A busy weekend, full and half M’s and a farewell tri?

**** LAST FEW MARSHALS STILL NEEDED FOR CHEDWORTH NEXT WEEKEND ******

*****CAKE & SNOOD AS A THANK YOU, PLEASE CONTACT KATE JACOBS ASAP *****

{Ed. Apologies for delay and any typos this week - report compiled on iPad and holiday WiFi connection}

Follow up to last week’s report

Some races are slower than others to get their results published, also if your club isn’t shown against your name in published results and you’ve not posted your run to one of the club’s two groups on Strava, it’ll very likely get missed. With that in mind –

Results now out for the Woodchester Park Trail Challenge last Sunday confirm Clare Stickney had a strong run, coming first in her age group and 4^th lady overall. Well done Clare and best of luck for the rest of the marathon training leading to Abingdon in October.

I’m not sure if Phil Davey and Jos Randall went round the whole course together, but it clearly wasn’t “ladies first” crossing on the line.

1 Matt Hudd (Stroud & District AC) 50.16

22 Clare Stickney (Cirencester AC) 1.09.04 – 4th lady

75 Phil Davey 1.29.44

76 Jocelyn Randall 1.29.45

83 finished

Also racing last Sunday, Joyce Matthews finished well up in a large field, clocking 46.23 to claim 1^st FV50 in the 10k trail race put on by Relish Racing at Westonbirt Arboretum. Joyce’s prize included a free entry to another Relish race of up to 10k, which she is happy to donate if any member is interested (see group whatsapp or contact membership secretary)? Congratulations and thanks in advance !

Finally, the results from last weekend’s Glos AAA road race series have been factored into the rankings with 4 just races to go {Angels 10k (see below), sharpness 4mi, Bourton HM, Guy Fawkes 5mi}. So, before this weekend's Angels 10k -

·       Kate Jacobs, who is currently injured, can’t be beaten in her age group. But her main focus is the Open category, where she is still in the lead. She could however be overtaken by either of the two ladies currently in 4^th/5^th if they do well in all the last 4 races.

·       Rich Allen, leading the V40 category, looks safe for a top 3 finish, but he is only 2 points ahead of the men in 2^nd and 3^rdso it’s close.

·       Karen Higuera is in third place in FV60, but has 2 races in hand as against both ladies above her, and is unbeaten this season. If she can run uninjured in at least 3 of the remaining 4 races, the top spot looks within reach.

·       Kate Kilby is in a two-horse race for the FV65 title, currently 8 points behind in 2^nd place but with one race in hand. She’s 3-1 up in the head-to-head races this season, so another close one where staying injury-free looks to be the key.

Good luck and safe training to all four of you.

13^th September - THIS WEEK’S PARKRUNS

Congratulations to Ben Clarke who was the only member to win this weekend, with 18.13 at Morden in Surrey putting him more than 30 seconds ahead of the rest of the field. It was his second fastest parkrun, albeit some way off his PB (17.17 at Cirencester in June this year).

At Cirencester there were a few less members running than usual, perhaps ahead of racing on Sunday? They missed a very quick run from an unaffiliated runner, Alex Howard 16.36.

For the records, Toby Conway was the first member across the line (his brother Ben now running first-claim for Swindon Harriers), otherwise no PB’s or milestones spotted this week.

Ian Barrett again sandwiched a parkrun between two bikes rides (one very wet), and again finished in the top 5, this time at the confusingly named Chippenham Playing Field in Monmouth.

Last but not least, also across the border in Wales (?), Jo Roberts had the honour of being the first lady home at Builth Wells.   

Cirencester: 3 Ben Conway (J) (2^nd claim) 19.36, 12 Toby Conway (J) 21.22, 24 Casey Vatcher 22.58, 32 Brecon Musk (J) 23.31,36 Paul Timms 24.01, 49 Holly Stewart-Hodges (J) 25.31, 50 Anna Stewart-Hodges 25.32,60 Neil Broadley 26.15, 112 Tom Morgan 29.47, 117 Susanna Austin 30.24,124 Kirsty Leggate 31.05, 135 Samantha Timms 31.49, 140 Angela Hilditch 32.10,141 Ben Hilditch 32.12, 209 finished.

Tetbury: 24 Stephen Hale 23.48, 78 Alan McAdam 27.41, 82 Rachel McAdam 27.54, 206 finished.

Chippenham: 163 James Hunton 32.45, 221 finished.

Monmouth, Chippenham Playing Field: 5 Ian Barrett 20.02, 139 finished.

Groe, Builth Wells: 15 Jo Roberts (1st lady) 24.23, 90 finished.

Morden, Surrey: 1 Ben Clarke (J) 18.13, 175 finished.

13 September 2025, Cotswold Lakes 10km

Gordon Jones went one further than a park run on Saturday morning with a trail 10k in Ashton Keynes, clocking 1.05.41.

