Chris Davies returned to his all time favourite course the Sutton Park road relay circuit in Sutton Coldfield and came away with the fastest time of the day in the National Six Stage Road Relay Championships on Saturday. This is the equivalent of being crowned the National Road Running Champion, as all the countries top athletes take part in this event. In perfect autumnal conditions Chris, took over on the 4th leg for Telford Athletic Club as he sped round the course in 16.42, moving the club up 20 places in the process. Although the fastest time on the day it was still some 17 seconds slower than his own course record, he set in this event 3 years ago. Chris who has been suffering with injuries for months is delighted to get back to something like previous best, he was 17 seconds quicker than the next fastest who was Frank Tickner from Wells, over the hilly 5.8 kilometre course. Tickner won everything on the country last winter, the Inter Counties, National and World Trial, in fact except Mo Farah all the leading GB distance runners were on show and well behind Davies.

Chris who has now moved to live at Newdale, Telford has been rewarded for his superb run with an invitation to run for Great Britain in the Eikeden Road Relay in Japan, at the end of November. He has made this team on two previous occasions but the format of the relay has now changed and it is a mixed team, of 3 men and 3 women. With Mo Farah,6th in the World Championships 5000m, already pre selected, there were only 2 mens places available. So Chris is really in top class company. Coincidently the last time he ran for Great Britain was in the World Cross Country Championships also held in Japan. He now plans to run for Telford AC in the opening Birmingham Cross Country race of the season at Sennelly's Park, Birmingham on Saturday.

The Telford AC mens team finished 30th, the 7th Midland club and 31 places higher than last year. Paul ward ran the opening leg in 18.35, 8 seconds quicker than he ran over the same course at the Midland Championships last month, as he came home 48th, the club's second fastest time of the day. Chris Bagshaw ran the second leg in 19.00, 3 seconds inside his previous best, before Wayne Dashper ran the 3rd leg in 19.21 to bring the club home in 49th. Chris Davies then took over and scorched round in 16.42 passing 20 teams in the process. Will Joyce made his debut in these relays ran the 5th leg in 19.21 moving up a further place to 28th before Jonathan Hockey ran the final leg 10 seconds quicker than ever before in 20.04 finishing 30th overall. Belgrave Harriers won the relay in 1h 44.30, Leeds were second in 1.45.20 whilst Newham and Essex Beagles were 3rd in 1.45.55.

The Telford womens team were also in top form as they repeated their superb 7th place from last year, but this time ran 70 seconds quicker, setting a new club record for this course of 60.09 and just 1minute 22 seconds adrift of a bronze medal. The relay was won by Aldershot Farnham and District in 57.15 with Midland champions Charnwood second in 57.56 and Havering Mayesbrook third in 58.47. Telford who were 2nd in last season's National Cross Country Championships had the satisfaction of seeing the champions that day Winchester back in 8th place 24 seconds adrift.

Claire Martin ran the opening leg in a new personal best by some 9 seconds in 14.33 for the undulating 4.3 kilometre course bringing the team home in 10th. British Masters 10k Champion, Cheralyn Evans went second and ran 22 seconds quicker than her run in the Midalnd Champs over the same course as she finished 16th. Kim Fawke, fresh from her brilliant Great North Half Marathon performance ran the 3rd leg in 14.51 moving the club up to 7th as she ran the 5th fastest time on the 3rd leg. Cathy Ansell, from Sheriffhales came back from university in Oxford to run the fourth and final leg in 15.16 another personal best and almost 30 seconds quicker than her previous best as she maintained 7th position. Sarah Mackness ran 16.52 on the opening leg for the B team.

For the first time in many years Telford also fielded teams in some of the young athletes age groups. The under 15 girls team finished 23rd and 6th Midland club in 46.42. Kelsey Collins ran the opening leg in 15.47 for the 3.8 kilometre course finishing 40th, Chloe Murphy ran the second leg in 15.56 moving up to 34th before Harriet Grandfield ran the final leg in 14.59 finishing 23rd. The under 17 men s team were 39th and 8th Midland club in 40.03. Chris Carter ran the first leg in 12.51 finishing 35th, Sam Ashley ran the second leg in 13.34 finishing 39th before Toby Birtwhistle ran 13.38 on the final leg. In the under 17 girls race Cerian Lancaster ran the opening leg in 14.59 finishing 22nd before Nicole Hilliker ran the second leg in 15.21 moving the club up to 16th.

Paul Sanderson