RUNNERS from Dudley Kingswinford Running Club had the opportunity to run against the cream of the country’s top clubs last Saturday as they competed in the National Masters Road Relay Championships.

As the event was only open to athletes over 35 years of age the cream may have been approaching its use by date but that didn’t mean the blue hoops were in for an easy ride as serious runners came from far and wide looking to claim national age group medals.

With three teams across two age groups, DK had their largest raiding party of 16 runners taking on the three mile loop in Sutton Park.

Their best result came in the M45 age group with their A team of Kevin Duckworth, Andy Sprague, Dave Norman and Darran Bishop finishing 19th of the 43 teams competing in a total time of 1.12.46. Their M45 B team of Daren Thompson, Gary Bonner, Mark Homer and Graham Wildgoose were not too far behind in 1.18.41 to claim 33rd place.

Six runners were required to make up a team in the M35 category, the team of Richard Tonks, Kieran Pitt, Mark Judge, Matt Biggs, James Wright and Simon Blizzard finished in a total time of 1.55.44 to place a respectable 36th out of the 50 teams competing.

Twenty four hours later a handful of runners made the short journey towards Halesowen for the Cobra Classic 10k. Recognised as one of the hardest races in the calendar, the first half is slightly downhill but this is more than compensated by the second half which is steeply uphill and runners are reduced to a shuffle as their legs fill with lactic acid and their lungs fill with fire.

Despite the toughness of the course, Helen Tromans claimed 1st prize in the ladies race in 44.25 and Ben Foster was also on the podium taking third place in 35.34.

Graham Wildgoose finished in 43.33 in 22nd place, Darren Marklew was 33rd in 45.42, Carol Fisher finished in 74th in 51.36 to take first place in her age group, Ingrid Cain was 124th in 58.46, John Glover was a place behind in the same time, Gina Collins was 130th in 59.08 and Sam Hemming was 164th in 1.09.37.

Going a little further, Sally McConville completed the Apocalypse 50 miler over the Shropshire Hills around Carding Mill Valley and Church Stretton taking around 13 hours and 45 minutes to complete the course and comfortably coming home within her 14 hours target.