BIRCHFIELD HARRIERS repeated their senior race double from last year in temperatures more akin to the height of summer rather than early autumn.
The senior races again attracted more than 100 teams in each, while honours in the young athletes’ relays saw Birchfield and Wreake & Soar Valley as the most successful teams with both getting two golds with Birchfield gaining the most medals (the young athletes’ results are in the Results section).
Men
After a steady start down in seventh behind leaders Team Bath’s Alex Carter, Birchfield improved through Alex Tovey and Sam Johnson before course specialist Will Richardson took them into the lead on stage four with a 17.13 split for the 5.88km lap, the second best of the day.
Andrew Peat increased the Birchfield lead on the penultimate leg before Omar Ahmed front ran what was comfortably the fastest split with 16:59. This left second placed Bristol & West a well-beaten second but, earlier, they had their moments in the sun.
Stage two saw their Harry Allen’s 18:03 see them home ahead and he said: “I took lead at top of the hill then kept pushing and really attacked down the hill. I think we had a good chance to hang on.”
Jed Bartlett battled through the wind and just kept their advantage as Birchfield’s Sam Johnson and stage fastest Stuart Spencer, for Notts, closed.
Richardson then saw Birchfield ahead during stage four as Kurt Taylor ensured Bristol were a safe second.
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