Cross Country Results 2003/2004:

Saturday 24th February	National Championships - Temple Newsam, Leeds
Saturday 14th February	Gloucester League - Droitwich
Saturday 7th February	Birmingham League - Burbage Common
Saturday 24th January	Midlands Championships - Newbold Comyn
Saturday 10th January	Birmingham League - Gloucester
Saturday 3rd January 2004	Warwickshire Championships - Sutton Park
Saturday 6th December	Gloucester League - Gloucester - Prince of Wales Stadium
Saturday 29th November	Birmingham League - Malvern
Saturday 22nd November	Gloucester League - Gloucester, Plock Court
Saturday 1st November	Birmingham League - Senneleys Park
Saturday 18th October	Gloucester League - Dursley
Saturday 4th October 2003	Midlands Cross Country Relays - Wreake

21/02/04 National X-Country Champs - Temple Newsam, Leeds

Ten members of Kenilworth Runners travelled to Leeds to take part in the final race of the cross country season - the National Championships which was held this year at Temple Newsam House. The organisers had prepared a challenging course to test the runners!. The ladies course was a two lap event measuring 8 kilometres, then the final race of the day, the senior men's race was 11.9 kilometres, in which over 1400 took part.

Both courses took full advantage of the terrain. The start of the race lay at the bottom of a valley which meant a very stiff climb up to a ridge opposite Temple Newsam House, giving a brief view of the finish line some laps distant. Then there was the mud......this year's event demanded strength and endurance from all competitors.

The ladies team were lead in by Rebecca Kendall in 41 minutes and 16 seconds to give her a 200th position. She was followed by Jane McNally who also finished in a good position (373, in 48.29). Pauline was next (397, in 50.36) and the final team member Kristy Dable completed the scoring (443, in 57.51). The team finished in 51st position out of 54 teams and can be satisfied with this against such excellent opposition and on such a tough course.

The men's team were lead in by Wayne Oakes who had a superb run, only 9 minutes after the ultimate winner Glyn Tromans, finishing in 353rd position in 50 minutes and 17 seconds. He was followed by Julian Simpson who also had a good run to finish in 51.34 in 450th position. Mick Williams was next (471, 51.52) followed by Stefan Shillington (1292, 68.52), Richard Greenhalf (1321, 70.36) and the last counter, for the second week, Mick Morris (1376, 77.24) who still avoided the last place of the 1394 finishers. The six man team finished in the exalted position of 95th out of 116 teams a good performance against the best in England.

07/02/04 Birmingham League - Burbage Common

SAFE AT LAST! A superb collective effort by Kenilworth Runners 'A' team secured the Club's place in the 2nd Division of this highly competitive league for another season. Kenilworth Runners took 17 members to Burbage Common, Hinckley, to compete in the last race in this four race series knowing that nothing but their best would beat off the expected challenge from the teams just below them. In the end they produced a 5th place finish on the day to end up in a commendable 8th place. Given that after the first race at Senneley's Park Kenilworth Runners lay at the bottom of the league their recovery in the final three races has been remarkable. The 'B' team also put in an excellent performance to eclipse their faster colleagues by making third place on the day.
The three lap, six mile course, at Burbage Common was rather muddy due to the resent rains but being fairly flat was still conducive to fast running. The day was pleasant but cold with a strong blust Simpson in 31st place, Wayne Oaks in 44th, Mick Williams 52nd, Graham Birch 55th and Martin Dorrill made up the 6 man 'A' team. The other members were as follows:

RUNNER POSITION OVERALL TEAM

Mike Johnson 13 A
Julian Simpson 31 A
Wayne Oakes 44 A
Mick Williams 52 A
Graham Birch 55 A
Martin Dorrill 69 A

Pat Noonan 73 B
Lou Frondella 77 B
Roger Holmes 82 B
Richard Elliot 98 B
John McNally 101 B
Julian Tombs 109 B

John Dagnan 127
Colin Dooling 139
Richard Greenhalf 155
Mick Morris 166
Colin Britcher 167
Times of runners are not available.

Kenilworth Runners can now look forward with confidence to next season knowing that if they can field their normal 'A' team at each of the four races a higher position is achievable.

