Tamworth 5

Louise scorches home!
Tamworth Athletic Club was the venue for the final race in this year’s Burton & District Summer League (BDSL) &, in almost perfect running conditions, many of the Club’s contingent of 28 had plenty to race for in terms of consolidating league places & securing valuable Club Championship points. Making a welcome racing appearance for the Club, Louise Insley led the way with a 1^st place finish in the women’s race in a chip time of 30.53,  which was also good enough for 10^th place overall out of 140  finishers.  Coming into some excellent form at the sharp end of the season, Dominic Sharman’s 29.10 for 2^nd place overall may yet see him amongst the prizes in the BDSL &, just as importantly, retaining his Men’s Club Championship title. Definitely amongst the prizes in the BDSL is Andy Hawtin, who continued a terrific season with a 4^th place finish here in 29.52. Concentrating on the upcoming Leicester Marathon, James Cassidy nevertheless showed he’s not lost any speed by finishing in 14^th in 31.36.  On chip time, another who is rounding into some good late season form, Stuart Halsey, was next in 31.53 before Christina Hawtin, who has had a superbly consistent season, finished just a second back in 31.54. Hawtin’s performance gave her 2^nd place in the women’s race & consolidated her position at the top of the senior women’s category across the series. Just as importantly the Club’s women, for the second consecutive year, consolidated their 1^st place in the BDSL team category. The ever reliable Andy Orme was next in 32.20 before Chris Gunstone continued his good recent form with 32.36.   Another really consistent performer, Steve Leafe, finished in 34.12 with regular scorer for the women’s team, Kelly Knight, recording an excellent 35.29 & Tom Eyre’s 35.46 completing a series that should see him clinch the Men’s U25 category prize in the BDSL.
There was then a group of runners including Paul Glover, Ray Udall & Mitch Timms with little to separate them as times of 36.02, 36.51 & 36.54 respectively confirm. Tracey Glover, another regular scorer for the women’s team, was next with 37.22 before Malcolm Moore, benefitting from an injury free spell, stopped the clock in 37.34 & Laura Harper, with her best performance of the season, a second behind in 37.35.   Tim Argent ran well for his 39.16 before Richard Ward continued his season long improvement with 39.58 and Club debutant, Barry Saunders, recorded a very respectable 40.25. Stuart Reeves stopped the clock in 41.09 before there was another close inter-club battle between Mark Coombes (43.29) & Karen Wilkes (43.40). Also involved in a close finish were Maria Allen (44.09) & Alison Shearer (44.18) before Kerry Ward, Linda Cooper & Inge Moore gave everything in completing the finishers for the Club in 46.19, 55.08 & 55.47 respectively.