COVENTRY Godiva Harriers Ladies’ have become Midland Road Relay champions for possibly the first time in the club’s history.
The Ladies team stole the show at Sutton Park in Birmingham as the six-woman team of Julie Emmerson, Abbie Milnes, Sian Rainsley, Penny Oliver, Olivia Kelly and Rowena Cole claimed the title.
Club historians are now working to determine whether this is the first time the Ladies have won the event having previously won silver in 2010 and 2011 and bronze in 2008 and 2009.
And the race consisted of six stages, one for each runner, with Emmerson third (31 minutes 2 seconds) on the long first leg before Milnes placed second (18 mins 26 secs) on the shorter second leg.
Rainsley ran the second quickest long leg overall in (29 mins 32 secs) on leg three whilst Oliver (20 mins 6 secs) kept Coventry in second place with a strong fourth leg.
However, Kelly ran a stunning fifth leg (18 mins 47 secs) to push Godiva into first place with one leg left to run before Cole (18 mins 57 secs) led the team home to secure the title.
The Ladies finished one minute and 20 seconds clear of City of Stoke AC in second place.
And the Men’s team were also in action in the 12-stage race as Joe McLeod led off in 21st place before Scott Hudspith ran Godiva’s fastest long leg to propel them up to 11th with Jamie Hnatushka in 12th, and Andy Boon 13th to complete the long legs.
Sam Marshall started the remaining short legs in 14th with Clark Roberts retaining the position, Ed Griffiths and Daniel Dalton finished in 16th whilst Matt Hadlum was 17th.
Lucas Bennett ran the fastest Godiva short leg to move back into 16th before Nick Bennett and Damien Chamberfort ensured Godiva’s Men’s team finished 18th overall.
The Ladies B team also took to the course with Eleanor Crossland 57th, Samantha Puri 45th, Rachel Aldrich keeping Godiva in 45th, Victoria Wilson 47th, Jayne Mumford 46th and Sophia Charters 42nd.
However, the men had an incomplete B team with Michael Katsoulis 65th, Jose in 63rd, Martin Gittins 69th on debut and Simon Clarke in 67th.
The club always has space for more people to come and join the team.