24/01/04 Midland Championships - Newbold Comyn

17 members of Kenilworth Runners took part in this annual race held at Newbold Comyn, Leamington Spa.
The day was cold but sunny and bright and underfoot conditions on the course were excellent for cross country running. The ladies ran a 6 kilometre race and the men 12 kilometres.
Sandy Pearman lead the Kenilworth ladies with a superb run in 28 minutes and 28 seconds with Mick Williams produced yet another sparkling cross country performance to lead the men with a time of 47 minutes and 08 seconds.. The times and positions (where available) of other runners were as follows:-
RUNNER TIME POSITION

MEN RUNNERS

Mick Williams 47.08 - 118
Graham Birch 48.40 - 156
Roger Homes 49.12 - 164
Richard Steel 50.30 - 203
John McNally 51.21 - 225
Stan Alexander 56.00 - N/A
John Dagnan 57.00 - N/A
Roland Smythe 58.09 - N/A
Barry Elkington 54.57 - N/A
Richard Greenhalf 60.11 - N/A
Stefan Shillington 62.10 - N/A
Mick Morris 68.59 - N/A
Colin Bricher 70.59 - N/A

N/A = Not available

LADY RUNNERS

Sandie Pearman 28.28 - 156
Jane McNally 28.32 - 158
Pauline Dable 28.58 -163
Kristy Dable 32.03 -184

10/01/03 Birmingham League Race 3 - Gloucester

On Saturday afternoon 15 members of Kenilworth Runners traveled to Gloucester to take part in the third race of the series. After two events Kenilworth lay in eleventh out of 13 teams who take part in one of the most competitive leagues in the Country and needed a superb performance from their six 'A' scoring runners to get out of this relegation position.
The event was held at Blackridge, Crypt School, Gloucester in mild conditions over a 6 mile, 3 lap course that followed the perimeter of the School fields with conditions quite excellent for fast running with mainly grass and very little mud despite the recent heavy rains.
The six 'A' team runners responded well to the demands on them, Mike Johnson set the example and finished first of the Kenilworth Runners with a magnificent run to be followed by Julian Simpson, Wayne Oakes, Graham Birch, Mike Williams and Roger Homes.
As a result Kenilworth Runners climbed out of the drop zone to 9th place overall. However with one race to come (at Nuneaton) a similar performance is required. The 2nd division of the league contains teams who have excellent, high quality runners, who on their day can be a match for any of the teams and with Kenilworth being only 41 points above the 'drop zone' it is essential that an identical performance is put in. None the less with the steady climb up the table from bottom position Kenilworth Runners are very optimistic of their chances of retaining their place and survival.

The final race in the series - at Nuneaton on the 7th February - will need as good as if not better commitment than at Gloucester to secure our position in the league.

Team Positions after Race 3

03/01/03 Warwickshire Championships - Sutton Park

A strong contingent of 17 members of Kenilworth Runners traveled to Sutton Park, Birmingham, to take part in the annual Championship Race.

The course measures 9.5 kilometres and is held in the pleasant open ground to the west of Sutton Park. It is mainly flat with firm going the course comprises four laps, the first being shorter than the other three which include a section through the broom which grows in this area.

Unfortunately individual runners times were not available but Wayne Oakes with and excellent run lead the Kenilworth group in followed by Julian Simpson, Mick Williams, Roger Homes, Martin Dorrill and Richard Steel. The other runners all had good runs.

Due to illness the Kenilworth's ladies were only able to field 3 runners on a bitter cold afternoon.

35 Zoe Greenhalf 40.46
47 Pauline Dable 44.13
63 Kristy Dable 53.16

06/12/03 Gloucester League Race 3- Cheltenham

Saturday saw a contingent of 16 members of Kenilworth Runners making the journey to Cheltenham for the third race of the Gloucestershire Cross Country League which was held in the pleasant surroundings of Pittville Park. The course lay around the perimeter of the Park and whilst not hilly had its inclines and a water obstacle on each lap.
In bright but cold and breezy conditions, the 5 Kenilworth ladies, 3 counting in scoring the team, completed their two lap 4 mile course. A little later they were followed by the 11 Kenilworth men in their 3 lap 6 mile race, 6 of whom made up the scoring team.
First home for the ladies was Jane McNally with a superb run to finish in 30 minutes 48 seconds. Pauline Dable was the next Kenilworth runner to finish in 32:15, followed by the third counter for the ladies team, Pam Wilkes (35:05), Sam Curry finished (37:21) and Kristy Dable (38:55).
In the men's race, Richard Elliot led the Kenilworth team home with a blistering run to finish in 34 minutes 46 seconds followed by Richard Steel (36:10). Next home for the team was Martin Smith (36:58) closely followed by Ivan Holdsworth, making his cross country debut for Kenilworth, in (37:04), fifth man home was John McNally (37:40) and Julian Tombs completed the scorers with a time of 39:09. Next home was Rich Greenhalf (43:51), then Stef Shillington (45:15). Colin Bricher (48:24) who finished just ahead of 70 year old Mick Morris (49:06)

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The ladies team for Cheltenham - Kristy Dable, Pam Wilkes, Sam Curry, Jane McNally and Pauline Dable

The final race of this league takes place at Droitwich on 14th February 2004

29/11/03 Birmingham League Race 2- Malvern

On Saturday with the rain pouring down 14 members of Kenilworth Runners traveled to Malvern to take part in the second of the Birmingham Cross Country League races. The clouds had past over by the time the race started and the sunshine came out to greet the runners on the pleasant Common at Malvern where the 4 lap 10 kilometre race was held.

