Silver dash in North Road Relays (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Silver dash in North Road Relays

10:36am Friday 3rd October 2008 in Sport By Gazette Sports

HOPES were high as eight Kendal AAC athletes travelled to Hartlepool to take part in the North of England Road Relays.

Following her success on the fells over the summer, Sarah Tunstall joined the girls for her debut in this event.

The contrast from fell to flat in the 4K promenade out-and-back race could not have been greater, but her strength was used to great effect in the quality field on the first leg, when she finished fifth in 12min 51sec for the ninth fastest time of the day.

After a summer of triathlons Joanne Taylor found renewed enthusiasm. Aware of the pressure to perform, she set off hard and hung on to finish 11th in 14-55.

It was obvious to Kendal supporters that Rebecca Robinson was happy to swap the fells for the road. Looking the best we have seen her, it was no surprise that her fourth place in 12-20 turned out to be the fastest time of the day.

The anchor leg was left to Gemma Miles and her experience won the day as she finished with the fourth fastest time of the day in 12-32 to bring the girls home in silver-medal position.

Chester-le-Street had created too big a lead to be pegged back and came home first for the third successive year.

The B team was led out by veteran Dianne Priestley, who finished in 16-39. She handed over to Rebecca Cronshaw, who had travelled from London and had not had enough time to warm-up. Even so, she ran what was perhaps her best race for the club, gaining 11 places and finishing in 14-53.

Jacky Waine kept the pressure up in the third leg for a time of 16-41 and it was left to Martina Pyne, who was excited to be part of the relay team for the first time, to finish in 16-40 with an overall position of 37th.