National 12-stage Road Relays

The National 12-stage Road Relays at Sutton Park on Saturday is to road running what the FA cup final is to football.

The best 20 teams from each of the regions converge on the home of the road realys Sutton Park, Birmingham.

The alternate long leg of 5.38 miles record has stood since 1982 an short leg of 2.985 miles since 2004.

The long stage record set by David Moorcroft in 1982 was the signal to the world that something very special was on the cards which for Coventry Godiva’s Moorcroft came to be the legendary 5,000 metre world record solo run in Oslo.

This year’s fastest time could also be the signal to Stockport Harriers’ athlete Pat Martin of a special year on the track as he came home first on the opening leg to record the fastest long stage of the day in 26-01.

The team were not to hold that position for long but gave every effort to stay with the top 20 teams and hold out for 21st place.

The ladies’ team was a solo run from Jenny Knass who recorded 18-48 and her position of 37th was not bettered on the day.