Tipton Harriers Endurance Claim Historic Women's Bronze at 2026 Midland Counties Road Relays
Tipton Harriers Endurance produced one of the club's most memorable relay performances in recent years at the 2026 Midland Counties Road Relays, with the women's team claiming a bronze medal in the six-stage relay — the first time the women have stood on the Midlands relay podium in many years. The men's team also turned in a composed performance to qualify for the National Road Relays, finishing 17th in the 12-stage event.
Women's Six-Stage Relay
🥉 Bronze Medal
The women were the undisputed stars of the day for Tipton, executing a near-perfect team relay from start to finish across a competitive and tightly-contested field.
20th after Leg 1
Grace laid the foundations with a disciplined opening run, finishing 20th in a leg that featured some of the strongest names in Midlands athletics. With the field so tightly packed at that stage, 20th was a solid platform.
Up to 6th — +14 places
Hayley was responsible for one of the performances of the entire relay meeting. Running a superb 19:22, she carved through the field to gain an extraordinary 14 places, bringing the team all the way up to 6th. It was a stunning split that changed the shape of Tipton's day entirely.
Up to 4th — +2 places
Catherine kept the momentum going, running a controlled 21:17 and gaining a further two places to hand over in 4th.
Back to 6th
Jade, who has been focusing increasingly on the 800m, found the relay distance a genuine test — but responded with real competitive character, dropping only a couple of places while keeping the team firmly in contention.
Up to 3rd (bronze) — unofficial 5K PB
Beth delivered what was arguably the run of the relay for Tipton. Covering the course in an excellent 20:25 — setting an unofficial 5K PB en route — she made a decisive jump in the standings, putting the team in a bronze medal position heading into the final leg.
Bronze secured — 3rd place finish
Amy held her nerve on the anchor leg with a composed and confident 21:06, ensuring Tipton took full advantage of the position Beth had fought for. Amy was running the race as part of her preparation for the London Marathon — and on this evidence, she goes to the start line in fine fettle.
| Leg | Athlete | Time | Places | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grace Slater | 21:32 | – | 20th |
| 2 | Hayley Mortiboys | 19:22 | +14 | 6th |
| 3 | Catherine Holden | 21:17 | +2 | 4th |
| 4 | Jade Charlton | 22:05 | –2 | 6th |
| 5 | Beth Walker | 20:25 | +3 | 3rd |
| 6 | Amy Hadley | 21:06 | held | 3rd 🥉 |
A brilliantly executed team performance, and a result the whole club can be proud of.
Men's 12-Stage Relay
National Qualification — 17th Overall
On a day the women made their own, the men produced a solid collective effort to finish 17th overall and qualify for the National Road Relays — a respectable result in a fiercely competitive 12-stage field.
Breakthrough Performance · Leg 1
Kane Salmon-Hodges
The 17-year-old ran 16:56 to place 6th at the first changeover — a stunning debut at this level and a result that signals real promise heading into the track season. Kane has improved steadily year on year, and this performance suggests he is ready to make a significant step up.
Junior Results
Note: the relay format was replaced this year with individual straight races for each junior age group.
Under-13 Boys
🥉 3rd Place
- Freddie Holden11th
- Oscar Williams13th
- Aneurin Felton-Allen20th
Under-13 Girls
🥈 2nd Place
- Rosabel Stokes11th
- Poppy Morris12th
- Stella Ashton15th
Under-15 Girls
🥈 2nd Place
- Layla Williams2nd
- Isabelle Perkins5th
- Sienna Denwette11th
Congratulations to every athlete who represented Tipton Harriers Endurance on the day. A memorable afternoon's racing — and a result that sets the tone for the season ahead.
Report: Tipton Harriers Endurance · tiptonharriersendurance.co.uk