MANCHESTER “TINPOT” RELAYS 2011

As per tradition DUAXC opened the season with a trip to the Manchester relays. Fortunately there was no repeat of some of the horrendous bus driving of last year and we made it to Manchester without any unwanted detours. However, the bus ride was not without controversy and rumour has it that Nick Butler is wanted by the police for questioning after some seriously distasteful jokes.

Upon arrival the traditional walk of the course took place. Not much to report. The course was flat, there were some trees, football pitches and some mud.

Moving on to the race itself. The men’s ‘A’ team was made up of Mike Grimes, Pat Vis, Ed Hickman Casey, Chris Lowe, Ollie Cook and Jack “big name in Durham” Hillier. Alex Robinson would have been in the team but he was saving himself for Grey Bop that evening. Mike or the ‘ginger Mo Farrah,’ as he wants to be known took the responsibility of leading the team off. He lived up to his new name and belted out the fastest leg by a DUAXC member in years and brought the team home in 4^th in 10.47. Next was Pat, who had a solid run and ran 11.37 to bring the team home in 10^th.  Ed maintained 10^th place, running 11.58 – over a minute quicker than last year. Next up was DUAXC’s most improved runner Ollie who finished his leg in 14^th running 12.22, 30 seconds quicker than last year. New financial Guru Chris Lowe was up next. His 12.38 was good enough to maintain 14^th. The stage was now set for self proclaimed massive lad Jack Hillier our new social sec. Despite rumours of four nights out during freshers week the big lad himself ran the second fastest leg of the day for us (11.32), gaining us 2 places bringing us home in 12th.

For the ‘B’ team Ciaran Costello opened proceedings with a 12.42. Next up was Nick Butler. Nick had a great run with 13.32. New boy Gareth Maguire got his first taste of DUAXC action and ran 13.52. Pete Davison was on 4^th leg, Pete was able to put his disappointment at the lack of Fell’s to one side and has a really strong run gaining a place with a run of 13.34. Ginger Mo ran his second leg of the day next. He did not disappoint and his 10.59 meant he ran the fastest and the second fastest DUAXC legs of the day gaining 6 places in the process. Pat also ran a second leg and caught up a further 4 runners to bring the team home in a very respectable 25^th.  

Now there is big talk about the girls team year, with plenty of fresh talent signing up at the Fresher’s fair in addition to the core of good female athlete’s we already have. It was fantastic to see some of the fresher girls taking part today even after some had been on the lash the night before! There was a fresher contingent in the A team as Claudia Conway joined Bria Dickinson and Kat O’mahony. Unfortunately the A team does not yet appear on the results, but it looks like the girls got at least a top 20 finish if not a top 15 so very well done and hopefully the results will be changed and I can then update the report. Alice Lilley lead off the B team with a time of 15.34. Next up Emily Field- Lucas had a storming run on the second leg gaining an amazing 10 places with a run of 14.31. New girls Cross Country captain Yvonne Farrell brought the girls home in 25^th in a time of 15.44. Such is the completion for places in the girls team this year that the C team narrowly defeated the B’s. Unknown quantity Alex Slotwinki ran first for the C’s and ran very fast and very promising 15.01, hopefully there is more to come from Alex this season. 400m runner Hannah Nagel was up next and showed great versatility running 15.30 gaining 10 places in the process. We certainly hope to see Hannah attempting Cross Country again! Kat ran her second leg of the day and what a leg it was too! Her 14.48 gained the team one place brining the girl’s home in 23^rd.

On the coach back the traditional Man of the match of Dick of the day vote took place. The man of the match was a close call. Some said Ollie Cook for his solid A team performance. Some said the fresher’s for a great first DUAXC outing. Some even campaigned for the dark horse Alistair Galt, a true inspiration for us all. However the joint winners were Ginger Mo for his storming two runs and Hannah Nagel for a fantastic Cross Country debut! Dick of the day was also hotly contested. Ciaran Costello was  taken into consideration for reasons we all know. The names Emily Field-Lucas and Bria Dickinson were also put forward for reason unrepeatable on the world wide web. In Fact thinking about it I can’t actually remember who got dick of the day due the effects of the birthday bottle of Lambrini. Therefore I am going to dick of the day to Alex Robinson for not considering the race tinpot enough for him.

Big thanks goes to Rory and Yvonne for sorting out the day! Roll on the Past v Present race.

(Photos to follow soon)