Hinchy 4th and Stormer from Jelle

For more than 10 years Senneleys Park has been the curtain raiser to the cros country season hosting the combined Birmingham Leagues and the Midland Women's League. Unfortunately that event is no more (mainly due to Birmingham City Council having to support the inter counties now at Cofton Park), so this year saw Newbold Comyn in Leamington Spa play hosts.

I can't comment yet on the women's race as the results aren't up and I was busy trying to sort the men's team out, but will update when I can.

Update: Lynne Cox 30th, Amie Fithern 66th, Julie Caddick 73rd, Orselino Martino 114th. Tipton 10th team. Full results at http://www.dk10k.co.uk/

2.30pm was the usual dash for the first corner in the men's race and a slightly depleted Tipton team was still able to field 13 runners. Phil Hinch went off within himself but was still right up there. Jelle Verwer (still a junior!) went off in about 12th place and later told his coach (Bob Ashwood) "I couldn't actually run any slower". With the rough ground, the steep beacon hill  and the stream crossing this is a deceptively tough course but those boys were easily match to it. Hinchy finished in fourth place (3rd in Div 1), another step back towards great form, the lad certainly loves the cross country. But run of the day has to go to 11th placed Jelle, first junior home and beating a lot of good runners. Third and Fourth counters were Martin Williams and Ian Williams with solid openers in 14th and 25th (in Div 1). Last two counter were myself (Mike Buntin) a hugely disappointing 61, with Phil Clamp 66th. Great to see two more Tipton Juniors in the race in Phil Wilson and Sam Davies.

Birmingham University were massively strong and will be difficult to catch - they scored 86 and had 15 runners in 42. Then came Birchfield and Coventry on 115 and 118 followed by Tipton on 179. Work to be done at the next fixture.

http://www.birminghamccleague.co.uk/ for full results and link to photos.