The Annual SEAA Road Relay Championships took place at Rushmoor Arena, Aldershot over the weekend 19/20 September, with BAC represented by only one team, a Vet 50 team, which must have had a combined age of more than most, if not all, of the competing Vet 50 teams, bearing in mind half of its members were V 65s! The Veterans run a 4 stage relay, and Nick Kenchington was first away for BAC, completing leg 1 of the approximately 3.8 mile course in 24.07, 45th of the 65 vets of all ages (V40, V50 and V60). Nick handed over to Andy Gillespie, who, inspired by a PB at the Salisbury Parkrun the day before, ran the course in 26.22, 55th of the 63 vets who completed leg 2.  Ian Graham took over for leg 3, who finished 56th of the 62 vets who ran his leg, in a time of 27.33, and Dave Parsons took the ‘glory’ last leg, running 27.06, 51st of the 60 vets on leg 4.  Although, in the final results, the BAC  Vets were 17th of the 19 complete V50 teams (and 52nd of the 58 vets teams of all ages, V40, V50 and V60), nevertheless all four who took part (who realised they weren’t in the hunt for medals!) enjoyed the occasion, and, as their race took place at 12.30, were then able to take in the sun whilst watching the start of the Senior Mens‘ race which commenced at 2.30 pm.  Considering that 69 teams of six, plus a number of incomplete teams, took part, and that the winning time was 17.45, with 20 men running under 18.31, it is easy to imagine what a spectacle this was.  The only thing which was missing was a a team wearing the BAC vest!

More photos of the Aldershot Relays below…………………

More details have come to light of Jacek Cieluszecki‘s race mentioned in the last report.  Jacek has just returned from holiday in Poland, during which he ran two highly successful, but very different, races.  The first was a mountain ultra race, very much so, as this was over a distance of no less than 100k, with an elevation of 4500m, known as the ‘7 Valley Run‘.  Jacek ran a remarkable 10 hr 35 min 28 sec, to finish 11th of a total of 450 finishers (there were numerous withdrawals).  Jacek says that he really enjoyed the race, but it is very different from road running.  He found the flat and uphill ok, but found the downhill, especially the rocky, technical, bits problematical, and says “I must improve my skills”.  With such a superb run, Jacek‘s skills don’t seem to need much improving!  The following week, Jacek ran in the Torun Parkrun, and won, with a new course record (16.42)!  The Torun Parkrun takes place in Jacek‘s hometown, and the course includes part of some of Jacek‘s long runs when he lived in Poland.  The website for this event is exactly the same as the websites for our Parkruns (including a picture of a London Routemaster Bus!), except, of course, it is all in Polish.  One page clearly refers to the new course record achieved by Jacek (“gratulujemy” – now what on earth can that mean?!).

There was a BAC presence at just two of the Parkruns on Saturday 19 September. At the Bournemouth Parkrun, Paul Hill was 3rd, with Paul Consani 5th and Ross Smith 6th – both Paul and Ross running PBs for the course.  Also running at Bournemouth were Ian White, Alison Humphrey, Jud Kirk, Steve Cox, BAC‘s Captain Rich Nelson, showing a welcome recovery from injury, and Sam Laws.  Meanwhile, in the Salisbury Parkrun, Andy Gillespie‘s PB meant that his finish, 15th, was considerably higher than in previous Salisbury Parkruns, despite an increased (if not a record) field of 189.

Finally, although not strictly speaking athletics under the auspices of BAC, mention must be made of ex-BAC member Amy Spencer‘s recent achievement at the recent GBPF Classic Powerlifting Championships.  Amy came 4th in the Senior competition – despite the fact that she was competing as a Junior!  Furthermore, Amy achieved a Junior British Record in the Squat.  Well done, Amy!

And returning to the Aldershot Relays………………..