Midland Cross Country Leagues, Race Day 1, Sat 10 November 2018
In their first fixture in Division 1 of the Midland League, after securing promotion last season, the CLC ladies team travelled to Counden Park in Coventry. They did themselves and the club proud in their first appearance in this tough league, with three top 100 finishers.
](/images/2018/11/Ladies-Counden-Park-Coventry-10.11.18.jpg)
The ladies, left L to R: Laura Fletcher, Nicola Weager, Rachel Vines, Helen Knight, Karlien Heyrman, Amelia Mullins and Cerys Jones
First home was the ever-reliable Helen Knight, in 52nd place and a time of 24:27. She was followed home by Karlien Heyrman in 64th place and a time of 25:10. Third finisher was vet Amelia Mullins who ran superbly to win 82nd place in a time of 26:09.
Fast returning to form, Rachel Vines finished in 104th place in a time of 27:04, Laura Fletcher turned in a great run for 119th place in 27:48, Nicola Weager was 126th in 27:56, and Cerys Jones was 162nd in 30:21.
A mark of just how competitive the Division 1 League is, is that the ladies finished in 13th place over all, a really solid start to their campaign at the top of the Midlands Cross Country scene.
Meanwhile, in Division 2, the CLC men travelled to Worcester to compete across a classic cross country course at Cob House Country Park. A great turnout saw the men enter three teams on the day. With a few of the club’s best cross country competitors absent, the men really stepped up and turned in some stellar performances on the day.
](/images/2018/11/Tom-Kabala-10.11.18.jpg)
The ground-breaking Tom Kabala bagged a brilliant top 50 finish in 36th place and a time of just 37:09. Next home was the gutsy Tom Fletcher in 65th place and a time of 38:46. Sam Baylis was 68th in a solid time of 38:54 and new arrival Louis Fievet ran a great race to finish 92nd in 40:19. Only just behind him was Alex Monro in 100th place and a time of 40:29. 6th finisher for the A-Team was Clark Lawson in 125th place and a time of 41:24.
The next four CLC men finished in close order – Max Baylis was 126th in 41:28, vet John Willson was 129th in 41:34, Ben Akif was 130th in an identical time of 41:34 and Paul Lockyer was 137th in 42:04.
Back after an injury, Joel Freeland finished in 158th place, James Gibbs was 176th, super vet David James was 198th, Kyle Sollars was 203rd, Tim Brock was 206th, Andrew Gage was 207th, Hedley Phillips was 208th and Chris Thomas was 226th.
The A team counted 11thon the day, with the vets securing 8thplace.