GREAT Britain international Will Battershill was back in an Erme Valley Harriers vest on Friday night as he helped the club to a record-breaking performance in their annual road relays.
Just five days earlier, steeplechase specialist Battershill had won a silver medal in front of the TV cameras at the UK Championships in Birmingham. But while making a visit back to his native Devon, the 28-year-old was keen to show his support for the club that nurtured his athletic ability.
He teamed up with Nathan Brown, Ben Holmes and Matt Gilvear to help Erme Valley Harriers totally smash the course record and claim a third successive victory in the popular event, which this year attracted 84 teams of four.
The Erme Valley quartet clocked a stunning overall time of 49 minutes and 22 seconds, which was nearly two minutes quicker than the previous record.
They finished more than four minutes ahead of the second placed team, which was Exmouth Harriers, who clocked 53.51 minutes. South West Road Runners were third in 54.37 minutes, with the City of Plymouth AC team of David Weir, Daniel Newman, Matthew Bradley and Joshua Blake fourth in 55.00 minutes.
Battershill, as expected, also smashed the individual leg record, clocking 11.35 minutes for the two-and-a-half-mile lap on country lanes around Ivybridge Rugby Club.
Club team-mate Holmes clocked the second fastest time of the night, finishing in 12.13 minutes.
City of Plymouth’s Annabel Arnold was also a record breaker at Friday’s Erme Valley Relays as she broke her own female course record, clocking 13.55 minutes to help her team claim third place in the women’s event.
Tavistock AC convincingly secured the women’s team victory with their quartet of Jasmine Gray, Emma Ryder, Hannah Smith and Charlotte Walker. They clocked an overall time of 59.18 minutes, with all their team running under 15.18 minutes. Ryder was second fastest female overall with a split of 14.21 minutes.
Erme Valley Harriers claimed second place in the women’s event in 65.42 minutes. Their quartet was made up of Sophie Gilvear, Emma Lake, Jess Ashworth and Ali McEwing, who clocked the third fastest individual leg by a woman with a time of 14.30 seconds.
City of Plymouth AC had the first female under-18 team, which was made up of Margot Goodspeed, Beth Kelly, Daisy Elliot and Elsie Goodspeed.
Torbay AC pipped City of Plymouth to the under-18 boys’ title, but Lucas Sweeney did clock the fastest time by a junior.
Host club Erme Valley Harriers did have a good night as their M40, M60 and F55 teams also claimed victories.
Tamar Trotters won the F45 category, while Teignbridge Trotters took the mixed, M50 and F35 titles.
Full team results can be found HERE.
Individual leg times can be found HERE.
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