National Cross Country Championships
IT was all the fun of the fair for three Stubbies at the weekend as they ventured to Alton Towers.
However the only rides which Phil May, John Gueran and Gordon Westley endured were the undulating Staffordshire hills as they took part in the National Cross Country Championships.
It was Tom Humphries from nearby Cannock AC who won the men's 12km race in 32min 3sec. The 23-year-old took the lead at the half-way point and finished 13 seconds ahead of runner-up Phil Wicks with Steve Vernon third. Leeds City won the men's team title for the third successive year.
A total of 1,244 runners took part, and the trio of Stubbies all finished inside the 1,000 mark. John Gueran was first home in 48 minutes on the nail for 910th, followed 43 seconds later by Gordon Westley in 947th place, and Phil May brought the team home in 969th spot with 49min 18sec.
In the absence of her sister-in-law and fellow GB international Hayley, Liz Yelling won her fourth English title when she covered the seven kilometre course in 23 minutes 44 seconds to finish a comfortable 41 seconds ahead of runner-up Gemma Miles. South of England champion Rachel Townend was third in 24:29 and led Winchester AC to the team title for the second successive year.