams was second in the V50 category and the club showed its strength across the generations with Tom Dable winning the V60 category and Arthur Smith taking the V70 title. Moreover, Andrew Holbrook finished third in the V40 category and Clive Pearce had an excellent run of results to finish fourth in the same age group.

The ladies team also had a solid campaign with Ros Matthews finishing seventh overall and third in the LV35 category; Sarah Stein finished third in the Senior category and Pauline Dable was third in the LV55 age group.

There were also numerous examples of fine performances from members of Kenilworth Runners who were unable to compete in enough races to be placed highly in the overall league standings, including top ten race finishes from Andrew Siggers, Stuart Hopkins, Matthew Kingston-Lee and Jim Sawle.

Attentions of the club are now focused on the cross country season and in particular the Birmingham League Cross Country which commences this coming weekend at Leamington. The men are hoping to improve on their twelfth position in Division One in 2010/11 and the ladies are looking to improve on a promising campaign last year in the Midlands League.

For full race results from the 2011 WRRL, visit http://www.warwickshirecountyaa.co.uk/wrrl_site/index.htm