Swindon Harriers under-15 boys’ team have been crowned Midland Road Relay champions following a climactic final race of the season.

The trio of Harry Burdekin, James Mayneord, and Finley Byrne claimed the title in a dramatic style in Birmingham with Byrne lifting them from third to first on the final stage having taken over almost a minute behind leaders Mansfield.

Byrne said: “I put it all in to catch him and it has been a pretty good week [Byrne finished in the top ten in the English Schools Cross County last weekend].

“I was definitely more pleased with the gold medal on Saturday, especially as I was racing with my mates. It was a great day.”

The Harriers made their presence felt with a total of 19 teams in action across the various age groups.

Team manager John Dill said: “We had a record number of teams and athletes there and it felt like we pretty much took over the place with the noise and our support and everyone cheering each other on around the course.

“I really think that in terms of numbers, we were the biggest club there. It was a fantastic day.”

Senior men’s team manager Simon Dill agreed after seeing the A team match their fifth place from 12 months ago.

Dill added: “It was another great performance and year on year it seems we are getting better and better and more competitive.

“We were neck and neck for fourth place for most of the race and there was hardly anything in it down the home straight.”

The men’s team of Ben Lines, Isaac McAdam, Harry Woods, who had a scorcher, Dan Griffiths, Isaac Mould and Matt Woodward were just two seconds off fourth which represents a terrific achievement.

The second team were 17th and the third B team overall, underlining the squad’s current strength in depth.

A year on from just creeping inside the top 50 the senior women’s quartet of Chloe Harrington, Freya Davidse, Rebecca Cornell, and Rachel Oram finished a creditable 21st.

The under-17 women’s trio of Ella Spencer, Carley Lainton, and Emily Blackstock finished fourth and the under-13 girls’ team of Charissa Griffiths-Clack, Amy Harris, and Sophia Kirk on her club debut came fifth.

The under-15 girls’ trio of Ellie Charlesworth, Izzie Moore, and Elsie Scrase placed 14th and the under-17 mens’ team of Anubis Molina-Zekri, Ben Charlesworth, and Josh Steward were 11th and Max Jackson, Adam Hunton, and Joey Burdekin gave the under-13 boys’ a solid tenth.