27 October 2007	BIRMINGHAM CROSS COUNTRY CHALLENGE - SENNELYS PARK
	The traditional opening fixture of the Birmingham League is always a tough one, but this year we knew that we were going to need a miracle to avoid coming last - until the next race when the cavalry arrive! The provisional results did not look promising - no Stoke team finish! However in actual fact 6th counter Adrian Thiemicke finished 195th and this critical glitch in the results (for us) has now been sorted. As ever Andy Allen improves with each race of a cross country season.  Although now officially a Vet, we've known he is a master over the country for a long time. 40th was a great start to the season and there is definitely more to come from Andy. Steve Bazell is also on the up again this season and a top 50 placing at this stage was a great run, closer to Andy time-wise, than in the last couple of North Staffs too. Danny Barker has turned a corner this year with his top 55 placing and he too can look forward to higher finishes through-out the rest of the season. As for me - I like to blow my own trumpet - but still have not got quite enough breath back. A bigger improvement will follow in a few weeks time when the return to lots of jogging starts to have its full effect... Pete Benyon knew that he is not in great shape, but underlined his outstanding commitment with a another gutsy performance. In the circumstances we're just pleased to see Pete keep running. Hopefully he too will improve as we go through the season.  I mentioned Adrian Thiemicke at the beginning of the report. I don't know how he does it, but Adrian is there when we really, really need one more man. This is not the first time that Adrian has saved our bacon, and all our thanks must go to him yet again. Hopefully we are now through the worst of our manpower problems, and can pick up properly in the next fixture. With 4 athletes stronger than myself to come in I look forward to being a non-counter!  So we finished up 15th out of 16 teams, and with the usual mountain to climb to retain Division One status for a 16th year on the trot, it is going to be another exciting Birmingham League campaign for City of Stoke. And congratulations again to former Stoke Athlete Alex Derricott on another great run as he finished in the top 20 in his Birmingham League debut. John Danahay Full results at www.birminghamccleague.co.uk  Photos: http://www.actionphotography.co.uk/gallery.asp  and Brian Smith's Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/baldeagle/sets/
	Stoke results:  40. Andy Allen (M40) 50. Steve Bazell 55. Danny Barker 92. John Danahay (M45) 127. Pete Benyon 195. Adrian Thiemicke (M40)	15th Team - 560 points 33.57 34.22 34.32 35.51 37.44 45.04