BROMSGROVE and Redditch Athletic Club's ladies fielded two teams of three for the start of the Midland Cross-Country Relays.

This was the first cross-country of the season, with Sharon Hetherington for the A team and Ann Stuart for the B team starting on an uneven, slightly undulating course.

Both runners had great runs with Sharon finishing in second place in a time of 23 minutes 23 seconds.

Taking over from Sharon was Kate Haley who brought the team home in sixth place in a time of 26 minutes 28 seconds. Jane Anderson took over for the last leg to bring the team home in seventh place in a time of 27 minutes ten seconds.

Ann's time of 28 minutes three seconds gave Judy Appleby a good start. She came home in 27 minutes 45 seconds, handing over to Jenny Rogers who stepped in at the last minute to have a good run of 33 minutes five seconds. The B team came home in 19th position.

Strength to strength

With Sharon going from strength to strength, she then went on to finish as first lady in the club's annual multi-terrain eight-mile event at Waseley Hills on Sunday.

Sharon was the previous women's course record holder and was the clear lady winner in a time of 62.13, finishing 21st overall.

This completely new event replaced the previous ten-miler following safety concerns over the former course.

Due to clashing with several other local races that had been rescheduled due to foot and mouth earlier this year, numbers were down.

However, the field of 100 athletes came home complimenting the organisers on the attractiveness and organisation of this tough new race over the Waseley and Lickey hills.

Second lady and first lady veteran went to Lynn Sherren from Stratford AC. She finished 31st in a time of 65.54, with Caroline Harnett (unattached V35) third lady in 67.59 and 35th overall.

Stuart Mills (Worcester Triathlon Club) and local runner Tom Lowe (unattached) both had a good battle, and were well clear of the rest of the field. Mills broke clear to establish a men's course record 51.48 with Lowe recording a close 51.54.

They were followed by local stalwart Phil Carbutt (B&R), who was first over-40 veteran in 52.55.

A previous race winner Tim Taylor (V40), of Hereford Couriers, was fourth in 53.53 whilst another former winner, Nigel Davey, (Greens Health Club) came fifth in 54.15.

Geoff Aston (Worcester AC) recorded 59.17 and was the first aged over 50 to finish. He came 14th overall, with Brian Thornett (Stratford AC) beating him in 59.07 to be first over 60.

Bromsgrove and Redditch won the team event with Carbutt, Barry Cooke (sixth in 56.25) and Ian Keyte (V40, ninth in 58.55) scoring.

Other Bromsgrove and Redditch runners were Phil Anderson (18th in 61.18), Steve James (V40, 24th in 62.59), Tony Woodward (V50, 26th in 64.30), Steve Bach (V50, 27th in 64.39), Roger Beacham (V60, 33rd in 66.31), Nigel Bunyan (V60, 44th in 70.33), Jane Anderson (49th in 74.16) and Ann Stuart (V35, 50th in 74.45).