Telford Athletics Club are record breakers

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A total of 30 runners lined up for the women's and men's teams at Sutton Park.

The women landed their best finish since 2006 by taking fourth place overall, while the men's sixth place matched their best return since 2010.

Claire Martin led off the women's team in their six-stage event, coming home fifth overall in a time of 32 minutes 18 seconds after the 5.3mile first leg, which sent runners out toward Streetly Gate and back.

Sarah Mackness then took over for the shorter, 3.1-mile second leg, her efforts moving Telford up to fourth after she completed the course in a time of 18.38.

After Michelle Clarke stormed round to complete the third leg in a time of 34.18, they were suddenly within ten seconds of a podium place.

The position was maintained by Lucia Tait (20.31) and Rachel Coupe (20.54) over the fourth and fifth legs.

Amelia Reynolds then recovered from a fall on the sixth and final leg to ensure Telford held on to fourth, out of a total of 57 teams, four minutes behind winners Charnwood.

The men's event took place over 12 stages, with the first four long and the final eight short. For the first time in several years Telford were able to field two teams, with 24 runners representing the club in total.

The A team were in third spot following the first leg, after Dave Webb completed the course in a time of 27.45.

It was a clear sign Webb, who was selected to run the marathon for Britain in the London Olympics, is returning to form after several months out following his move to Telford from Leeds.

Paul Ward followed his recent victories in the Ironbridge Half and Shrewsbury 10k to run another strong time of 28.38.

It came before solid legs from Rob Nash (31.04) and Christian Evans (30.53) left Telford sitting seventh, with all long legs complete.

Shropshire schools champion Alex Burrows maintained the place with a 16.17 run in the first short leg, while veteran Chris Davies clocked 16.05 on his return to racing.

Josh Burrows, fresh from his excellent run in the Wrekin Fell Race, ran 17.21 on the seventh leg as Telford nudged ahead of Coventry and into sixth. The position was held over the final five legs.

Chris Bagshaw (17.42), Rhyl Furlong (17.46), Rob Hughes (19.01), James Eggleston (18.32) and Jake Milovsorov (18.30) brought Telford home in a combined time of four hours, 19.35.

Bristol edged out Cheltenham, who led from the fourth leg to the 11th, to clinch the crown ahead of Nottingham in third, Tipton in fourth and Birchfield in fifth.

Telford's B team were 30th overall but the fifth in the B team standings.

Paul Coupe was fastest over the long legs after clocking 32.28 going off first, with Tony Paul improving the team's position by six places as he finished his leg in a time of 33.26.

Charlie Tait Harris ran the fastest short leg in a time of 18.24 just ahead of John Sanders 18.35.

The other short legs were run by James Foster (21.00), John Garmson (19.42), Mark Mountford (19.54), Nick Thomas (20.04), Jimmy Hayes (20.06) and John Clarke (19.59).