Jumping for Joy(ce) and successful Chedworth races hosted

{Ed. - Just a gentle reminder for members that, other than for Parkrun and county championship fixtures (assuming you’ve run as a club member), neither DW nor I get automatically notified of when you race. If you’re on Strava, then please join one or both of the two groups as it will increase the chances of your run being picked up, but best of all drop us a line. Thanks!}  

Late result from last weekend - CLUB RECORD FOR JOYCE MATTHEWS

Dave Bell wasn’t the only club runner at the Worcester HM last weekend – in her first year as a V50, Joyce Matthews clocked an impressive 1:36:40, which was just under 77% age-graded and a PB, with which she was absolutely delighted. Hopefully this sweetened any “Oh No I’m 50” feelings. Even better it knocked around 3 ½ minutes off Karen Higuera’s club FV50 record. Congratulations Joyce, a prestigious club record certificate awaits you in due course !

Chedworth Trail Races

A large team of volunteers (and not all of them members) were involved in the club’s 10 mile and (the new) 5 mile races at Chedworth this weekend, under the leadership of Kate Jacobs. With around 250 entries in total and around 30 marshalling points over the two distances it was a tremendous feat of organisation. Look out for a separate post in the next few days.

Parkruns 20th September

Not so many of us our parkrunning this weekend.

Birthday boy James Thomas took his family to the spiritual home of Parkrun (Bushy) to celebrate. Unfortunately some unreliable timekeeping and getting stuck in a lift on the way there meant they missed the start by around 6 minutes. Nevertheless, with James pushing a double buggy with 2/3rds of the young Thomases, and Liz with the other 1/3rd they managed to overhaul the tailwalkers, only to meet a ridiculously slow queue for getting their tokens. So a DIY Parkrun at Bushey to kick off their weekend away. (Not in the results below).

James Thomas at a Bushy Birthday parkrun 20.9.25

Ian Barrett again slotted his Parkrun into the middle of a 39 Mile bike ride, running the 3rd different course in 3 times at Seven Fields.

At Cirencester, congratulations to Rich Allen who got a well deserved win in 18.16, holding off a younger newcomer by 6 seconds.

Also celebrating was recently re-joined member Alan Tompson who set a new PB, just ducking under 30 minutes. Well done Alan.

Cirencester: 1 Rich Allen 18.16, 11 Toby Conway (J) 21.10, 15 Albert Platts (J) 21.30,

61 George Platts (J) 25.07, 91 Alan McAdam 26.52, 107 Rachel McAdam 27.39,

125 Gordon Jones 28.48, 158 Alan Tompson PB 29.54, 192 Kirsty Leggate 31.27, 280 finished.

Tetbury: 25 Stephen Hale 24.01, 137 finished.

Swindon, Seven Fields: 9 Ian Barrett 21.00, 234 finished.

Chippenham: 171 James Hunton 31.50, 239 finished.

Run Cheltenham - Half Marathon & 10k, Sunday 21st

Two club members that we know of took part in this HM (with over 4,000 finishers and no clubs shown in the results, please see the note at top of this newsletter).

First in was Andy Duff (in training for York Marathon) who sent this feedback.

“After the good feelings I had at Angels 10k last week, I decided in the build up to this to back myself a bit and go for a sub 1:30.

I found myself by the end of the first mile in some good company, recognising a few faces and vests from the local races this year, so I decided to follow them until I couldn't . Slowly, but surely the group got smaller, but I was still there. By 11 miles, there was no group, and I was focusing on my own race. The course at this point is cruel, sharp 90 degree turns follow one after another on a gently rising gradient, certainly the slowest part of the course for me, but I was happily ahead of schedule and finished with a chip time of 1:26:57 - I wouldn't have bet on that at the start of the day.

Kudos to all those hard reps at the track on Tuesday nights!”

I reckon its kudos to Andy that’s a great time for a training race on not the fastest course.

Storm Trow wasn’t too far behind in 1:31:34, finishing well up a large field. Having been unwell this week she was only aiming for something in the 1:30’s, so was well pleased.

1 Dom James (Western Tempo) 1.08.37 (chip 1.08.35)

139 Andy Duff (Cirencester AC) 1.27.19 (1.26.56)

266 Storm Trow 1.31.58 (1.31.33)

4041 finished www.runcheltenham.com

Over the 10k distance, Kirsty Leggate was really happy with her time and the great atmosphere.

1 Dylan Rigby (Bristol & West AC) 30.42 (chip 30.40)

358 Jonathan Higgs (Cirencester AC) 55.18 (54.36)

573 Kirsty Leggate 1.03.53 (1.00.47)

1099 finished

And finally - wider news

They won’t appear in the results page, but two club members completed the 2 mile Serpentine Swin on Saturday (almost certainly unbeknownst to each other).

That may not mean much to some of you, but it is one of a trio of events that earn you a London Challenge plate sized mega-medal. For both Chris Miller and Angela Hilditch it was their last leg, having already run the London Marathon and biked the Ride London 100-mile event. Angela kindly sent this report in (just in case any of you fancy a super-sized piece of bling?)

“The swim serpentine was a brilliant event, really well organised. For my first two mile swim event I was quite nervous, but as soon as we got into the swing of it, it became really enjoyable. A brilliant atmosphere and the distance flew by! Very grateful that the temperatures increased in the last couple of days as that really helped.

It was the last piece of the puzzle for my London Classics trifector, having completed London marathon in 2021, and Ride London in 2022. I feel incredibly grateful and proud to have completed all three. If I can do it, anyone can!”

Congratulations Angela and Chris (Ed. - I”ve done 2 of the 3 but swimming 2 miles …….!}