Following its introduction in January 2014, British Athletics’ Club:Connect campaign to reward and recognise the work of clubs has gone from strength to strength.

At the Sainsbury’s Birmingham Grand Prix on Sunday 7 June, six 4x100m relay races were held as part of Club:Connect to kick-off the action on the track.

In the under 15 age category, the Halesowen team took victory in 45.91, and Birchfield women’s under 15 team just dipped under 50 seconds to win in 49.99.

After the race, Halesowen under 15 boys said: “As soon as I got the baton, I went off with a bang and I flew down the home straight. We won by a long way, which was great – we all did really well.”

Halesowen and Birchfield Harriers continued their success by winning the under 13 men’s and women’s races in 53.28 and 54.99 respectively.

Birchfield under 13 girls team reflected after their win: "We did well – our baton communication was good and we worked hard as a team. We all train here so it was nice to get a good time."

In the men’s under 17 race, the final Club:Connect event of the day, the Birchfield Harriers quartet  (pictured above with their grant) won in a time of 43.64, while the under 17 women’s race saw a marginal victory for Cannock and Stafford in 48.78.

The Birchfield team said: "Everything went to plan –The changeovers were quite good and all that we have done in training paid off – thanks to our great coaches too. We’ve been practising hard and have had a few hiccoughs but it all worked out well.

"The other Birchfield teams winning today was motivation, seeing all of them around us doing well. If they can win like that then we can do it also. It feels good to win here, it felt like we were supposed to win, we have to represent our home track."