Review of 2009 Birmingham Cross XC Senior Mens Div 2, Round 2, Gloucester

by Mark Coyle

Under lead grey skies 230 or so hardy souls toed the line in almost perfect XC conditions - damp but still - at the rather strangely but aptly named Crypt School in Gloucester. I say apt because the name of the venue reflects the clubs chances of avoiding relegation to division three this season. The Sphinx body lies in the coffin, the last rites administered but the lid hasn’t been nailed down as yet. You may recall that despite the best efforts of those who could make it to Sennellys Park in October the club sit firmly anchored to the bottom of the division over 300 points adrift of our nearest relegation rival, leaving us the almost insurmountable task of avoiding demotion.

Thankfully it was a good turnout by the “dirty dozen” - Ashley, Matt Melia, Tom Delaney, Nigel and Lee Timms, Ian Gower, Trevor Clark, Nick Gilkes, Ben Orme, Collin Taylor, Steve Court and meself - who made the hour or so long trip down the M5 to Gloucester for this “Birmingham” League race. Paul B and Bob C greeted us and Jackie and Richard Bagley appeared as we warmed up. A sharp whistle blast saw the leading lads chase off hard over the ticker tapped course that meandered around the first of three 2 mile laps around a surprisingly boggy school playing field. The route consisted of – a two and a half lap - largely flat affair with a handful of short sharp mounds and one long drag which plunged you into a couple of small wooded areas. Here the path narrowed to muddy trails that hid a web of thick tree routes – ready to trip the unwary or heavy limbed – as well as several sharp muddy declines and ascents made slick by the women’s race held earlier that afternoon.

At the business end of the race Ashley, Matt and Mr Sat Nav himself Mr “Tom Tom” Delaney battled manfully to stay in touch with the front half of the field posting three excellent scores in finishing 25th, 40th and 79th respectively. Just behind them the father and son combo of Nigel and Lee Timms had there own private family battle with experience vanquishing youth as father, Nigel stormed home in 109th place with the young pup Lee fifteen places behind in 126th place. Just back from those two you could have thrown a blanket over me (135th), Trevor (136th), Ian (138th), Collin (143rd), Ben (146th) and Nick (147th). Steve Court (174th) finished strongly just a couple of minutes later in and we all headed back for a cold shower and a hot mug of tea.

The up shot of it all was that our efforts pulled us off the bottom. Stourbridge could not raise a full team and thus are automatically relegated. Dudley Kingswinford dropped to 17th and we climbed to 16th (the third relegation spot) behind Stratford- Upon-Avon who remain 327 points above us with just two races remaining. (See table below)

So, the fat lady is clearing her throat, but while there is life in the Sphinx body there is always hope. A good turn out at our “home” race at Wyken Croft in January could leave us “working class types” facing a sudden death play-off with the “toffs” of Stratford in the last race of the season in a real relegation decider.

League Placings after race 2 of 4

15 Stratford upon Avon AC  46  69  74  97 103 125 514 531   1045
16 Sphinx AC               28  40  79 109 126 135 517 855   1372
17 Dudley Kingswinford     72 101 119 128 139 152 711 757   1468
18 Stourbridge RC          50  62 178 204 DNF DNF 533 DNF    DNF 

Finishing positions.

 28 Ashley Miles  35.11
 40 Matt Melia    35.53
 79 Tom Delaney   37.53
109 Nigel Timms   39.31
126 Lee Timms     40.48
135 Mark Coyle    41.04
136 Trevor Clark  41.07
138 Ian Gower     41.15
143 Colin Taylor  41.26
146 Ben Orme      41.44
147 Nick Gilkes   41.51
174 Steve Court   44.13