Harrison is a Roman force for a fourth time

Sunny conditions greeted the runners for the 11am start, but with the temperature still hovering around zero, runners had to contend with several icy patches, especially through Loxley.

A good crowd saw off the racers at the start and they were able to cheer home third-placed Patrick Roddy of Kenilworth Runners.

The junior, racing in his longest distance to date and just a day after finishing second in the Warwickshire Schools’ Cross Country Championships, ran superbly to clock 42:41.

Clive Pearce was the next Kenilworth Runner home in 34th position.

Kenilworth Runners finishers: 3, Patrick Roddy (42:42); 34, Clive Pearce (46:37); 73, Jon Mettyear (49:58); 92, Richard Whiting (51:07); 109, Mark Hall (51:57); 191, Stephen Wright (54:27); 199, Rod Goodwin (54:43); 226, Claire Goult (56:32); 237, Stephen Payne (57:13); 344, Elizabeth Keell (1:01:15); 370, Tom Dable (1:02:25); 378, David Brown (1:02:30); 401, Aidan Keher (1:03:26); 418, Helen Neal (1:04:26); 434, Pauline Dable (1:05:43); 476, Richard Miller (1:08:44); 479, Joan Mason (1:08:01); 480, Laura Gould (1:08:33); 481, Frank Walsh (1:08:14); 504, Sarah Jackson (1:09:48); 555, Sam Moffatt (1:14:55).

At the head of the field, Stephen Price from UK Net Runners AC opened up a big gap on the field and came home a clear winner in 40:57.

Leamington C&AC’s Simon Riley and Sue Harrison battled together throughout the 12k course with never more than a few yards separating them.

They kept up their duel right to the finish, with Riley claiming eighth overall and first M50 in 44:01 and Harrison just one place and two seconds back.

Harrison did have the consolation of claiming a fourth ladies’ victory in five years, finishing almost three minutes clear of second-placed Ann-Marie Smith (Coventry Godiva).

Leamington team-mates Michael McBride and Steve Howes also has a personal battle, with McBride finishing 31st in 46:28 and Howes 33rd in 46:37.

Following up her excellent run in the County Cross-Country Championships, Zara Blower chopped a massive ten minutes off her 2011 time as she came home in 49:13 for 60th place overall and seventh lady finisher.

Susie Tawney claimed top spot in the W50 category, finishing 115th in 52:16 to help Leamington’s women to the team prize.

Andrew Johnson was 106th in 51:58 and took gold in the M65 group while wife June was 366th in 62:29 to claim top spot in the W65 category.

Thirty-one Spa Striders also turned out, with Melissa Venables (51:19 and first F35), Dawn Clark (51:48) and Nadine Fleckenstein (52:18) leading the ladies to third place in the team event.

Rich Merrell was the leading Strider male, coming home 19th in 45:07, with team-mate Felix Langley (46:10) 28th.

Other Striders finishers: Nick Adams (50:21); Tim Stooks (50:34); Hartwig Busch (51:35); Justin Mallard (52:30); Jennie Spillane (53:28); Vicki Smith (53:41); Neil Butcher (54:23); Richard King (55:05); Kate Evans (55:07); Caroline Whitehouse (55:15); Esther Wollaston (55:53); Sue Cox (55:55); Dave Lindsay (56:49); Jo Butler (57:04); Andy Roach (57:06); Clare Hinton (57:33); Phillip Wood (58:32); Roz Cox (58:39); Richard Bicknell (59:41); John Burden (60:21); Richard Brookes (61:10); Sean Lonergan (61:11); Carolyn Wilkinson & Jackie Lindsay (both 61:54); Sandra Stokes (62:59); Janice Smith 68:50.

Kenilworth Runners finished 12th at the third race of the 2011/12 Birmingham Cross Country League at Coundon Park, Coventry, which leaves the club with a fighting chance of a top-ten overall finish with one race remaining.

Connor Carson was the first Kenilworth Runner home, finishing two-and-a-half minutes behind race winner Josh Lilly of Tipton to take 49th position.

He was followed by men’s team captain Phil Gould (66th), Stuart Hopkins (83rd) and Mike Johnson (87th).

Results: 49, Connor Carson (27:55); 66, Phil Gould (28:31); 83, Stuart Hopkins (29:05); 87, Mike Johnson (29:11); 124, Pete Bryan (30:42); 135, Liam Chapple (31:19); 136, Matthew Kingston-Lee (31:22); 141, Graham Birch (31:36); 146, Martin Dorrill (31:46); 151, Phil Fusi (31:57); 167, Richard Steel (32:30); 171, Roger Homes (32:43); 176, Richard Green (32:54); 195, Mick Williams (33:46); 205, Calum Barnetson (35:20); 232, Mark Hall (37:57); 237, Stef Shillington (42:27); 239, Tom Dable (43:21).

Five Kenilworth ladies travelled to Baggeridge Park, Dudley, for the third round of the Midland Women’s Cross Country League.

Nardia Poole led the ladies’ team home in 69th position, with Sara Stein, Sally Hicks and Ros Matthews running well as a pack to finish 100th, 105th and 108th, respectively. Pauline Dable was 205th.

Cannock Chase Trig Points Race (Milford, Staffordshire): 18, Pete Matthews (2:05:13); 123, Neil Smith, (3:04:00).