Telford Athletic Club enjoyed a huge medal haul at the Midland Road Relay Championships held around the traditional course in Sutton Coldfield's Sutton Park. The Masters team took the gold, the womens team took bronze and Claire Martin an individual bronze for the 3rd fastest run of the day.

The Masters 6 stage relay saw Telford take the lead on the third leg and were never headed. The Telford masters team are the only Midland club to have featured in the first three in these championships since 1996, including victory in 1999 and a winning streak from 2003 to 2005 with this years victory the 5th in the club's history. Paul Ward who spent much of the winter injured returned to action to run the opening leg in 28.35, the 3rd fastest on the day, for the 5.3 mile course finishing 2nd to Redhill. Steve Jones the club treasurer took over on the second leg running 17.11 for the 2.9 mile short leg finishing 3rd. Dave Mansbridge ran the 3rd leg to take Telford into the lead with 16.07, the third fastest short leg. Greg Wilson, fresh from an impressive Stafford 20 mile performance in his build up to the forthcoming London Marathon, ran the 4th long leg in 29.17, the 5th fastest on the day. Shane Connolly another TAc athlete building up for the Londan ran 17.09 on the next short leg before Rick Hailey ran the glory leg in 16.50 to break the tape and lead the team to the gold medals.The team's time was 2 hours 5 minutes and nine seconds, some 3 minutes slower than the club's best ever time of 2.02.03 set in 2003.Redhill Road Runners were second in 2.06.38 with Leicester 3rd in 2.06.45. The masters team, managed by John Hassall now look forward to the National Masters Relay Championships in May.

The Telford womens team were led on the opening leg by Sian Davies who ran really well to finish 2nd to Notts Ac in 17.18, the 8th fastest on the day.Julie Kirby ran the 2nd leg and consolidated 2nd place with 18.30.Sarah Mackness ran the 3rd leg in 19.47 finishing 6th, before Hayley Jennings ran 17.20, the 9th fastest on the day, to move into 5th.Denise Sanders, running in her first race for 9 months was delighted with her 18.57 moving the team into 4th. Claire Martin ran the 6th and final leg in a nippy 16.35, the 3rd fastest on the day just two seconds behind the fastest and just 8 seconds outside her best set in 2001. She moved the team up to 3rd to give the club thier 4th consecutive 3rd place finish in this Midland Championships but the ir finishing time of 1.48.27 is the fastest 6 stage performance 5 seconds quicker than their previous best set in 2005. Charnwood won in 1.46.02, with Bristol and West second in 1.47.56 with Telford third inb 1.48.27 well ahead of several strong Midland clubs such as Coventry 4th, Tipton 6th, Notts 7th and Birchfield 9th.

The womens B team comprised Lesley Hassall 22.51, Gill Pugh 19.53, Jane Hailey 23.41, Cheralyn Evans 19.34 and Lisa Blagden 21.37.

The mens 12 Stage team comprised 4 long legs and 8 short legs finished 17th out of the 44 finishing teams. Wayne Dashper ran the opening long leg in 30.07 bringing the team home 25th. Nick Andrews ran the club's second fastest short leg of 16.42 moving up to 23rd. Chris Bagshaw returned from illness to run the 3rd leg in 17.09 moving the club up to 19th. Chris Rimmer returned from university in Plymouth to run a long leg in 28.48, the club's fastest long leg on the day before his 21st birthday. David Cains ran the 5th leg in 16.18 the days fastest short stage for the club coming home 9th the highest placing of the day. Paul Williams ran leg 6 in 17.31 before Colin Lancaster ran 31.50 on the next long leg. Steve Needs ran the 8th leg in 17.51 before Jamie Davies ran the 9th leg in 18.08. Jonathan Hockey ran the final long leg in 32.23 before Malcolm Dawes 18.59 and Rick Hailey 17.12 completed the line up.

Paul Sanderson