Midland Counties Women's 6 Stage road relays Sat. 2nd April 2005 Sutton Park.

Birchfield Harriers women 2nd place Mid 6 stage Road Relays

Race Report.
Take six young people,(well five and a youngish Bentley) put them into a real pressure situation and expect that none of them will drop the ball and you're getting into the realms of fantasy. Well, we did and they didn't drop the ball, in a brilliant display of team running and one stunning leg we won the silver medal in fine style behind Bristol one of the best teams in the country.
Cathy Mutwa's all time Midland 6 stage record of 16:09 gives Birchfield no less than the top three times, along with Amanda Wright with 16:10, and Bev. Hartigan 16:21, with Sarah Bentley not far behind in seventh in 16:32.
Oh yes! it was a nice day as well.

Leg 1
Becky Sanders, epitomising the team spirit after consulting with her coach Ian Ladbroke, decided to delay a rest period which will allow a foot injury to clear up. Always keen to run first leg (who isn't) had a suitably fine run in 17:46, not a millions miles from her PB 5k track time! to come back in 8th.
Leg 2
Rachael Rowberry, the Kiwi diva of DIY turned up complete with paint smudges from 'doing up" her new house. She ran 68secs. faster than last year (it must be something in the paint) gained four places to come back in 4th with a time of 18:10.
Leg 3,
Amanda Dalkins, Cheadle's finest female export, finally free from the dreaded American virus seems determined to match Becky stride for stride and also ran 17:46 to maintain 4th place.
Leg 4.
Cathy Mutwa, follows on from a long line of Harriers in recent years such as Bev Hartigan, Sarah Bentley, Cath Mijovic, Gill Dainty, Amanda Wright, and Shireen Barbour who can turn the fortunes of a race, and she did just that to come back in 16:09 with a course record and 1st place.
Leg 5.
Sarah Bentley, had almost lost her voice and if you know Sarah you would know that's a bit like us being Hog tied and gagged. She was expecting a quiet run in the B team. I said 
"will you run in the A team please" she said "yes". She also said " as long as I don't get given the lead." I said "no Chance". Anyway I won't bore you with what she said when given the lead, but the old adrenaline kicked in and all was fine she kept that lead to run a fine 18:00.
Leg 6.
Juliette Oldfield, The best thing to come from Kettering since Helter skelters (if you're under 50 some research will be necessary) once again legged it down from Newcastle. While not being able to hold off a fast finishing Bristol team brought us home to an excellent 2nd place in 18:15.
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B team
Leg 1.
Rachel Cook, amazingly after completing her last long run before London the day before, still ran 19:37.
leg 2,
Michelle Tanner, flown in specially from warm weather training on the Gower Peninsular (what a dichotomy that is). She really seems happy all the time and after many years out of the sport is still moving in the right direction to run 20:45.
Leg 3,
Pam Rayment, no jokes here was suffering from a large long standing migraine but had enough bottle to complete the course in 25:39.
Leg 4,
Wendy Morant, reliable as ever, completed the B team in 26:23.

Eddie Cockayne.
Women's Team Manager.

Birchfield Harriers Midlands 12 stage road relays 1st place AKA the motley crew April 2005