Starting at Hatton Locks the runners followed the towpath of the Grand Union Canal towards Hatton before leaving it at the first road bridge to join the road and head towards Hatton Country World which they passed and continued past Nunhold Farm until they turned left onto the footpath that lead past Home Farm and so on to Hampton on the Hill where a left turn into the Budbrooke Road which lead downhill to the minor lane and so back to the canal which was gained at Ugly Bridge. A short run took the runners to the finish climbing up the magnificent locks to the finish.
Three records were beaten on the evening with Breenan Lively taking the senior men’s course record with a superb run in 30.45 minutes. Karen Halls beat the senior ladies record with a run in 34.20 minutes and Mary Joyce broke the ladies veterans record with a time of 37.00 minutes.
Stan Alexander retained the overall series lead with 286 points despite Keith Blake’s magnificent run which has narrowed the gap to a mere 5 points and so it is all to run for in the last race to be held at Baginton on the 18th August next. Kerry Waine beat his handicap by the greatest amont and so gained the maximum 50 points.
After 7 races the group positions are as follows:-
GROUP RUNNER POINTS
A David Wheatley 233
A Bob Griffiths 202
A Denise Cheetham 201
B Keith Blake 280
B Nick Gilbert 234
B Mary Joyce 225
C Brennan Liveley 268
C Julian Tombs 257
C Ruth Barnes 20
18/08/04
Bagington Bender - Summer League
Under dark rain burdened clouds no less than 44 members of Kenilworth runners met at the Bagington Oak public House to take part in the 8th and last race in what has been a most exciting series and one in which there was to be a final twist.
14 runners waited for this race to play their jokers, which doubles their points total for the one race, for this was the shortest course of only 3.5 miles, and because it was ideally suited to a fast time. Starting outside the Bagington Oak the course followed the left turn towards Bubbenhall passing downhill over Bubbenhall Bridge and so onto the Lane that leads to the Coventry Road where at Tantara Lodge it turns right and after about half a mile turns right again at, on the night, the aptly named ‘Cloud Bridge’ onto the road to Bagington which offered the first climb before finishing outside the Bagington Oak.
As a result of the evenings wet run, and jokers played, most of the positions previously achieved changed with the ladies doing particularly well. Ruth Barnes who had a spectacular run of 20.44 minutes not only set the course record for the ladies but snatched the overall position by playing her joker and gaining the full 100 points, ending the series with 306 points in total. Denise Cheetham also had a superb run to take the ’A’ group title by knocking 16 seconds off her handicap to finish with 263 points.
Stan Alexander ended the series as ’B’ group leader by beating his handicap by 4 seconds and in the ’C’ group Brennan Lively finished in the lead with 278 points. Mick Morris at 72 years knocked 62 seconds off his handicap time and finished in second position in the ’A’ group.
The final group positions are as follows:-
GROUP RUNNER POINTS
A Denise Cheetham 263
A Mick Morris 258
A David Wheatley 242
B Stan Alexander 291
B Keith Blake 288
B John Woodrow 259
C Brennan Liveley 278
C Julian Tombs 276
C Ivan Holdsworth 268
20/08/04
Race the Train
12 members of Kenilworth Runners travelled to Wales to take part in the 14.75 mile cross country race. The name of the race defines the objective which is to beat a local train on the picturesque Talyllyn Railway in its journey from Abergynolwyn to Talyllyn .
Martin Dorrill lead the men in with a splendid run and Mary Joyce was the first of three ladies to finish.
The full results are as follows:-
| Name |
Position |
Time |
| Martin Dorrill |
9 |
1.32.31 |
| Patrick Noonan |
13 |
1.34.14 |
| Stan Alexander |
100 |
1.48.34 |
| Michael Williams |
143 |
1.53.09 |
| Richard Steel |
188 |
1.56.01 |
| Mary Joyce |
226 |
1.58.47 |
| Emily Beachem |
238 |
2.00.04 |
| Steve Jones |
261 |
2.02.37 |
| Jane Pithie |
571 |
2.34.15 |
| Kerry Waine |
572 |
2.34.17 |
| Hella Goodmanson |
620 |
2.43.20 |
| John Jones |
652 |
2.56.23 |
Thursday 7th August