Of the 76 teams entered, 69 times lined up for David Brown to start stage 1 promptly at 12:00 in bright sunshine. The first leg for the men is a long leg and it was Liverpool Harriers’ Dejene Gezimu who crossed the line first, in what turned out to be the fastest long leg of the day, 28.27. Some 27secs behind were Gateshead, and a further 6secs back, Leeds City.
Leg 2 saw the fastest short leg time of the day of 14.49, belonging to Bolton’s Tom Lancashire, which pulled his team up 9 places under the watchful eye of coach Steve Cram.
Liverpool remained as leaders for the first 4 stages, before dropping down 1 place on leg 5 when overtaken by Leeds’ Emile Cairess, with Sale 3rd and Salford 4th.
Leg 6 saw Sale retain the lead, but on leg 7 Leeds’ established leader, Simon Deakin, produced the goods as he gained 2 places to win stage 7.
Sale regained the lead on stage 8, which they never lost, whilst Liverpool, Leeds and Salford interchanged places behind them. At the end of stage 11, Sale’s lead was 41secs over Salford’s Carl Hardman, who produced the fastest time over this stage. James Wignall completed Sale’s victory on the final leg, but his lead had been cut once again, this time by the charge of Liverpool’s Matt Jackson producing the fastest time of this leg, as they overtook Salford. Leeds 4th, Lincoln Wellington 5th and Derby 6th.
1st: Sale Harriers Manchester, 4hrs 09.16
2nd: Liverpool Harriers & AC, 4hrs 09.24
3rd: Salford Harriers & AC, 4hrs 10.00
Fastest long leg: Dejene Gezimu, 28.27
Fastest short leg: Tom Lancashire, 14.49
Thanks to Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde’s Stan Taylor for organising the event and providing superb weather!
Report Ken Smith
Photos Eileen Ingham
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- Sale Harriers NA 12 stage road relay champions 2017
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- Liverpool Harriers silver medal winners
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- Salford Harriers bronze medal winners
