NECAA Signal/Road Relays, 15th February 2025

After a few years of non-attendance, Claremont teams turned up to Hetton Lyons Country Park for the second year running, to compete in the NECAA Road Relays (also know as the Royal Signal Relays).

The race is a picturesque 2.2 mile/3.6km route over 2 laps, on tarmac roads through woods and around the lake. We were spared the gales of last year, and the forecast ice and snow, but everyone present was quick to point out it was no less nippy, with much shivering going on under multiple layers.

Our women managed to build on last year, with a second team being fielded this time out. Nina Jensen and Tara Hipwood both laid down fast first legs (Tara racking up her fastest ever time over 2 miles) to give their teammates a good platform to maintain, which they managed brilliantly, especially as they had to compete with some incredibly rapid ‘old’ men.

Having failed to secure enough over 50’s to make a quartet that would’ve run alongside the women, our evergreen team of 6 in the senior men’s race spanned an age range of 30 years.

After running an eye-watering 5k PB the night before, Harry Mawdsley led the team out at pace, handing over to the ‘baby’ of the team, Alex Taylor, following his recent cross-country debut with a relay bow. The rest of our stalwarts all posted good efforts, with Mark Anderson almost matching Harry for speed on the anchor leg, in a borrowed hat no less.

Scones, cake, flapjacks and oranges from our many feeders were a worthy reward for super performances all round. Would anyone bet against it being even colder next year?

Women & Over 50’s Men
Position	Runner	Time
25	Nina Jensen Lucy Ward Jenny Roberts Cate Walker Team Time	16:19 17:10 17:17 17:26 68:12
33	Tara Hipwood Ann Smith Gill Milne Lena Lou Team Time	17:06 21:49 19:59 19:09 78:03

Senior Men
Position	Runner	Time
31	Harry Mawdsley Alex Taylor Aaron Mansell Paul Robinson Eddie Smith Mark Anderson Team Time	11:54 13:17 16:37 13:48 18:08 12:11 85:55

_{Thanks to Tom, for both turning up fully dressed to run if called upon (despite being semi-injured), and taking many photos.}