ATHLETICS

LOUGHTON Athletic Club hosted the annual Physical Shield Road Relay around the tough course at Spareleaze Hill/Tycehurst Hill.

The event was contested by 14 teams from four clubs, with runners having to cover two laps of the 1.4km loop.

Victoria Park/Tower Hamlets A team retained the Shield, with an overall time of 37mins 19secs, some two minutes in front of second-place Eton Manor.

The VPTH team included the two fastest individual performances, from Dave Alcock (8mins 48secs) and Paul Martelletti (8mins 52secs).

The leading ladies' team was from Orion Harriers, in fifth place overall, in an excellent time of 43mins 33secs.

Included in the team was Natalie Kipps. who set a new women's course best time of 9mins 44secs.

The Loughton teams performed well, with the Ladies A team second in their category, and seventh overall, in 45mins 40secs.

The team members were Caroline Real (11mins 1sec), Gabrielle Brooks (11mins 29secs), Michelle Hurley (12mins 4secs) and Lorna Gaffney (11mins 6secs).

The ladies B team of Anne Heeks (12mins 52secs), Gwen Harwood (14mins 47secs), Jean Hobbs (13mins 43secs) and Amanda Gibbins (13mins 20secs) finished fifth, and 14th overall, in 54mins 42ssecs.

The men's A team finished third - the best performance by a Loughton team for some years. Brett Underhill set a time of 9mins 55secs and was closely followed by Gavin Harper (10mins 9secs), Craig Smallbone (10mins 28secs) and Tony Babbs (9mins 42secs).

The B team - comprising Mike Rolfe (9mins 53secs), Greg Vedgen (10mins 20secs), Adam Hollingsworth (11mins 34secs) and Rob Sargent (10mins 58secs) - finished in fourth place in 42mins 45secs.

The C team of Scott Hurley (12mins 53secs), Shaun deSouza Brady (13mins 49secs), John Hart (12mins 22secs) and Jim Whiffin (11mins 35secs) finished 11th.