Super Sam stars in Monty 5k race

THE second running of the Monty 5k at the Edmondscote athletics track in Leamington Spa featured minor improvements to the course which greatly improved it for the runners.

This year, the competitors had to run 600 metres on the track, before exiting straight ahead, meaning that athletes were spread out as they left the athletic track.

The course is very flat, but not as fast as it might be, due to the twists and turns.

After the lap of the track, runners then head towards the town centre alongside the River Leam.

At the edge of the town, the route returns through Victoria Park and back alongside the river, finishing, Olympic style, with a lap of the track.

The conditions were ideal for running, if just a little warm, as 13 Stratford-upon-Avon Athletic Club members lined up at the start.

This race features in the club’s Grand Prix competition and was also the second of this year’s Warwickshire Road Race League fixtures, so valuable points were on offer for both competitions.

First home for Stratford, by a considerable margin, was 19-year-old Sam Weaving.

Weaving’s impressive time of 18.46, saw him finish in 30th place and fifth in his age category.

Next to finish and continuing his fine run of form was Peter Sugden in 95th place with a time of 21.47.

Sugden was followed by David Jones (107th, 22.23). Jones was second in his age group and just managed to hold off Luke Watkins (109th, 22.36).

Phil Brennan (124th, 23.16) will maintain his hold on second place in the club’s Grand Prix competition and he also managed to finish 4th in his age group.

Dave Maundrell (137th, 24.07) ran another consistent race. First lady to finish for the club was Annie Cox (149th, 24.45).

Cox, who won her age group at the recent Massey Ferguson 10k, this time managed second in the L20 age group.

Ruth Calderbank (160th, 25.36) got yet another age group victory, hot on the heels of the one she got in the Massey 10k.

Calderbank was just 20 seconds ahead of Jan McLure (164th, 25.56) who earned more valuable Grand Prix points.

McLure was followed by Bev Bridgen (169th, 27.01). Next to finish and following her recent international call up, also finishing second in her age group, was Kate Sergent (177th, 28.56).

Sergent was just 19 seconds ahead of her much-improving husband Martyn, who had an excellent run to finish in 178th place, in a time of 29.14.

Tash Watkins completed the list of Stratford runners, finishing in 182nd place and a time of 30.25.

Stratford’s men’s team finished in ninth place, with the ladies finishing in fifth place, as did the Stratford ladies’ masters team.