The Common looks flat to the observer but contains a number of stiff inclines providing the course with four steep short climbs and four long inclines over difficult boggy ground. In compensation there are two nice downhill provided the tree routes are avoided!

This year Kenilworth Runners are competing in the tough 2nd Division of the league where the competition is fierce and the Club lay in the bottom (13th) position after the 1st race at Senneley's Park. Thus the mode of the Kenilworth contingent at Malvern was one of determination to improve the position and as a result of some excellent runs the club has now climbed a position to 12th and can hopefully look forward to further improvements in the last two events. Whilst league positions are based upon the combined placing of the first six runners known as the 'A' team there is also a 'B' team of six runners.

A' TEAM

32 Julian Simpson 37.04
38 Graham Birch 37.24
46 Mick Williams 37.50 e
52 Wayne Oakes 38.20 e
56 Pat Noonan 39.00 e
70 Richard Elliott 39.22

B' TEAM

77 Roger Homes 39.50
118 Julian Tombs 43.23
126 Simon Vine 44.00 e
157 Richard Greenhalf 49.36
160 Stef Shillington 50.55
164 Roger Wilkes 52.09

OTHERS

167 Mick Morris 55.40
168 Colin Bricher 56.00

e = estimated time

Results on the day:
1.Telford 91
2.Cheltenham 107
3.Solihull & Smallheath 204
4. Severn 221
5. Wolverhampton & Bilston 245
6. Cannock & Staffs 245
7.Bromsgrove & Redditch 256
8 Worcs.?
9 Rowheath ?
10 Kenilworth 294
11 Nuneaton 361
12 Chase 419
13 Gloucester 507

Overall:
1. Cheltenham 192
2. Telford 223
3. Cannock & Staffs 400
4. Severn 408
5 Wolverhampton & Bilston 496
6 Rowheath 536
7 Solihull 549
8 Bromsgrove & Redditch 642
9 Worcester 646
10 Nuneaton 651
11 Chase 668
12 Kenilworth 763
13 Gloucester 918

22/11/03 Gloucester League Race 2- Plock Court

On Saturday 11 members of Kenilworth Runners, 2 ladies and 9 men plus one guest, traveled to Gloucester to take part in the 2nd race in this excellent series of cross country races.

The venue was Plock Court near Gloucester where a three lap course took the runners around a flat but interesting 10 kilometre route. The ladies completed two of these laps making their distance about 4 miles. Despite the heavy rain in the preceding week and on the morning of the race conditions for the race were firm and ideal for an off-road event.

Richard Elliott lead the Kenilworth contingent in with a sparkling run to finish in 33 minutes and 42 seconds. For the ladies Rebecca Kendall also had a superb run to finish in 24 minutes and 16 seconds and whilst positions are not available as yet it is clear that she finished in the first 10 ladies.

On the day, we came:

Senior Men 9th of 11
Vet Men 4th of 11
Senior Ladies 4th of 9
Vet Ladies insufficient to count (only Pam Wilkes)

Which puts us OVERALL:

Senior Men 10th of 13
Vet Men 8th of 13
Senior Ladies 4th of 9
Vet Ladies 7th of 8

Individual Results: MEN

Richard Elliott 33.42
Richard Steel 35.39
Martin Smith 36.00
Julian Tombs 38.57
Richard Greenhalf 42.40
Stef Shillington 44.29
Roger Wilkes 47.37
Mick Morris 47.57
Colin Bricher 49.02

LADIES

Rebecca Kendall 24.16
Pam Wilkes 33.16

01/11/03 Birmingham League Race 1 - Senneleys Park

On Saturday 13 members of Kenilworth Runners traveled to Senneley's Park, Birmingham to take part in the first of four cross country events in the Birmingham Cross Country League. The league is divided into four divisions and last season Kenilworth Runners gained promotion to the very tough 2nd division. Normally each division runs its own races at different venues but the first event has traditionally brought all divisions to run together at Senneley's Park. The race is also used to host the Reebok Challenge an event where juniors and ladies also have their races. With so much going on it was not surprising that the senior men's race had an estimated 800 starters.

