Cross Country Results 2005/2006:

Saturday 7th January	Northampton Cross Country - Birmingham - League
Saturday 7th January	Burbage Common - Warwickshire Championships
Sunday 22nd January	Cinderford - Gloucester League
Saturday 28th January	Newbold Comyn - Midand Championships
Saturday 11th February	Wolverhampton - Birmingham League

07/01/06 Northampton Cross Country - Birmingham League

On a cold wet Saturday afternoon 17 members of Kenilworth Runners travelled to Northampton to take part in the third race of this tough series of 4 cross country races.
The venue was Abington Park which is a very pleasant and well wooded area perfectly suited for the organisation of a cross country race. The hosts, Rugby and Northampton Running Club, used the full extent of Abington Park to provide a splendid course for the day’s event one which took maximum advantage of the ever changing terrain and the nice little patches of woodland. With 4 equal laps of the course, totalling 10 kilometres (6.214 miles) in all, runners were treated to a classic run in a superb setting. Following the periphery of the Park, which from first impressions suggested a flat course, it presented the competitors with several sharp little climbs over generally wet grass along avenues of trees with the occasional patch of sticky mud. All in all the 170 finishers were given an excellent afternoon’s racing.

Kenilworth Runners were lead in by new member Graham Gristwood who completed the run in 33.59 minutes to finish in 7th position which was a superb effort taking into account the tough course and even tougher opposition. The ‘A’ team, comprising 6 members, all finished within the first 57 positions and so moved Kenilworth Runners up to the exalted position of 5th out of 13 clubs in League 2. The ’B’ team which included the next six Kenilworth Runners to finish did even better achieving 3rd position.

All Kenilworth Runners times and positions are as follows:-

Name	Time	Position
Graham Gristwood	33.59	7
Pat Noonan	36.23	26
Stuart Hopkins	37.44	46
Martin Dorrill	33.59	48
Graham Birch	38.21	56
Wayne Oaks	38.22	57
Mick Williams	39.00	64
Roger Homes	39.34	74
Brennan Lively	4045	91
Steve Jackson	42.36	112
Richard Steel	43.23	119
Stan Alexander	43.40	122
Richard Elliott	46.09	143
Richard Greenhalf	47.58	148
Stef Shillington	51.56	158
Mick Morris	55.26	166

14/01/06 Burbage Common - Warwickshire Championships

The cross country season always ends on a high note with three major races, the Warwickshire followed by the Midlands championship races and the final race of the season the Nationals which will be held in London in February. On a cool and damp Saturday no less than 16 members of Kenilworth Runners travelled to Hinckley to tackle the first of these races, The Warwickshire Championships.

The event was superbly organised by Leicester & Rutland and Warwickshire County Athletic Associations who provided the competitors with an excellent days cross country racing in which all age groups took part. There were events for both ladies and men and the ages ranged from under 13 to over 70!

The venue was Burbage Common a pleasant area of Park land lying to the east of Hinckley just off the A47. Competitors walking from registration to the start, about half a mile, may have been forgiven if they were mislead by the well manicured greens of the golf course into thinking ‘This will be an easy race over dry grass’, indeed the approach to the start line supported this misconception. However, Old hands would have known better for this course hides its real nature in a wood well shielded from view.

The course of 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) was composed of three almost equal laps for the men, two for the ladies and one for the under15 boys. The first section took runners over a rough but generally grassy field after which things soon deteriorated when a long incline took them up a gradual slope over moderately muddy ground to turn downhill into the first morass of deep sticky mud. This short taste of what was to come was followed by a section of flat but reasonably firm going but after two turns the runners entered a dark tunnel of trees through which it was impossible to escape the thick, deep and gelatinous mud stretching for about a quarter of a mile. When they emerged from this obstacle and completed the lap the men faced the daunting prospect of two more circuits over the same terrain.

Despite the tough conditions Kenilworth Runners acquitted themselves well with Martin Dorrill leading them home in 42.40 minutes in 29th position out of a total of 127 finishers with Emily Beacham being the first lady to finish in 34.20 minutes in 7th position out of 56 finishers BUT it was young Philip McCorquodale who was the star on the day finishing in 7th position out of 30 finishers in the boys under 15 race.

This was a very tough and taxing course which gave no quarters but I for one found completing such a challenge to be particularly satisfying!

