Harper puts Spa men in medal contention

The Loughborough University student returned to head the C&AC effort and produced a calm run for third place behind 2008 English cross-country champion and British international, Tom Humphries of Cannock and Stafford AC.

All three divisions ran together, which made for an exciting spectacle of more than 600 runners taking off across the Comyn, but also made life confusing for spectators trying to decipher which race was which.

Jack Mee had a rare rush of blood and was in the top four overall early on alongside Humphries and the top two in Division One, Jean Ndayisenga and Biniam Ande - and the 18-year-old paid a heavy price, fading badly as the pain kicked in with more than half the race left. He struggled home in 44th.

Jamie Langley, 20, and Chris Wood, who made an impressive Birmingham League debut at 17, showed far more wisdom, pacing themselves properly and coming through as the race progressed for fine rewards in 16th and 36th, respectively.

With Dave Ashworth, the only veteran in C&AC’s scoring six, in 68th and another newcomer, Ian Thwaites, in 72nd, the team is already surprisingly high in fourth place out of 18, behind hot favourites Cannock and Stafford, Royal Sutton Coldfield and Bournville Harriers.

Leamington’s B team are also lying fourth, behind Worcester, Royal Sutton Coldfield and Wolverhampton and Bilston.

The B scorers were Brian Miller (101st), Alex Montgomery (118th), Craig Bower (119th), Steve Roberts (120th), Paul Caruana (135th) and Russ Burrows (137th).

There was further support from John Leathem (152nd), Peter Taylor (153rd), Michael Denney (157th), Tony Foster (163rd), Jonathan Wilkinson (170th), Graham Roberts (171st), Jason Burton (177th) and Adrian Mawby (178th) in a field of 213 finishers.

Leamington also put out a strong team in the Midland Ladies’ League, which went off 45 minutes before the Birmingham League races on the two laps instead of three.

Monica Williamson, who won individual veteran medals in the league in 2007 and 2008, was the first of the C&AC women home in a solid 37th, with Zara Blower, who was also a medallist in her junior days, 69th.

Kassie Betts, in her first Midland Ladies League run, was 75th, followed home by Emma Day and Faye Barr, who returned from Southampton University to turn out, in 101st and 121st respectively.

Judith Hanlon (185th), another first-timer Amy Hosie (196th), and Janet Mee (210th) provided the 
support, with Williamson, Hanlon and Mee completing the masters’ team.