Mallory Park race circuit hosted the BMAF Road Relay Championships for the first time owing to issues with the traditional location of Sutton Park. A windy and drizzly day welcomed the teams, which included four teams from AFD; WV 35-44, two MV 35-44 and a MV45-54. The new venue presented a challenging 3 mile course with two 180 degree turns, a couple of hills and plenty of wind to cope with.
The new venue obviously suited AFD’s teams as they medaled in each category with the following results:
The ladies WV 35-44 comprising of Lisa Faunch, Clare Rees, Lucy Wright and Karen Andrews won GOLD finishing over two minutes ahead of their closest rivals, setting a new course record and becoming BMAF Champions!
The men’s MV 35-44 A team of Jamie Quinlan, Hamish Maclean, Ali Smith, Stephen Blake, Chris Tizzard and Richard Lovejoy picked their way through the early legs and consolidated their position in the latter stages to bring the team home to win the SILVER medal.
The “B” team finished as the first placed “B” team on the day, Martin Mashford, Brian Stopher, Richard Guy Smith, Dan Acheson, Mike Boucher and Matthew Huntley.
The MV 45-54 team included two athletes from the V55-64 age group, but they proved age is just a number by helping their team of Phil Young, Simon Cooper, Koji Miyazaki and Mark Symes to the BRONZE medal.
Coach and team manager Tad Dicker was pleased with the team’s performances saying “A little celebration tonight, days like this don’t happen very often”.
Following a successful debut it was announced that the 2024 event would be held at the same venue but back in the traditional calendar slot in May, so hopefully a warmer day will greet the teams and AFD can replicate their achievements of this year.