News_
Success at Southern 12/6 Stage Relays
Monday 31st March 2025
Hopes were high for the Southern 12/6 stage relays in Milton Keynes, with Phoenix fielding both a Men's and Women's team who hoped to qualify for the National 12/6 Stage Relays at Sutton Park.
The team met early at Withdean and travelled via minibus and after a quick stop had made it to Milton Keynes to scope out the course. For those who haven't raced the 12/6 stage before it consists of for the men 6 legs of 5miles (8km) and 6 legs of 3miles (5km) alternating Long/Short, and for the women 2 legs of 5miles (8km) and 4 legs of 3miles (5km). The course is a long lap (2x for Long legs) both starting and finishing on the track.
The Men started at 12:00pm with Reuben Hoyte, fresh off of a great half-marathon at Brighton Half, getting us underway. The team battled hard over what I think is a tough course going up and down sharply at points with plenty of twists and turns. At halfway they sat in 18th play, inside the top 25 needed to qualify for the nationals but with plenty left to play. The Men finished with strong legs from Josh Burton and Brandon Liau to finish in a brilliant 16th place and gain the all important qualification for nationals.
Meanwhile, the Women started at 1:00pm with Hollie Parker getting them started. Off the back off a good indoor season Hollie ran well and Phoenix were in 2nd to pass onto Beth Kidger on the second leg, who stormed round Milton Keynes taking Phoenix into a dominant lead after 2 legs. Madelaine Parmer kept Phoenix in the top 3 and at halfway we were 2nd, way ahead of the goal to qualify for nationals. Bobby Searle and Martha Woollard both put in great legs to keep Phoenix in the top 10 before Yazmin Kashdan returned to racing after a difficult year. Yaz ran confidently and made light work of what is a difficult course to bring the women home in an outstanding 8th place.
A very successful day with both the Men and the Women qualifying for the National 12/6 stage relays.
Congratulations to all who ran, with special thanks to Mike Schofield who drove and supported.
The teams look forward to the opportunity of running in the national relays and are hungry for more!
The Teams:
Phoenix Men -
- Reuben Hoyte
- Ravi Clark
- Simon Heath
- Jack Hayward
- Killian Lynch
- Jon Clays
- Luke Brown
- Lachie Murray
- Alex Jeffreys
- Tom Hooper
- Josh Burton
- Brandon Liau
Phoenix Women -
- Hollie Parker
- Beth Kidger
- Madelaine Parmer
- Bobby Searle
- Martha Woollard
- Yaz Kashdan
