Great racing at Eynsham 10k

We'll start with a few announcements this week in case you've missed them elsewhere.

*********************SOCIAL EVENTS COMING UP*********************

13th December - Parkrun in Cirencester - please join us after the parkrun for coffee and/or breakfast in the RAU canteen. If you're not running, why not volunteer first? And don't forget to try and wear some club kit.

30th December - after Tuesday evening training, please join us if you can for a drink afterwards at the Crown pub (just off the market place opposite back of the parish church) to see out 2025.

Also,

Monday 26th January - save the date for an informal curry evening, further details to follow

May 2026 - we're looking into having the 2025 awards presented at a daytime outdoors family friendly event, possibly at the Rugby Club. This would be instead of a curry awards night as per the last couple of years. Again, further news to follow.

*******************THIS WEEK'S RACING***************************

On Sunday 30th, the weather was kind to our 3 runners in the Eynsham 10k, and it looks like they had a proper exciting race.

In a strong field attracted by the PB reputation that the course has, our speedy 40-somethings all finished within 9 seconds of each other.

First home by a whisker was Rich Allen in a PB time of 35.24, amazingly only good enough for 4^th place in his age category, but providing a fitting finish to a very successful season.

Rich went off ahead of Bill Leggate, but was overtaken by him with about 1km to go. However Rich managed to hold on and then, having rehearsed the last minute gear shift move in his run leg of the RAF triathlon champs earlier this year, Rich put in a sprint finish over the last 100m to just overtake Bill.

Here’s Bill’s account

“Nice conditions - cold but sunny.  Felt in a good rhythm: spent the race slowly reeling in Rich but unable to hold him off over the last 150m! Pleased with time - shows I’m coming back to fitness and will hopefully be back to sub 35 by Bourton.”

Aaron Willis who was running to feel rather than watch was only another 7 seconds behind Bill, and placing roughly where he expected within the field, having finished towards the sharp end of this race several times.

Congratulations to all 3 for threatening the magic 35 minute mark.

Men's Aaron Wills, Bill Leggate, Rich Allen - Eynsham 10k 30.11.25

1 Luke Morgan (Kenilworth Runners) 32.23 (chip 32.23)

23 Rich Allen (Cirencester AC) PB 35.24 (35.22)

24 Bill Leggate 35.26 (35.23)

27 Aaron Willis 35.33 (35.30)

583 finished www.eynshamroadrunners.org.uk

***************************PARKRUNS************************

We didn’t spot any milestones or PB’s amongst the slightly fewer runners than usual doing Parkruns this weekend.

Congratulations to Charlottte Wilton on being 1^st lady home at Gloucester City with the best age-graded time of the day. An impressive 21.06 was her best time since 2019, which is great news just ahead of her Valencia marathon next weekend – GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.

Good also to see Chris Fox in action at Cheltenham as he starts on the road to recovery after quite some time off with a knee injury – hope it continues to improve.

Cirencester: 16 Toby Conway (J) 23.36, 23 Ben Hilditch 25.13, 45 Jonathan Higgs 27.52,59 Tom Morgan 29.15, 87 Kirsty Leggate 31.46, 98 Amanda Naylor 32.15,117 Richard Edwards 34.35, 138 finished.

Tetbury: 7 Casey Vatcher 20.44, 29 Paul Timms 23.15, 86 Samantha Timms 31.09, 139 finished.

Swindon, Lydiard Park: 76 David Moss 24.56, 149 Gordon Jones 29.09, 331 finished.

Cheltenham 88 Chris Fox 23.07, 522 finished

Gloucester City: 9 Charlotte Wilton (1st lady) 21.06, 205 finished.

Bicester: 66 Alan McAdam 25.39, 82 Rachel McAdam 26.45, 218 finished.

Three Brooks, Bradley Stoke, Bristol: 207 Ruth Fulford 34.18, 256 finished.

Seaton: 115 Sophie Mason (J) 25.56, 268 finished.