1987-1996 Ten Years of the Autumn Relays

As you already know, the Autumn Relays have just been contested for the tenth time. Ron and I thought that this would be a good time to take a look back at the event and refresh your memories.
The event takes it's name, unsurprisingly, from the Top House pub near the Sports Centre; the trophy we all run to try and win was donated by them in time for the second event. For the first three years, the event followed a route around Newsham Road, Plessey Road, down Broadway and back along Princess Louise Road. After one or two close calls with traffic daring to get in the way of runners hell bent on winning / catching the person in front, this route was abandoned in favour of the current course after the 1989 race. This was due to concerns over safety, since runners had to cross several roads during the race. From 1990 on, the course has been the one most people are familiar with, around the top end of the Kitty Brewster Industrial Estate. At 2.5 miles this course is slightly longer than the original one, which is why 1989's winning time is not the course record.
For the first six years there were separate men's and ladies teams, with prizes for each; from 1993 onwards the teams were mixed, with only one team prize. The full list of winners looks like this:

* In 1989, one team was disqualified after one runner (Michael Cole) took a wrong turn at the top of the course.
** In 1996, two teams were each one runner short, so didn't count in the results.

Records: Team - Brian Southern, John Gaughan, Dave McKenzie; 40mins 20secs (1993)
Individual Course Record - Andy Brown; 11mins 42secs (1993 & 1994)
Veterans Course Record - Rob Hall; 12mins 11secs (1990)
Female Course Record - Gill Margerrison (now Priest); 14mins 53secs (1995)
Female Veterans Course Record - Kath Glynn; 15mins 34secs (1992)

Only one person has done all ten races, namely Steve Gillespie. He is also the only person to have recorded three wins (89/92/95), eight people have two wins each:
Carol Barratt (87/88) Cath Coultate (90/94) Trish Goodwin (89/90)
Dave Kitching (90/91) John Mallon (95/96) Gill Margerrison (91/92)
Brian Southern (87/93) Christine Thompson (87/90)

During the ten years of the event, at least 157 different people have taken part, running in 149 teams. The individual figure might be even higher, but results for the ladies events are not quite complete.
In 1988, husband and wife pairing Allan and Linda Kenny were winners in both men's and ladies categories, both running first leg; this was emulated in 1992 by Keith and Christine Willshire, both running the second; since the event is now for mixed teams, this can't now be repeated.