Masters squad set sights on golden repeat

A consistent season for the woman saw them qualify in second place for the A final, which will be held on September 4, with the venue still to be decided.

However, the men found themselves down in fifth after two of the four meetings and in danger of having to compete in the B final.

“We were really struggling,” admitted men’s captain Tony Foster.

“Whether we qualified for the final depended on the last result and it looked as though the women might have to go on their own. But we won the last event at Loughborough and jumped up to third, which was good enough to qualify.”

Prior to Leamington’s victory in last year’s final, Rugby & Northampton had held the Gold Cup for five years.

And, while admitting it was shock for Leamington to break their domiannce, Foster says that now a host of injuries worries have cleared up, there is no reason why his team cannot hold on to their trophy.

“Last year, a lot of teams, like Birchfield Harriers, had never heard of little old Leamington.

“But we’ve got fantastic middle-distance runners coming through. The sprinters are back into gear and we’re going to Worcester or the Alexander Stadium to hang on the trophy.”

The veterans have received a further boost with Leamington-based Urban Sports Fitness offering their athletes free use of their gym facilities in the run-up to the final.