RUNNING: THE cross country season kicked off for Spa Striders at the weekend as the Birmingham League and Midlands Women’s League got underway.
Striders’ men’s squad made the trip to Lilleshall National Sports Centre in Telford to compete for the first time in Division Two after their successful promotion at the end of last season.
The higher division provided Striders with stiff competition as the A team finished 13th out of 17 teams while the B team placed 12th from 13.
The women’s team made the shorter trip to Coundon Hall Park in Coventry to start their Division One campaign.
Striders finished 11th out of the 15 teams while the Masters team finishing fourth.
Carolyn Wilkinson starred for Striders, finishing in a time of 29:07.
Further afield, Mel Venables completed the Druids Challenge, a three day 84 mile ultra marathon of hills, headwinds, rain and mud, crossing the Ridgeway Trail.
Vanables completed the opening day (29 miles) in 4:36:41, day two (26.6 miles) in 4:21:13, and day three (28.2 miles) in 4:34:58, to place fifth overall.
Elsewhere Chris Jones raced in the Sunset to Sunrise Challenge – a competition in which competitors race as far along the banks of the River Severn. Jones completed 19 miles in 3:47:19.