22/01/06 Cinderford Forest of Dean - Gloucester League

There can be few more attractive places in this country to hold a cross country event than at Cinderford which lies just south of Gloucester, therefore it was to this village that 11 members of Kenilworth Runners travelled on a pleasant and sunny, indeed warm, Saturday afternoon to take part in the last of four cross country events.
With races for all age groups they were promised a great days running in superb countryside and they were not disappointed.
The organisation in all four races has been superb with courses well marshalled and obvious and facilities quite excellent. Heywood School, where the race headquarters were located, stands adjacent to the Forest of Dean and the organisers had set courses that took full account of the possibilities that exist in such a magnificent setting. Steep climbs followed gentle tracks and an excellent downhill where there was the bonus of a sensational panoramic view over the River Severn.
There was a fair share of mud with a difficult section that crossed a small stream. A truly beautiful area in which it is a privilege to run. The men ran a three lap course of 10 kilometres whilst the ladies ran two laps of the same course. Boys and Girls ran an appropriately shorter course. Steve Jackson lead Kenilworth Runners in to finish in 67th position in 44.43 minutes out of 141 finishers. Pauline Dable lead the ladies in with a good run to finish in 51st Position in 41.16 minutes out of 57 finishers, whilst young Philip McCorqudale confirmed his potential by finishing in 9th position in 13.40 minutes out of 28 finishers.
The times and positions of the other Kenilworth Runners are as follows:-

Name	Time	Position
Male
Stev Jackson	44.43	67
Richard Steel	45.46	80
Martin Smith	49.00	106
Richard Green	51.22	115
Tom Dable	55.10	127
Stef Shillington	56.02	131
Mick Morris	62.29	138
Colin Britcher	75.10	141
Female
Pauline Dable	41.16	51
Kristy Dable	52.08	57
Boys
Philip McCorquadale	13.40	9

Being the last race of the series prizes were awarded for performances in the whole four events. Kenilworth Runners picked up two of these prestigious awards. Pauline Dable won the ladies over 45 trophy whilst Mick Morris won the over 70 trophy.

28/01/06 Newbold Comyn - Midland Cross Country Championships.

On a very cold Saturday afternoon with a sharp northerly winding blowing 18 members of Kenilworth Runners travelled down the A452 to join hundreds of runners from clubs across the Midlands to take part in the annual Cross Country Championships an eagerly awaited event in the seasons calendar.
The venue was an old favourite of Midland clubs, New bold Comyn, Leamington, where a long standing course has seen many other such events. Ideally suited to the sport this course offered a superbly muddy water obstacle as well as some other muddy sections with the Beacon Hill for a short but sharp testing climb. Senior men ran three long laps of the Comyn plus a circle of the field by the dressing rooms making their distance 12 kilometre (7.4 mile), the ladies completed 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) whilst the under 15 boys ran a 4 kilometre course.
Mick Williams lead Kenilworth Runners men in with a fine run in 48.26 minutes to finish in 112th position out of 380 finishers, Karen Hallas lead the Kenilworth Ladies home with an excellent run of 22.43 minutes to finish 25th out of about 160 finishers and young Philip McCorquodale finished in 16.43 to finish a splendid 48th out of 106 finishers.
Other Kenilworth Runners times and positions are as follows:-

Name	Time	Position
Men
Mick Williams	48.26	112
Roger Homes	50.47	153
Robert Thompson	51.56	180
Brennan Lively	52.05	188
Steve Jackson	52.33	198
Richard Steel	53.23	226
Stan Alexander	55.54	281
Richard Greenhalf	62.07	336
Tom Dable	63.58	351
Stef Shillington	66.10	357
Mick Morris	75.02	375
Colin Bricher	78.00	376
Ladies
Karen Hallas	22.43	25
Emily Beacham	24.39	59
Celia Mills	27.12	109
Pauline Dable	29.53	138
Kristy Dable	39.38	159
Boys
Philip McCorquodale	16.43	48

11/02/06 Wolverhampton - Birmingham League

Knowing that they were secure in the second division of this competitive league 15 members of Kenilworth Runners travelled to Wolverhampton on Saturday relaxed and ready to consolidate their present position. On a bright but chilly the race took place in the fields that surround Wolverhampton Wanderers Academy in Aldersley Leisure Village.
The 10 kilometre course on the day was firm, flat and varied but ideal for fast running and Kenilworth Runners took full advantage of this. The course comprised one short and three long laps which included two pleasant fields and a short length of disused railway track plus a rather sharp, short climb up to the line at one place.
Stuart Hopkins lead Kenilworth Runners contingent with a superb run to finish in 33.28 minutes and in 26th position overall out of 175 finishers. With the consistency that has secured their place next season the following ten Kenilworth Runners finished within 6 minutes of each other. The ‘A’ team of six runners finished in 6th position on the day and so secured 6th position for the series out of 12 teams.
The ‘B’ team also did well to finish 4th on the day and 5th overall out of 8 teams.

The times and positions of all Kenilworth Runners are as follows:-

Name	Time	Position
Stuart Hopkins	33.28	26
Pat Noonan	34.09	39
Graham Birch	34.12	41
Martin Dorrill	34.58	55
Wayne Oaks	35.02	63
Mick Williams	35.36	68
Richard Elliott	36.02	79
Roger Holmes	36.26	90
Rob Thompson	36.55	97
Richard Steel	37.49	127;
Steve Jackson	39.27	129
Richard Greenhalf	42.25	149
Stef Shillington	48.45	171
Mick Morris	52.28	175