Hercules Wimbledon produce record-breaking displays at 12 Stage Road Relay Championships

Hercules Wimbledon Athletic Club’s had two teams produce record performances in the annual English Road Running Association Men’s 12 Stage Road Relay Championships held in Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield on Saturday, writes George Mallett.

The race sees the best in Britain compete over six short legs of 5.05km and six long legs of 8.6km with a host of Olympians competing in a deeply competitive field.

Hercules’ senior men’s A team were ninth overall, seventh out of the English clubs, with the B team 32nd – a club record for their second string.

The race was won by Central AC of Scotland, with the top three clubs (Highgate Harriers and Kent AC) all going inside the previous course record.

Hercules can count themselves unlucky to finish as low as ninth seeing as their A team’s time of 4.17.38 was just 38 second outside their club record set last year when they finished sixth.

The A team was kicked off by Archie Walton, whose 26:55 was Hercules’ second fastest of the day. Such was the quality of the opposition that this only earned 26th on the opening leg. Henry Silverstein, running for the B team, ran 27:42 to leave the team in a very impressive 37th.

For the first of the short legs Charlie Wyllie ran 15:39, moving up 10 places as the A team reached 16th. Andrew Merry, running 17:14, handed over in 39th for the B’s.

The outstanding run of the day came from Andrew Penney (25:59) to lift Hercules to fifth. Not only was it a club record but the 19th fastest of any athlete on the day.

Charlie Eastaugh took over and ran the ninth fastest short leg of the day (15:26) to lift the A team to third. That time is Hercules’ quickest ever over the short legs.

Hercules’ B team continued to make steady progress. James Stockings ran 28:52 to move to 37th with Austin Hall (17:51) handing over in 38th.

Alex Robinson was next up for the A team, running 27:24 to pass over to Oli Carrington in sixth. Carrington’s 15:57 maintained this position, in the process extending the gap to Tonbridge in seventh.

For the B’s Sam Todd’s 28:59 lifted the club to 37th. Tom Maloney gained one more thanks to a 17:16 clocking.

George Mallett took over for the A team on leg eight running 27:20 but was unable to prevent Hercules slipping to eighth, before brother Ed regained one place (16:05).

Chris McIlroy (29:25) and Liam White (17:23) continued the B team’s ascent to 35th.

Fred Slemeck has spent the last two weeks taking care of newborn Kelia but shrugged off the sleepless nights to run 27:20 again as a loaded leg saw Hercules dip to 10th.

GB International Stu McCallum (16:01) maintained that position with Ben Toomer (27:29) closing the gap to then ninth place Bedford & County.

For the B’s Dave Grima (30:56), Justin Reid (18:17) and Joe Clark (29:44) cemented Hercules’ 35th place position.

Grandstand finishes were seen for both the A’s and B’s. Finn Johnson (16:04) comfortably overtook Bedford to lift the team to ninth, their second-best position in the last 40 years.

Hector Revill, recorded the B teams’ best short leg in 16:42, as Hercules gained three places on the final leg.