The women’s four stage race was off first over an undulating 4.3k circuit.  And Lucinda Pitcher proved her current good form by knocking over 40 seconds off her previous best time for the course to return in 39th place from 101 starters with a time of 15m 52s.  Harriet Canter worked hard on leg two and moved the squad up nine places to 30th in 15m 53s – once again a personal best for the course. Blue Haywood went off strongly on the 3rd leg and maintaining excellent progress throughout she had moved through to 18th at the finish line in a speedy 15m 07s. The final leg went to Lara Thomas who toughed it out in determined fashion to lose just one place and bring the team home 19th with a time of 16m 30s.  This was the best Wellington performance in this race for many years with much bigger clubs such as Leeds, Nottingham, Sale Harriers Manchester and Belgrave Harriers all finishing behind the Lincoln squad.  The club also fielded a B team in the race although, unfortunately, there was no final leg runner. Jane Clarke made a solid start with 17m 55s for 84th place on the first leg.  Rochelle Harrison carved through the field to pick up 21 places on leg 2 in 17m 07s. And Susie Ardron had an excellent final leg to improve a further six positions to 57th at the finish in 17m 36s.

The men’s team were also much improved on last year’s 57th place finish.  Regular first leg runner Tom Doe got the club away to a fine start with 18th place in 17m 49s for the longer 5.8k circuit. Matt Bowser made a steadier start than normal but flew the latter stages of leg two to move into 6th place in 17m 36s.  Will Strangeway was always going to be in the firing line on leg 3 but he held it together well to finish in 18th place in a creditable time of 18m 45s. Phil Williams slipped back four places on leg 4 in 19m 36s and Les Ball, on his debut round the tricky circuit, dropped five places on leg 5 to return in 27th position in 19m 26s. Youngster Tom Straw was entrusted with the anchor leg and did very well to secure a final position of 30th in the top class field with a time of 19m 48s. Once again the Wellington squad were ahead of some big name clubs in UK Athletics and these performances emphasised the manner in which the club is now moving forward.