IT has been a year of first for Bristol & West AC’s senior men’s cross country squad.
Last season after numerous attempts and close calls they won the Midland Counties team title for the very first time and now they have added the regional relay title.
Remarkably this was the first time the club has contested what is a great team event and the quartet of Felix McGrath, Luke Burgess, Max Davis and Ben Robinson marked the occasion in style, not just with a thumping victry but also – unofficially – a record time.
“What is perhaps especially significant about the performance is that, apart from the club`s brilliant young prospect Max, the team included none of the runners who had represented the club in the recent autumn Midland and National road relay championships. Such is our growing strength in depth,” said team manager Mike Down.
Unofficially Davis recorded the fastest individual time of the day with 17mins 47secs for the 6k course as the club eventually finished around three minutes clear of Rugby & Northampton AC.
“We now switch our attention to the National cross relays (Saturday November 5th), with the selection of the two teams likely to cause a headache or two, such is the current overall strength of our squad,” added Down,