24 October 2009	BIRMINGHAM CROSS COUNTRY CHALLENGE - SENNELYS PARK
	A bit like a Championship football team coming up into the Premiership we all knew this first race, and the season as a whole, was going to be really tough, especially with a couple of our strongest performers not available until at least the next fixture. 13th out of 16 teams on the day in Division One is not great, but at least we finished ahead of the other promoted teams and have given ourselves a creditable start to the season without a insurmountable mountain to climb to avoid relegation! Seb Duffy was our star man again, and his 34th place showed this really was a top class Division One field. However I am certain that a top 20 finish beckons for Seb once he gets properly into his winter training. Despite some continuing injury niggles, Steve Bazell ran pretty strongly and will surely improve to a more typical top 50 place in the next couple of races.  I just missed out on a top 100 place, and I am still trying to work out if I am not yet fit enough, or if age and 35 years of running has finally caught up with me... Don't tell me though, because I'll keep on trying until I find out! Not far behind me youngster Dave Lee massively improved on his performance from last year and if he can increase his confidence level will place in the top 100 before the end of the season. Next finisher, cross country master Andy Allen, put in a very welcome appearance after 18 months out with injury and is another one who will definitely improve considerably next time out. The youngest member of the team, Liam Hendricken was our 6th counter, and although Sennelys Park is a baptism of fire (or water!) for a runner of any age, the 17 year old proved that he is picking up fitness and experience with every race. Our other junior Rob Cook filled the final slot in a typically small Stoke AC turnout as he made the long trip from University to guarantee that we did not fall at the first water jump! Steve Cooper also started but unfortunately had to pull out after a good start, having not fully recovered from a bad case of dehydration at the the Great North Run a few weeks ago. Finally - a big thank you to George and Iris Cooper, and Richard Barrington, for race day support, and a big 'please get well soon' to team manager Steve Shubotham! John Danahay Provisional full results
	Stoke results:  Senior Men 34. Seb Duffy 88. Steve Bazell 102. John Danahay  125. Dave Lee 132. Andy Allen  139. Liam Hendricken (J) 179. Rob Cook (J)	Provisionally 13th team - 620 points 33.56 35.55 36.29 37.14 37.28 37.50 40.43