14^th - WORCESTER HALF MARATHON

HM specialist Dave Bell may well be one of the hardest-training members in the club, as well as our fastest over the HM every year for more than a decade. So, newly into the V40 category and equipped with a club aero vest, he lined up ready to test his fitness in the Worcester HM on Sunday 14^th. Here’s what happened…

“Doh! I was running well in around 10th place until 10 miles then had to make a quick stop as I don’t think caffeine gel at half way wa sitting right today. Still a decent effort and would have been close to 74min which was the “A” goal. 6 weeks to Stroud….”

 Not many of us would be disappointed with 1:15:50 and 17th in a field of c. 2,000, but look out for an even better time from Dave at Stroud next month.

14^th – ANGELS 10K

A recurring fixture in the Glos AAA road series, and with HQ at a cricket club like last weekend’s Cranham race, this event is named for the ladies-only running club who host it.

It’s not really hilly compared to Cranham, but it’s also not a “flat and fast” course either.

{Ed. This race is also part of the Club championship, but my laptop didn’t come on holiday, so updated rankings to follow on our website}.

It wasn't only the regular road racers (see above) who were grateful for the improved weather forecast. Pam Wheeler was running only her 2^nd non-parkrun this year, and with a slight calf niggle, somewhat concerned about the hill situation after briefings by RSE acquaintances. She sent this report

“The predicted rain held off until we got home so running conditions were perfect for this modestly small event. Run on quiet country lanes almost traffic free with lots of enthusiastic marshals but very undulating including in the final couple of kms!

A small CAC contingent but happy to come away with county medals - Kate gold, Ruth silver and me bronze. All pleased with our respective races.

Personally I was a minute or so slower than my last 10k at Fairford in June but more hills today!

Andy was delighted with his time. Photos by Helen Manners.”

Andy wad indeed super happy with his time and on a flatter course would probably have just dipped under the 40-minute mark. Great run Andy.

In terms of our members chasing county medals, both Kate Jacobs and Karen Higuera were unfortunately injured, and Rich Allen was in triathlon mode (see elsewhere). Kate Kilby’s win takes her one step closer to finishing first, but still a close thing.

14 September 2025, Angels 10km, Ashleworth, nr Gloucester, 10km road

1 Lee Stopford (Stroud & District AC) 32.18 (chip 32.17)

22 Andy Duff (Cirencester AC) 40.22 (40.22)

69 Kate Kilby 53.09 (52.59) – 1st FV65

88 Pam Wheeler 1.01.38 (1.01.28)

96 Ruth Fulford 1.11.24 (1.11.07)

100 finished

14^th – New Forest Marathon

With the event’s website proclaiming it as ‘the most stunning running event in the UK’, the New Forest marathon (other distances were available) tempted club member Susanna Austin this year. Here’s her news

“Very pleased with it. I was 10 minutes faster than last year and even faster thathan my 1994 London marathon. Just finished before the rain hit and my calves cramped. It’s a lovely running festival, I really recommend it - ponies everywhere! Whilst the race felt a lot better than last time, I forgot to take a day off work tomorrow!”

Congratulations Susanna {Ed. - I know the effort needed and the great satisfaction of running faster than your much younger self}.

14th - Chippenham Half Marathon

Like many of us, Stuart Fitzgerald had a HM race scheduled in his build up to a marathon in Cape Town in 5 weeks time. His training plan may not have included running a PB though - it must have been the family support! Congratulations Stuart - keep building the consistency and stay fit for the big one.

1 Simon Nott (Calne Running Club) 1.09.26 (chip 1.09.26)

48 Stuart Fitzgerald (Cirencester AC) PB 1.22.11 (1.22.07)

1017 finished

14th September - TRIATHLON

Rich Allen missed the Angels 10k road race to do a sprint triathlon - here’s his account.

‘Vitruvian Middle Distance Triathlon at Rutland Water, Leicestershire, hosted both the Inter-Service and RAF Middle Distance Triathlon Championships (1.9km swim, 89km bike, 21km run). I raced this event in 2024, so knew what to expect, but had a niggling doubt at that back of mind that my legs were going to play ball, having only raced Ironman Kalmar four weeks prior. 135 triathletes from across HM’s Armed Forces proudly represented their respective service (predominantly Army). Luckily the forecast wind and rain stayed away and a highly competitive race ensued. The strong Army team dominated however, and were victorious across most categories, although I managed to sneak the MV40 age group win. In the RAF competition, 30 ‘RAFletes’ were competing for RAF Champion bragging rights. The finish couldn’t have been more dramatic, as I sprinted to catch the leader on the line for a photo finish, having slowly clawed back his lead over the course of the run leg. For the first time in the competition’s history, the result was judged to be a tie and the trophy/glory shared (all the more sweeter for me as I had 12 years on the other guy!). A satisfying end to a busy season for me, and perhaps my final ever triathlon, as I plan to focus on running and duathlon in 2026 (and generally dislike the chaos of triathlon swimming!).”

Congratulations Rich, esp on that last run leg - hopefully some of the club training helped there.