Tamworth AC’s annual 5 Mile race attracted over 200 runners from around the Midlands on a warm Sunday morning in September. Starting and finishing on the athletics track at the Tamworth Stadium, the undulating course took runners around a traffic-free route of mainly tarmac footways and cycle paths.

The race was won by the in-form Lloyd Biddell of Mercian Fell Runners with a new men’s course record of 25:47. Matthew Costello of Telford AC was in second place with 26:53 and former Tamworth AC athlete Scott Hudspith, now with Coventry Godiva Harriers, made a welcome return to take third place with a time of 27:31.

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Dale Langley continued his recent run of excellent results to lead Tamworth AC home in 8^th place with a personal best time of 29:15. Langley was followed by the young Max Kent; taking an excellent 26^th place with 31:31.

Abigail Halcarz of Ivanhoe Runners won the Women’s race with a time of 32:15. Eleanor Fowler of Nuneaton Harriers followed close behind in second place with 32:43 and Emma Pick from Peel Road Runners took third place with a time of 33:15.

For Tamworth AC, sisters Sophie and Charlotte Perry crossed the line together with personal bests of 40:08 and 21^st and 22^nd places in the women’s race.

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Veteran Mark Williams rounded the day off for Tamworth, finishing with a time of 41:32.

The team events, based on the top 3 finishers from each club, were won by South Derbyshire Road Runners for the men and Ivanhoe Runners for the women.

The main race was preceded as always by the popular 1 Mile Fun Run which featured a grand turnout of the host club’s young athletes amongst the field. Tamworth AC’s James Measham and Lottie McLaren were first boy and girl with times of 5:27 and 5:47 respectively. Aedan Mason crossed the line alongside Lottie to take second place for the boys and Sam Haines of Ivanhoe Runners was third with 5:55. Jessica Salt picked up second place for the girls with a time of 5:57 and Phoebe O’Connor rounded off an all Tamworth top 3, clocking 6:22.

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Great performances from other young Tamworth athletes came from Oliver Goldsworthy (5:59), Daisy Smith (6:32), Joseph Gorst (6:38), Ben Godber (6:43), George Haddock (7:04), Ella Moss (7:21), Layla Burgess (7:24), Chloe Purkis (7:25), Isla Rogers (7:30), Arthur Letendart (7:40), Thomas Ladkin (7:46), William Newman (7:52), Carson Scott (7:58), Holly Purkis (8:14) and Ava Saul (11:58).