Despite lying in Birmingham near Bartley Green' Senneley's Park has a nice countryside feel to it and offers any race organiser plenty of scope to create an excellent 10 kilometre cross country course. No opportunity was missed by the course manager of Saturday's race for runners were treated to four laps of the boundaries of the Park the three longer ones including two water obstacles in the form of a stream. Despite the dry conditions on a course that had been a quagmire in previous years the stream was still fairly deep.

On a windy but very pleasant day Kenilworth Runners acquitted themselves well. The shorter 6 kilometre ladies race started ahead of the men's and in this race both the Kenilworth ladies had excellent runs with Sandy Pearman finishing in 31 minutes and 40 seconds with Jane McNally just behind her in 32.28. In the men's event Graham Birch lead Kenilworth Runners contingent in with a great run in 40 minutes and 2 seconds. He was followed by Richard Elliott (41.15), Mick Williams (41.50), Roger Homes (42.08), Richard Steel (45.07), Julian Tombs (46.05), Tom Dable (49.40), Richard Greenhalf (53.21), Stef Shillington (55.15), Roger Wilkes (56.27) and Mick Morris (59.36)

18/10/03 Gloucester Cross Country League Race 1 - Dursley.

On Saturday 15 members of Kenilworth Runners, 8 ladies and 7 men, traveled to Dursley in Gloucestershire to take part in the first of four Gloucester Cross Country League Race. The day started with Junior races and finished with a 6.5 kilometre two lap ladies race in which there approximately 70 runners and the three lap men's race in which approximately 140 runner took part. By the end of the day the excellent weather conditions had turned decidedly chilly with a strong cold wind blowing along the exposed parts of the course.

There are few more attractive places in this country than the venue of this race which started and finished in a field to the north of the town where the eye is immediately captured by the sheer magnificence of the surrounding countryside. With the green mounts of Peaked Down and Cam Long Down to the north and Folly Woods, with its ancient long barrow, to the south the scene is one to inspire the mind to great effort. However these blissful thoughts were not uppermost in Kenilworth Runners minds rather they were fixed upon the task immediately ahead of them which was to run over a course that would be far from easy and contained one stiff climb in every lap.

The races started in a picturesque green field from where it immediately goes downhill before turning sharp right to climb up a stiff incline to meet Folly Wood which is entered by a shady portal of trees. A rough track going slightly downhill over fallen Autumn leafs leads to a sharp climb up a bank of roughwood to met another track which after about half a mile leads out into a paddock and onto a greenway that takes the runner back to the start to commence the next leg. Now there was a surprise for the runners for the second and third laps were longer and took the runners to the extreme end of a verdant trough of land and another climb before returning to the entrance of the wood.

Rebecca Kendall lead the Kenilworth ladies home with an excellent run to finish in 29 minutes and 30 seconds and she was followed closely by Celia Mills who also had a splendid run in 31 minutes and 29 seconds. Richard Elliot lead the men in with a great run in 42 minutes and 43 seconds followed by John Dagnan in 47 minutes and 22 seconds.

The other Kenilworth Runners were as follows:-

LADIES 6,5 Kilometre Race
Rebecca Kendall 29.30
Celia Mills 31.29
Karen Hallas 31.40
Sandy Pearman 37.24
Jane McNally 37.50
Jane Pithie 37.57
Pam Wilkes 41.10
Sam Curry 42.34

MENS 10 Kilometre Race
Richard Elliot 42.34
John Dagnan 47.22
Tom Dable 51.31
Rich Greenhalf 54.08
Roger Wilkes 54.53
Mick Morris 59.39
Colin Bricher 60.19

There were approx 70 competitors in the ladies race and 140 in the mens. The conditions were fine and dry but with gusty winds in places. The ground was rock hard. The hills were as steep as ever at Dursley !

04/10/03 4 Stage Midlands Cross Country Championships.

On Saturday Kenilworth Runners entered two teams of 4 runners each in this closely contested race which was held in the pleasant surroundings of Brooksby Hall, Wreake, in Leicestershire. 15 teams competed in the race which was held over a two lap course across farm lands and included one stiff climb in each lap.

Kenilworth Runners 'A' team lap 1 runner Wayne Oakes had a storming run to finish in 20 minutes and 9 seconds. Mick Morris ran lap 1 for the 'B' team and at 70+ years finished his two laps in 30 minutes 13 seconds.