ATHLETES from Dudley Kingswinford Running Club have started their winter term with the first cross country league fixture of the season at Leamington Spa.

With both men and women competing at the same venue, the blue hoops took a coach load of 30 runners to rub shoulders against the likes of Loughborough, Birchfield Harriers, Birmingham University, Tipton Harriers and Coventry Godiva.

The women’s race was won by Birmingham University from Loughborough and Birchfield, but the ladies of DK held their own finishing in 31st position of the 40 teams competing. Helen Tromans was first home for the club in 140th with Carol Fisher in 220th, Lynn Sprague 228th, Marie Latreche 263rd, Karen Doy in 271st, Alison Whitehouse in 295th, Lisa Newell in 301st, Sue Payton in 311th, Meg Dowen in 316th, Jane Campbell in 321st, Charlotte Tonks in 337th and Sally McConville in 348th.

In the men’s race, DK faced tough opposition back in Division Two of the Birmingham League after achieving promotion last season.

With the level of competition being much more fierce it was a pleasing result to finish just below halfway in 12th of 18 teams, some distance from the bottom three relegation places. Ben Foster was first back in 20th, with Richard Bate in 77th, Rob Sannwald 78th, Kevin Duckworth 85th, Dave Norman 129th and Andy Sprague in 131st making up the A team scorers. Also representing the club were James Wright, Mark Gallimore, Mark Gatenby, Keith Bate, Pete Hood, Phil Smith, Graham Wildgoose, Richard Tonks, Brian Preston, Mark Judge, Kieran Pitt and Paul Silk making his club debut.

Further afield, Roger Beddard completed the Athens Marathon, his time of 4.25.14 placing him in 35th in his age group.