IT may have been a new year but it was back to running around muddy fields for Dudley Kingswinford athletes as the cross country season continued.

After the threat of snow and ice runners were contemplating getting the long spikes out but they would have been better off with wellies after persistent rain throughout the preceding 24 hours.

The men continued their battle for Division 2 survival in the Birmingham League travelling the short distance to Lilleshall for their fixture with the race being run over a figure of eight course with a few ups and downs and slippery muddy sections over a distance just shy of six miles.

Stuart Perkins was first back for the club in 65th place in 35.38, Richard Bate was 79th in 36.08, Dave Norman came home in 103rd in 37.19 just ahead of Darran Bishop, two places behind in 37.35, Rob Sannwald finished in 37.51 in 113th and Simon Blizzard completed the A team counters in 124th place in 38.24. Simon Hughes was only a fraction behind in 126th in 38.29, Mark Homer was 133rd in 39.04, Matt Biggs made his return to the country after injury to finish in 158th in 40.33, Mark Judge was 181st in 41.35, Richard Jones 198th in 43.28 and Andy Weaver was 201st in 44.09. The club finished 14th of 16 on the day but importantly they were almost 200 points better off than their rivals for what would appear to be the final relegation place, Amazing Feet of Kidderminster. With one fixture remaining DK remain in 14th, one place above the drop but with a nice cushion which could be enough to maintain their Second Division status.

The ladies were even closer to home only travelling the even shorter distance to Wolverhampton for their fixture in the West Midlands League. Despite missing some athletes and cutting it fine and almost missing the start they performed well, Karen Doy continuing her battle with Lyn Sprague and coming off the better finishing in 81st in 30.42 and 83rd in 30.45 respectively, Hannah McGuire was 98th 31.28, Jacqui Elson-Whittaker finished in 127th 33.07, Sue Payton was 157th in 35.03, Kimberley Ball was 176th in 36.28, Sarah Cox was 179th in 36.48, Paula Pallant was 180th in 37.06, Ingrid Cain was 181st in 37.07 and Cilla Harding finished in 37.25 in 184th place.

Twenty four hours later Roger Beddard took part in the Four Villages Half Marathon, a 13.1 mile race around the Cheshire countryside starting in the village of Helsby and travelling through the three other villages of Dunham on the Hill, Mouldsworth and Manley to give the race his name. Using the race as a training run as part of his marathon build up he finished in 841st place in 1.50.21.