LEEDS RELAYS 2011

On 10am Saturday 10^th June the DSU was awash with navy and purple as 27 hardy DUAXC members, all sporting new stash, prepared to leave for the Leeds relays. The coach journey passed without any controversy, possibly due to the non-appearance of club social sec and all round big name in Durham Jack Hillier. We arrived in good time and while most people to spend this time chilling, listening to anecdotes of DUAXC races gone by provided Mr DUAXC himself: Ollie Cook, others (Martin) chose to sample the fine array of cakes on offer. (Rumour has it the carrot cake was good.)

On to the race itself! The first race of the day was the Ladies race in which we had 3 teams lining up. On paper the ‘A’ team looked strong and they did not disappoint. Ellie Wilson, a DUAXC debutant, led off finishing in a commendable 12.20 to take 9^th spot. Rebecca Farrell, who has been consistent on the park run circuit this year, gained a place with her 13.09. Bringing the girls home was Lucy Reid, who continued her fine form in her maiden DUAXC season, running 12.25 to leave the girls in an impressive 9^th.  Pascaline Bulay was on first leg for the B’s and her time of 12.58 was good enough for a solid 17^th place. Claudia Conway turned this solid 17^th into a promising 15^th with her time of 13.24. Alex Slotwinski was on the anchor leg and helped the girls to 19^th by a good run of 14.45. Alice Lilley had the responsibility of first leg for the ‘C’ team. She put the girls in a strong position with her run of 14.30. Track specialist Hannah Nagel was up next and she showed some scintillating speed to gain the girls four places with her time of 14.13. Cross Country Captain Yvonne took the pressure of last leg. Such great responsibility did not seem to faze her in the slightest as she held off any potential threat to bring the girls home in 23^rd with her run of 14.23.

Half an hour later the lads started. The A team had big expectations after last year’s good performance in this event. Pat Vis had a very strong first leg, coming home in a very commendable 6^th. His time of 10.23 (temporarily at least) broke Mike Grimes’ club record from the year previous. Pat handed over to Ben Douglas, the man to beat in training these days,  who proved he is a man for the big occasion as he smashed the illusive 11 minute barrier with his 10.44. Next up was Andrew Clarke, his 10.59 brought the boys back into 6^th. Big Martin was up next and what a good run he had! Not only did he pick up two valueable places to leave the team in fourth, he also broke the half an hour old club record in  the process with an amazing run of 10.21! It was good to see a strong fresher contingent in the B team. Rob torch took first leg and used all his local knowledge to run a solid 11.08. James Issac was up next with a solid 11.50. James handed over to Rob Linten who clawed back a place with a run of 11.31. Cross country captain Rory Johnson took the glory leg and ran very well with 11.17 to leave the B boys in 20^th place. In a moment of tactical genius Rory had made the B and C teams a very similar standard. This was evident in the first leg when Chris Lowe’s 11.08 left the C’s just 4 seconds behind the B’s. Max Coventry has been out of DUAXC action since BUCS cross country and today was his long anticipated return to action. It was good to have him back, especially as he put in such a strong run of 11.35 on the second leg! Max handed over to Andreas Doering who gained 2 places with his run of 11.37. Bringing it home was Nick Thomas  who did so in a commendable 11.48. Ali-G took a break from his acting career to lead off the D team, which he did well with his run of 11.58. Up next was true Yorkshire man Pete Davison who ran 12.35. He handed over to Gareth ‘does France have a coast?’ Maguire who ran 12.51. Ollie Cook, a 17 time veteran of the Leeds relays, used all his experience to continue his amazing winter thus far with an impressive 11.39.  Now the E team had some serious motivation after being subject to endless banter (especially from Pete and Gareth) about how easily the D team would dominate them. So with fire in his belly Phill Harrison stormed round first leg for the E’s in 12.45. He handed over to Nick who ran 12.50. Both Pat and Chris had to run their second legs of the day but they did so in style with times of 11.28 and 11.39 respectively. This was enough to complete the shock result of the year, maybe even the decade, as the E’s finished ahead of a forlorn D team.

The day overall was a great success and thanks must go to Rory and Yvonne for organising it! Man of the match is a close call with so many good performances. Especially those of Ellie, Hannah, Lucy, Ollie and Alistair. However, you can’t argue with a club record so Martin Proctor takes the accolade. Dick of the day too has many contenders. Gareth is certainly in the hat for cracking his head whilst leaving the bus. Yvonne  for ‘losing her I pod,’ is in with a shout. As is Alex 'tinpot' Robinson who did not run becuase "I am saving myself for a night that will re-define big on Sunday." Yet Dick of the day has to be Rory Johnson for vetoing a trip to Wetherby for fish and Chips, just so he could be home in time to dress up as santa…Poor form indeed! I wish my essay due in on Friday was as long as this report! MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL DUAXC.      

DICK OF THE DAY