Making History
Another piece of Club history was written over the roads around Sutton Park in the West Midlands on Saturday 9 April, when the Senior Men's team finished sixth in the National 12-Stage Road Relays in 4:17:00, the best result since the stellar team of 1973 finished fourth.
'It was a fantastic swansong on a great winter season for the Club', says team stalwart Charlie Eastaugh, who delivered the fastest HW short leg of the day. 'The whole team worked together as a well-oiled machine to make Herc history!'
For a heady moment, it looked like the feat of 1973 could even be equalled as the team moved up into fourth position before the final re-shuffle on the closing legs, not least at the spearhead as Highgate Harriers were pipped to the title over the last half-mile, having led since leg 5.
Above: Andrew Penney on leg one. Photo by Mark Hookway
From the off, there was promise in the air as Andrew Penney on the lead (long) leg handed over to Ed Mallett in 24th. Ed delivered the team's second-fastest short leg of the day to move up to 15th, and Bradley Goater, who has made a big impact since joining the Club first claim in March, gained another seven places.
Joe Croft maintained eighth place, handing over to Tom Jervis, who has built up something of a reputation for consistency, even when he finds himself running in a void. 'My leg required a lot of focus' he admits. 'After passing a Belgrave runner early on it was a long solo slog. I settled into a rhythm and just tried to keep pushing as near to the limit as possible.
'Once I crossed the line and returned back to the team it quickly became apparent that the day was going to be something special as Oli moved us up from 7th to 5th, and with some really strong runners to come, excitement was building!'
Those runners included Jonny Cornish and Charlie Eastaugh who produced the fastest HW long and short legs consecutively to maintain fifth position. 'The excited buzz around the park became deafening by my leg', says Charlie. 'I achieved my own personal goal of gaining time on all of the leaders, and taking over from Cornish and handing over to Cliffey was the dream — fewer men have raced as much (even fewer have worn caps as often in Dan’s case).
Dan – who even 'retired' his famous oversized flamingo shorts and long black socks 'for one race only!' – brought the team up to fourth, a position held by team captain Fred Slemeck. At which point, says Tom Jervis, 'the optimists amongst us started dreaming, but the realists were aware that Leeds and Bristol & West had left some aces until the later legs'. Sure enough, he says, 'their tactics paid off and despite great runs from George and Rhys on the final two legs we finished in sixth'.
'It was just an absolutely brilliant performance and a great day for everyone involved', says coach and team manager Keith Scofield, who also ran in the B team (unfortunately one man short on the day). 'Yes, we dreamed for a second', he admits, 'but really we knew it was only a matter of time before Bristol & West and especially Leeds (the pre-race favourites) would come though – they are class and were really flying after their lead-off runner apparently suffered an asthma attack.
'The goal was top ten, but we hoped for top eight, so to have been as high as fourth for some of the race was more than we could ever have anticipated. Everyone ran well, and these big days out are such good fun when everyone travels together and there is a great camaraderie – it was also great to have Mike Fuller there, as always, supporting'. Mike of course was part of that team which finished fourth in 1973, and so it was fitting that he was the very popular winner of the competition to predict the finish-time of the A team, with his estimate of 4:18:45!
'For the first time coaches and supporters were whispering the Club's name alongside the Bedfords and Tonbridges of the world', says Tom Jervis. 'The momentum continues and we march on with renewed confidence!'
Full results
Below left to right: Bradley Goater, Tom Jervis, Fred Slemeck and Dan Cliffe
