On Wednesday, 23 members of Newport & District Running Club took part in the first race of this year’s “Sexarathon” series, an annual series of six races that take place on Wednesday evenings through the spring, summer and early autumn, organised by Telford AC. Starting and finishing at Lilleshall Sports Centre, the first race in the series takes participants along the drive towards Newport, doing a lap of Pave Lane, and then returning to the start/finish area the other way up the drive. About 75 metres of climbing are featured, mostly in the second half of the race.

Team NDRC at the Lilleshall 5-miler (Photo: Nick Wylie)

In a field of 415 runners, Alex Millington was the first NDRC finisher, taking 13th place overall in a time of 29 minutes, 9 seconds. Alex Cochrane was next, his time of 32:16 securing 32nd place overall, and he was followed by Adam Higgins, who took 128th in a time of 35:28. Daniel Campbell-Miles finished 151st with his time of 36:37, followed by a trio of Philips, as Philip Hill was 164th in 37:09, Phil Dolding clocked 37:13 to finish 165th, and Philip Link finished 169th in a time of 37:27. 

Maff Wellman (Photo: Nick Wylie)

David Evans finished 179th with his time of 38:01, just ahead of Graham Rogers who stopped the clock at 38:06 for 182nd position. David Thomas finished 223rd in 39:55, whilst Oliver Stokes was 279th in 43:24 and Ralph Humphries clocked 44:20 to finish 299th. Phil Hardy finished 310th with a time of 44:58, whilst Verity Dodd clocked 45:59 to finish 321st and Selwyn Plant recorded a time of 46:45 to secure 330th place. 

Tracy Hartridge (Photo: Nick Wylie)

Maff Wellman finished 358th in a time of 49:40, whilst Louise Patterson was 379th with her time of 52:48, followed by Matthew Humphries, who was 380th with his time of 53:18, just ahead of Simon Taylor, who clocked 53:09 in 381st place. Liz Holbrook ran a time of 54:04 to finish 384th, whilst Stephen Mansbridge was 390th in a time of 55:01, Tracy Hartridge finished 404th in 58:18, and Petra Leach finished 405th with her time of 58:51. John Stokes of NDRC also completed the course volunteering as sweeper, with no official time.

Alex Millington (Photo: Nick Wylie)