Prior to Sunday’s edition of the race, just nine different teams had seen their name etched onto the Livingston Relay trophy since the inaugural event in 1928.
Derbyshire counterparts, Derby & County, won out in the first running of the race almost ninety years ago and the quartet of Joe Rainsford, Stuart King, Dale Annable and James Mee made sure Heanor RC’s name was added to the solid silver trophy with a dominant victory at Braunstone Park, Leicestershire.
In addition to the history-making efforts of the men’s “A” team, the yellow and blue were well-represented in a fantastic show of team strength with two further men’s teams, two women’s teams and an U15 girls trio for the first time.
In warm and breezy conditions, a record 108 teams lined up on the first of four legs and Joe Rainsford got HRC off to the best of starts. Joe, who finished second in the opening BDL of the season at Teversal Grange, covered the undulating three mile circuit in 14:55 to come home second – his time also saw him finish the day a notable seventh-fastest overall.
Stuart ran four seconds quicker to overtake Barrow Road Runners and put the team in the lead for the first time as Dale – just two weeks on from his London Marathon exploits – stretched the team’s advantage with another sub-15 clocking on leg three.
An apparently slightly worse-for-wear James Mee anchored the team home sixty-one seconds clear of early leaders Barrow as former winners Charnwood AC finished third.
With all four runners running within one minute of each other, the consistent showing from Steve Ashmore, Chris Dale – whose 16:05 was the third-fastest time on leg two – Ashley Deeming and Robin Clegg saw the men’s “B” team finish 7th and ensured Heanor RC had two teams inside the top-10.
Rob Page (18:44) just edged out Carl Hughes (18:46) for the honour of fastest time in the men’s “C” team and their efforts, combined with those from Paul Winfield and Matt Chambers, saw the quartet finish 24th out of over fifty complete teams.
Similarly to the men, Lisa continued her cracking 2014 form to bring the HRC women’s “A” team home second on the first of three legs. Lisa crossed the line in 16:55 and finished the day second-fastest overall behind Midlands XC champion and Charnwood AC athlete Jane Potter (16:10).
Jill kept up the pace on the second leg to hand over to Rose in third before Rose, fresh from her 3:48:48 marathon PB in London, brought the team home fifth. Charnwood AC ran out comfortable winners ahead of fellow Leicestershire-based sides Huncote Harriers and Harborough AC.
Gemma Housley kicked things off on the opening leg to bring the women’s “B” side home 27th before Rita Fisher caught a magnificent nine runners to hand over to Kirsty Hessey. Fifteen-year old Kirsty, on her HRC senior debut, clocked 27:17 to anchor the team to 27th overall.
Just twenty four hours on from their efforts at the Derbyshire Track & Field Mini League, Lily Winfield and Emily Deeming were joined by Georgia Stirland as Heanor RC were able to field an U15 girls team in the event for the first time.
Lily kept up her ever-encouraging recent form to bring the trio home first ahead of Wreake Runners on leg one. Lily handed over to Emily Deeming on leg two, who went on to finish dead-level with Wreake’s second leg runner in a time of 20:04. Georgia’s committed effort on the final leg saw the side finish second and rounded-off another top-showing.
Full results HERE
Photos: Facebook
A quiet week means Heanor RC will next be in action at the Charnwood AC Open track meet on Wednesday 7th May.