Match Report by Des Webb:
Team Southampton Performs well at National Road Relays in Birmingham

Team Southampton sent a select number of teams to compete at the National Road Relays at Sutton Coldfield on both Saturday and Sunday despite it being a very busy weekend for the South coast club, with many club runners competing successfully in the different age group races at the Great South Run in Portsmouth.

In the road relays on the saturday in showery conditions Angus MacLean was the star performer when he ran the fifth fastest mens time of the day out of the 450 competitors, in a time of 17 mins 21 seconds, less than 20 seconds behind fastest performer of the day, England's Mo Farah. MacLean took over from Southamptons first leg runner Mike Beckett (19 mins 50 secs) to bring the team up to 37th place. Then two of the clubs Loughborough based students Alex Wall-Clarke (19 mins 54 secs) and Oli Williams (20 mins 16 secs), together with Tommy Davies (18 mins 45 secs) and Russell Osborn (19 mins 52 secs) brought the club's 6 man team home in a creditable 41st place just ahead of local rivals Basingstoke (44th), Southampton Running Club (45th) and Winchester and District (47th), confirming the strength in depth in mens running in Hampshire.

On the Sunday it was the turn of the clubs Junior athletes and despite the torrential rain that the U17 mens and womens teams had to endure as the ran around the 3.8km course they performed very well. In the womens race Rebecca Gough set the team off to a flying start with a time of 13 mins 46 secs, the 9th fastest of the day, and putting the team into a very strong second place just behind eventual winners Aldershot farnham and District. Kay Shafford ran very bravely on the second leg (16 mins 30 secs) and then Louise Webb ran well on the final leg with the 12th fastest time of the day of 13 mins 55 secs to bring the team home in 9th place overall.

In the u17 boys Jamie Knapp got the team off to a great start to run the first leg in 12 mins and 38 secs and put the team into 18th place out of the 46 teams competing. Chris Dennis held the team place well with a time of 13 mins and 23 seconds and Calum Stewart ran a very brave final leg in very heavy rain in a time of 14 mins and 28 secs to bring them home in 29th place overall. an all the more creditable performance as the team consisted entirely of younger athletes who still have another year in the same age group, boding very well for next year.

Team Southampton

Position	Name	Performance
1	Mike Beckett	19:50, 66th Place
2	Angus MacLean	17:21, 37th Place
3	Alex Wall-Clarke	19:54, 46th Place
4	Tommy Davies	18:45, 38th Place
5	Oli Williams	20:11, 40th Place
6	Russell Osborn	19:52, 41st Place

Team Southampton finished 41st out of 77 teams. Improving by 3 places compared to last year. Oli Williams & Russell Osborn setting course best times by 24 & 8 seconds. Angus MacLean's 17:21 being =5th fastest time.

Please Note:
These results are based on information sent to me. Any problems with names / times / positions then e-mail teamsouthampton@hotmail.com