Loftus Athletic Club - Road Running

Nike ERRA National Road Relay Championships

Having qualified by the skin of our teeth for the prestigious National Nike ERRA 6 & 4 Stage Relays in Sutton Park, Saturday saw an intrepid bunch from the club make the nearly 400 mile round-trip to Birmingham to fly the Loftus and Whitby flag.

Injury and other commitments meant that we didn't field our strongest team, but I think everyone who took part felt the sense of occasion, competing against the best in the country and everyone did their best. Dave Parkin bravely took on the first stage - a particuarly competitive leg when teams try to gain advantage by putting on thier best runners. Dave ran sensibly and sat in at the back of the pack during the early stages and later taking 4 places to come in at 75th to hand over to Alec Duffield. Alec ran a very strong leg to take back over 25 places (!) This left Lewis Rodgers with a daunting task having been catapulted into a much higher position. Lewis, ran a very commited leg to bring Loftus and Whitby in in 56th position having lost only 7 places. In a similar position, Steve Musset tried gamely to keep Loftus from slipping further to the back of the field against very a very high standard of competion to hand over to Mark Walker in 65 place. Mark our only V40 in this race, ran a very solid leg conceding only 3 places. All that now remained was for last-minute conscript V50 Chris Ellis to fend off the not-so-coveted last place! Chris finished in 69th place out of 72 narrowly avoiding the wooden spoon :-)

Despite our finishing position, I think I can say that all who took part thoroughly enjoyed the experience and actually competing in this major event is a great privelege. Let's hope that we can make this occasion next year and improve our position. Well done to all who took part and for the commitment shown. Photos here
The Mens race was won by Belgrave Harriers (last photo) who share the same colours as L&W!

New PB for Steve Hepples 49.09 UK ranked No.1

Redcar based England and Gt Britain runner, 29 year old Stephen Hepples, smashed his 10 mile road race PB on Sunday by 13 seconds, when winning the Sale 10 mile road race at Manchester, in a brilliant 49.09 elevating himself to the No 1 UK ranking position.
Hepples, held the 10 mile No 1 ranking in 2007 from January until August with his 49.22 run at York, when without company he ran solo for 10 miles. At Manchester on Sunday he faced far stronger competition.

Hepples, whose long term aim is a slow build up to the marathon distance in spring 2009 was in confident mood, but unsure if he could take his training form in to a highly competitive race.

After the frantic start the race settled down after two miles with Hepples being one of four contenders in the group of four at the head of affairs, on the three lap course.

Fellow contenders were led by current England International Stuart Stokes, from the host club Sale Harriers. Stokes, had made the qualifying time for the 3k steeplechase for 2008 Olympics, and was considered unlucky not to be en route to Beijing.

Hepples, 1st claim to Newham Essex & Beagles, had club colleague Kevin Skinner, for company, with Gareth Raven, another Sale Harrier, making it a straight head to head between Sale Hariers and Newham Essex & Beagles. Passing the three mile marker in a respectable 14.55 Hepples, made the decision to inject pace and break up the quartet, with a 4.40 mile taking him 10 seconds clear. As the mile markers 5 - 9 passed by Hepples, remained dominant at the head of affairs, consistently timing 4.50 per mile. The original chasing trio were down to two following the retirement of Stuart Stokes. Mile 9 - 10 was the hardest for Hepples, as his stride shortened, but he still had enough in reserve to win by a comfortable 6 seconds smashing his 10 mile PB. Gareth Raven, took 2nd place ahead of Kevin Skinner.

Following the race Hepples said ' Delighted, but I was tiring over the last couple of miles. I thought the pace at 3 miles was wooly and I made a split second decision to take it on. I think I caught them all out by my move, but I knew that they work together to try and peg me back. I am five weeks in to my build up for longer endurance races this autumn, and if free of injury a stab at a marathon, possibly spring 2009. No future plans for races in August, the aim being to have several easy days and recover and to be back in to my programme by Thursday or Friday'

1) Stephen Hepples 49.09 (PB) Newham Essex & Beagles

2) Gareth Raven 49.15 Sale Harriers Manchester.

3) Kevin Skinner. 50.30 Newham Essex & Beagles.