results 2301

Northbrook Results

For a complete listing visit the Results Index

January 2023

• Not the Roman IX
• Leicester 10k
• Windmill Wander Marathon
• Midland Counties Cross-Country Championship
• Ilmington 10k – Tempo Winter Series, Race 4
• Mallory Park 10k
• Gato Sports Head Torch 10k – Race 2
• Birmingham & District Invitation Cross-Country League Race 3
• Midland Women’s Cross-Country League Race 3
• Centurion Grand Prix 5 Mile Race 3
• Massey Ferguson New Year Pace Race
• North Leeds Greenway Ultra
• Seven Sins and Immortal

Not the Roman IX – 29 January OTH

114	Alan Smith	00:56:43
167	Spencer Davies	01:02:20
175	Claudie Combelas	01:03:13
242	Julie Cozens	01:11:11
285	Chris Archer	01:31:46

---

Leicester 10k – 29 January 10K

Darren James

0:51:54

---

Windmill Wander Trail Marathon, Barrow Suffolk – 28 January M

The first SRC/Zigzag event. A lovely route, colder than the last time we did it. Fantastic run with Gem.

---

Midland Counties Cross-Country Championship – 28 January

Twenty-two Northbrookers and a whole support/shearing squad turned up at a dry but cold Newbold Comyn. We were all looking forward to the climb to the beacon and the infamous ditch. But, alas, it looks like the ditch has been rewilded never to be used again and the beacon was left out this year due to works on site.

Not to be put off we eagerly watched the women start, knowing our perfect viewpoint captured the course both ways with about 10 steps between. The women showed us men how to do it with smiles on their faces; flat(ish) and not much mud meant the course was fast. Jess led the women home for the team to finish 21st. A good result out of all the Midland clubs.

Next up were the men, our supporters’ ranks bouyed by the now finished women. The pace at the start as always was fast, and we all soon settled down to our own battles. On the 2nd of 3 laps I was lapped by the eventual winner (a recently qualified England athlete) as the rest of the pack soon did the same. At least the 3rd lap meant I did not have to worry about holding anyone back. One last lap thanking the marshalls before the "heckling" from our cheer squads as I passed the finish. Turning back to the finish the heckling continued but I knew it was done.

This was a ridiculously quick race that the organisers had measured annoyingly very short. Two races left for the season and all eyes and spikes point to Coombe. COME ON NORTHBROOK WE CAN DO THIS – Spencer

---

Ilmington 10k – Tempo Winter Series, Race 4 – 22 January 10k

Nine Northbrookers headed to the biggest hill around armed with ice skates and skis, our supporters wearing more clothes than wardrobes could handle to stay warm. The organisers decided running down the ice rink that was Larkstoke was too dangerous so chose a different course to the top, round a cone then back down. It was exciting for a new route. The inspiring thing was seeing everyone on the climb or the descent made for a great atmosphere.

Tracey got herself to the fabled tT-junction to see us as we came out of the village and she was a welcome sight, encouraging and abusing us as we headed to the hill out of the village.

I opted for a short walk on the 14% climb as the cold air was chilling to the bone. Over the 1st climb and I knew I could start again, the leaders coming the opposite way as I passed 5k. This spurred on the chase and deducing that from the turn point to the finish was all down hill I pushed hard, catching other club runners as I plummeted down the hill high fiving our fellow Northbrookers where safe to do so. Tracey beat me back to see me finish in just under 50 minutes for what measured an accurate 10k for the first time in about 8 years. The Northbrookers all looked like they had tried as the turned the corner to the finish.

With the cold weather the warming real fire in the Red Lion was welcome as was a few of the host’s select beverages. One race to go and its hoodie time – Spencer

---

Mallory Park 10k – 22 January 10k

Darren James

0:54:52

---

Gato Sports Head Torch 10k – Race 2, Salcey Forest – 19 January 10k

2	Matthew Hathrell	0:39:38
23	Spencer Davies	0:51:51
50	Claudie Combelas	1:00:54
69	Verity Crichton	1:11:53

---

Birmingham & District Invitation Cross-Country League Div 3 Race 3 at Aldridge Airport – 14 January OTH

25 Men and our supporter ranks bouyed by the women who stayed on from their race landed in Aldridge airport. The conditions were sloppy and blowy, and with a flatish course this was promising to be a challenging, proper cross-country event. The wind cost us the gazebo safety to change in, although the groundsheet at this point was already under the mud.

Having watched the women race round and cut the course up nicely we all lined up eagerly on the start line. Three laps, and we soon discovered the sloppiness of the course. The wooded section had reverted to a flowing river of mud ooze that was over shoe deep. It covered all the path and with every lap it became looser and more flowing. Towards the ends of the woods this was replaced with shoe sucking thick mud. The grass sections were swampy allowing a nice splashback feature on all the men. Our women and supporters dotted themselves round the course meaning we had plenty of encouragement.

A great course with its own challenges, Matt leading us home followed by the rest of the team chasing him in.

Well done guys, next up is the “home” fixture at Coombe abbey and every set of spikes on the course is required to see if we can push up a few more places – Spencer

Full results on Bham League web site

---

Midland Women’s Cross-Country League Race 3 at Aldridge Airport – 14 January OTH

Mud ….a lot of it, is the only description for this course. After Biblical downpours for several days (weeks), there was a sense of foreboding about this course. It did not disappoint and, after all the rain, the sun came out for the race.

Our team was much depleted with seasonal illness taking its toll. We were down to 13 hardy runners taking on a gruelling muddy course with the cruel sting of having to do a whole loop around a boggy field before an uphill finish. Amanda Deavy led the team home finishing in 16th position overall and Debbie Campbell was our second finisher. It was a great effort by the whole team with lots of sprint finishes on tired legs to snatch a few extra points for the Sunburst.

The supporting cheers from the men and other supporters who had travelled with us were very welcome throughout, as was Lisa Bragg’s delicious cake at the end.

Our overall position was 11th for the race and the Masters team finished 4th. We are still awaiting confirmation of the overall team positions based on all three races but top 10 for overall and masters looks doable.

The final league race is at Coombe Abbey on Saturday 11th February, and we need as many women out as possible, so put that date in your diary – Sally

---

Centurion Grand Prix 5 Mile Race 3 – 8 January 5M

Sixteen Northbrookers and one supporter headed to Chelmsley Wood for the 3rd race in the Grand Prix series. It was the first one since the terrible tragedy before Christmas and there were still flowers at the scene as a reminder of the awful events.

The weather at the start was almost perfect for running though it did deteriorate towards the end of the run affecting some of our later runners. Our one supporter did her best to cheer everyone on and encourage them.

Matthew led us home just ahead of Craig, and the rest of us followed nursing whatever illnesses we all seemed to be suffering with.

Another great local event, well worth while attending if only to support a local friendly club – Spencer