ATHLETICS: Tom Kenderdine finished just two seconds behind the winner at the West Midlands' premier 10km road race.
The Kidderminster and Stourport member edged closer to a sub-32 minute time at the Dudley Kingswinford 10km hosted by their rugby club.
Kenderdine finished in 32 minutes 31 seconds as only four seconds separated the three leading runners.
The club's second man home in a field of 950 runners was Graeme McMillan who clocked 38-47 for 70th place.
McMillan was followed by Stuart Granger, the club's first veteran to finish, in 38-53, while over-50 runner Martin Willmott was 126th in 41-23.
Colette Maynard headed a good turn-out of the club's female athletes and finished third lady over 40 with a time of 43-14.
Other times: Nicola Evans (veteran 35) 46-32, Maria Gonzalez (veteran 40) 47-07, Judy Harler (veteran 40) 49-41, Susan Nielson (veteran 40) 50-23, Mark Hudson (veteran 45) 52-23, Julie Draper (veteran 40) 52-52, Heidrun Haege (veteran 40) 59-40.
Meanwhile, the club's youth section finished fourth at the first Young Athletes Track and Field League meeting of the season in Yate.
Several of the 19 youngsters achieved double first placings, including Charlotte Berrington, Emma Pead and Aiden Dourneen.
They showed their versatility by winning both a track and a field event as Berrington showed off her skills in the U-15s high jump and javelin.
Pead won the U-17s 300m and javelin, and Dourneen the U-17s 1,500m and javelin.
This was also a grade event where several athletes achieved national standards.
Winners, girls: U-13s - Emma Holder (A, 75m, 10.9 seconds, grade 3); Laura Baldwin (B, 1,200m, 4 minutes 27.3, grade 4); U-15s - Berrington (High jump, 1.53 metres, grade 2; javelin, 22.97m, grade 4); U-17 women (Pead (A, 3,000m, 12-29.1; A javelin, 14.36m); boys: U-15s - Daniel Bradley (A, shot, 9.17m), Tom Sparkes (A, 1,500m, 4-56.3, grade 4; B, 200m, 27.7); U-17 men - Lee Valentine (A, long jump, 6.08m, grade 3; A, triple jump, 12.31m, grade 3), Dourneen (A, 1,500m, 4-34.3; B, javelin, 22.66m); 4 x 400m relay (Sparkes 1-0.7, Adam Roberts 1-05.8, Aron Windridge 1-06.2, D Bradley 57.9).
Second places, girls: U-13s - Holder (A, 150m, 21.8, grade 3; A, long jump, 4.18, grade 3); Claire Blakeway (A, 1,200m, 4-26.1, grade 4; B, long jump, 3.56m, grade 4); 4 x 100m relay; U-15s - Berrington (long jump, 4.46m, grade 4); U-17s - Laura Easton (A, discus, 18.24m), Ellie Laverty (B, 1,500m, 5-27.5; B discus, 15.14m); boys: U-13s - Robert George (A, 800m, 2-39.5, grade 4), Craig Baldwin (B, 1,500m, 5-24.8, grade 4); U-15s - D Bradley (A, 200m, 26.0, grade 4; A, 400m, 56.6, grade 3); Roberts (B, 400m, 1-05.3), Windridge (B, 1,500m, 5-30.0); U-17s - Dourneen (A, 800m, 2-08.7, grade 4), Tim Wilson (A, shot, 9.01m; A, javelin, 40.05m, grade 4).
Third places, girls: U-13s - Chantelle Reah (A, 70m hurdles, 16.3); U-17s - Rebecca Baldwin A, 400m hurdles, 54.8; B shot, 3.86m); Easton (A, 1,500m, 5-19.7; A 300m, 47.4); Laverty (B, 300m, 48.1); boys: U-13s - George (A, 100m, 15.3), Chris Harler (A, 200m, 31-9), Adam Morris (B, 100m, 19.3; B, long jump, 2.51m), C Baldwin (B, 200m, 34.8); U-15s - Roberts (A, 800m, 2-28.6), Windridge (B, javelin, 14.30m); U-17 - Valentine (A, 200m, 25.5), Wilson (B, 200m, 27.0).
Other places, girls: U-13s - L Baldwin (A, shot, 4.74m); Reah (B, 75m, 12.8; B shot, 3.16m); U-17 - R Baldwin (A, 200m, 31.7), Pead (A, shot, 5.58m), 4 x 100m relay; boys: U-13s - C Harler (A, 1,500m, 5-22.9, grade 4; B, shot, 3.28m), C Baldwin (A, long jump, 3.32m), Morris (A, shot, 5.55m), 4 x 100m relay (1-08.5); U-15s - Sparkes (A, long jump, 4.34m), Windridge (A, discus, 12.77), Roberts (B, long jump, 3.79m).
A group of five Kidderminster and Stourport members ran the Gunpowder Plot 10km at Crowle and were close to breaking the previous year's course record.
Torrential rain in the days before the event had forced a change of course but this did not deter the 350 runners.
Dave Hall battled with Richard Malin, of Bromsgrove and Redditch, but ultimately was second in 33 minutes 20 seconds, followed by Gary Corbett, fourth in 34-53.
McMillan was 14th in 39-30 and Willmott's surge for the line paid off as he broke the 40-minute barrier in 39-58, finishing first veteran over-50.
Draper was the club's only lady entrant and finished in the top half in 49-22.
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