MEDWAY and Maidstone AC senior men overcame motorway mayhem on the M25 to qualify for the AAA National Road Relay Championships for the second successive year, writes Alan Newman.

A resolute performance from a travel weary squad resulted in fifth place behind champions Belgrave Harriers in the qualifying South of England six stage Championships at Rushmoor Arena, Aldershot, on Saturday.

Andy Thomas opened with a steady performance for 25th position, deputising for Michael Coleman who was the first team member to have been caught in the traffic.

Coleman sliced through the field on the second stage to hand over 12th to Pat Curran who was up to eighth at the halfway stage.

Barry Royden then contributed a magnificent 18min 12sec fourth leg to improve by three more places before Neil Renault brought the club up to fourth place on the penultimate leg.

Finally, Gareth Williams did well to hang on to fifth place after arriving with minutes to spare and dispensing with the ritual warm up routine his sore achilles tendon usually demands.

Results: 1 Belgrave Harriers 1hr 49min 47sec, 2 Bedford and County 1.50.27, 3 Aldershot, Farnham and District 1.50.28, 4 Newham and Essex Beagles 1.52.57, 5 Medway and Maidstone 1.53.19, 6 Thames Hare and Hounds 1.53.42, 7 Blackheath and Bromley 1.53.51, 8 Windsor, Slough and Eton 1.54.12, 9 Wells City Harriers 1.54.22, 10 London Irish 1.54.57.

Individual times and positions: Andy Thomas 19.16 (25), Michael Coleman 18.27 (12), Pat Curran 18.39 (8), Barry Royden 18.12 (5), Neil Renault 19.30 (4), Gareth Williams 19.15 (5).