Northern Road Relay Championships

Report: Bryony Pearce -

Stockport's men and women teams did the club proud this weekend at the Northern 6 & 12 Stage Road Relays at Sefton Park, Liverpool, securing a top ten finish in both races.

Louise Rudd got the women’s team off to a good start, and came back in seventh position. Elle Baker took over and ran a flying leg, pulling the team into first position, and in doing so granted herself the fastest leg of the day. Team mate Carmen Byrne held onto first position well throughout her leg, but was unfortunately marginally pushed back into third place in the latter stages. Jessica Coulson began the second half of the race well, and reeled in the athletes ahead of her, managing to pull the team back into gold position, and with a top ten time of the day. At the end of Lyndsay Clarkes fifth leg the team were in second position, well in medal contention. Maureen Wilkins was on the anchor leg, and running with great determination, brought the team home in a fantastic seventh position.

The men followed on from the women’s top ten finish, and concluded their race in a superb fifth place. All twelve men ran strong legs, with brothers Patrick and Jack Martin notably running the sixth and seventh fastest legs of the day. Andrew Nixon ran a noteworthy third leg, pulling the team from fourth place into the gold medal position in the early stages. Team mate Steve Vernon also ran a tense leg, hunting down leaders at the time Salford Harriers AC throughout his two lap run, and despite not being able to regain the lead, considerably closed down the sizeable gap.

Women's 6-stage7th
Louise Rudd 13.42
Elle Baker 12.25
Carmen Byrne 14.25
Jessica Coulson 13.10
Lyndsay Clarke 14.45
Maureen Wilkins 16.47
Men's 12-stage5th
Jack Martin 22.26
Jack Nixon 11.54
Andrew Nixon 22.52
Dean Matkin 12.41
Steve Vernon 22.48
Paul Payne 12.50
Patrick Martin 22.23
James Scott-Buccleuch 12.12
Michael Sawrey 24.09
Jamie Loxam 12.42
Jack Morris 24.07
Michael Cooke 11.38

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