VALE Royal’s celebrated under 17s girls team set the standard once again by earning a medal at the National Road Relay Championships for the first time in the club’s history.
The talented teenage trio of Nikki Meadows, Cathy Stringer and Rebecca Craigie earned Vale Royal a bronze medal in the event at Sutton Park, Birmingham.
Just 18 medals were on offer at the weekend and Vale Royal were one of only three northern clubs to pick up a medal at the showcase meeting, which attracted about 700 teams from across the country.
Each completing the 3.8k course, Meadows earned 10th place, in competition with her her first-leg counterparts, in 14mins 33secs; second-leg runner Stringer finished sixth in 14mins 39secs; and Craigie, taking the anchor leg, was third fastest in her section in a stunning 13mins 55secs.
The triumphant triumvirate’s final cumulative time of 43mins 07secs was bettered by only Winchester & District Athletic (42.10) and title winners Aldershot Farnham & District A (40.59).
Coach Shaun McGrath said: “The girls are over the moon as it’s such a huge event.
“With about 700 teams involved, it’s an amazing event to watch. It’s a great achievement.”
The U17 boys team of Andy Clews, Andy Perry and Ed Crowther claimed 43rd place from 70 starting teams while the U15 boys squad of Lewis Healey, Mike Vennard and Andy Miles finished in 45th with Tom Marsden, Ryan Moore and Matthew Jakeman not far behind in 56th.
U15s girls starlets Tessa McCormick, Hannah Bishop and Megan Huxley earned an impressive 10th place from 70 starters. Amelia Pettitt, Lucy Whittick and Claire Perry took 27th while Kate Moulds and Jess Lee also ran.
The U13 girls trio of Louise Towers, Jade Evans and Chrys Heather finished in 22nd place, which was a huge improvement on last year’s 45th. U13 boys James Iken, Nathan Tipping and Jack Quinn finished in 25th place out of 50 starting teams.
