Wood leads the Harriers home

Report: First published Stockport Express -

Kerrie Wood gained third place in the Tour of Tameside and is already aiming to improve on her position in next year's competition.

The Harrier was never outside the top three in the six races, which covered an 52 exhausting miles, and although she managed a couple of second places, she couldn't close the gap on runner-up Tracy Curl and new champion, Jenny Clague.

Wood was separated from her Norfolk rival by a little over two minutes, largely down to the deficit between the pair on the opening 11 miles.

"That's where I could have closed the gap," said Wood, who clocked a cumulative time of five hours 33 minutes and five seconds. I found each race that bit harder, but I really enjoyed it and I'd definitely come back again."

However, Wood gained some consolation by winning the over-35 lady veterans' prize.

There was no record-breaking fifth Tour crown for Bashir Hussain, but the Stockport Harrier showed flashes of his old self to finish fourth overall.

Hussain's best run came in the penultimate stage where he finished one second behind new Tour winner, Thomas Abyu, in the ASDA five-mile cross-country challenge.

His overall time was four hours 33 minutes, six seconds while Abyu claimed the £750 first prize with four individual victories and a time of 4.26.53.

Richard Marlton (5.07.15) and Kevin Beattie (5.08.35) finished 12th and 13th with Stockport placed as runners-up to Salford Harriers in the team prize, David Smith (5.52.22) the leading Over 55 veteran.

Stockport, through Wood, Newton (fifth lady) and Samantha Thomas (ninth) clinched the ladies' team title.


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