AFTER the Christmas break it was back to running around muddy fields for athletes from Dudley Kingswinford Running Club.

The men travelled to Nuneaton for their Birmingham League fixture and the women ventured to Droitwich for the West Midlands League.

Over a stamina sapping windswept course at Burbage Common, the men were able to consolidate their position in the Second Division finishing 15th of the 18 teams on the day to place 13th in the league some 200 points clear of relegation with one league race remaining.

Ben Foster again stormed through the mud to finish in 15th place in 37.50, Rob Sannwald was 112th in 43.05, Darran Bishop, making his club debut, was 119th in 43.46, Matt Biggs was 123th in 43.55 despite struggling with a hamstring injury, Andy Sprague was a place behind in 124th in 43.58 and Dave Norman was 137th in 44.33.

The B team was brought home by James Wright finishing in 149th in 45.25, from Brian Preston in 152nd in 45.31, Gary Bonner in 155th in 45.43, Mark Gatenby in 159th in 46.02, Daren Thompson in 175th in 47.00, Kieran Pitt in 179th in 47.17, Pete Hood in 181st in 47.20, Graham Wildgoose in 201st in 49.25, Mark Judge in 204th in 49.31, Paul Silk in 216th in 51.18 and Richard Tonks in 217th in 51.20.

At Droitwich, the ladies team came 32nd of the 38 teams competing rubbing shoulders with the likes of Birmingham and Loughborough University students, including European Junior Silver medallist Jessica Judd and four time World Ironman Triathlon Champion Chrissie Wellington. Not to mention the usual cross country heavyweights of Telford, Birchfield, Wolverhampton & Bilston and Tipton Harriers.

Of the DK runners, Rebecca Warren was 158th in 33.50, Carol Fisher 175th in 34.45, Lynn Sprague 194th in 36.05, Karen Doy 218th in 37.48, Sarah Cox 237th in 38.59, Alison Whitehouse 245th in 39.37, Sally McConville 248th in 39.41, Kathryn Sneyd 258th in 40.18, Jane Campbell 264th in 40.43, Jacqui Elson-Whittaker 268th in 41.02, Liz Hettle 274th in 41.49, Meg Dowen 280th in 42.08, Lisa Newell 291st in 42.41, Charlotte Tonks 297th in 43.29 and Amanda Dawes was 305th in 44.31.