New U20 record amongst a weekend of achievements
We have UK and international race results this week from both East and West, but before them, some club-related items
Club calendar – look out imminently on Whatsapp for a fantastic one-pager from our Secretary showing all the (running) dates you need to know about over the next year, which we’ll also post here {when it’s been signed off by our chairman ;-)...}
Glos cross-country series – you’ve just missed last night’s deadline for the first race, but 3 more to go – dates will be on the club calendar.
Curry social – still targeting Monday November 16th – look out for details later
October’s Strava segment challenge – yesterday (Sunday) Rich Allen smashed Bill’s recently set record by 4 seconds – maybe he should look at sprinting next season once the sub-3hr marathon is ticked off! Still 2 weeks to go for one of you to spoil his month.
NEXT SATURDAY - the 1-year Birthday of the Carterton Parkrun event, with our own Phil Davey as RD. He'd love to see as many of you there as can make it.
Parkruns 10th October
At Ciren, two of our juniors were first home for the club, with Rich Allen pacing the younger, Ruaridh Wright (just 10) to a clear course PB which was also only 1 second off his parkrun PB set at Bideford earlier this year. Congratulations Ruaridh!
Just behind them, Charlotte Wilton was looking to get some speed back, and with a 3rd lady placing and only 10 seconds off her PB that looks to be going well.
Clare Tapley was delighted with her run at Stonehouse
“Official time 37:40. Starting watch helps! My best time since 2024 so very happy. Run 100 walk 20. Run 100 walk 20 …… apparently consistency is key - even the athlete intelligence says so!”
I may have missed her first non-walk last week, but good to see Rachel McAdam back running carefully - if you're in the market for a non-electric scooter maybe enquire next time you see her.
Also great to see Martin Croucher pushing close to 21 minutes - a far cry from a year ago. Not that our Tuesday sessions especially need a plug, but they've helped him get back to form after injury.
Cirencester: 11 Toby Conway (J) 21.01, 14 Ruaridh Wright (J) 21.47 (course PB), 15 Rich Allen 21.48,17 Charlotte Wilton 21.59, 47 Rob Forbes 23.51, 49 Paul Timms 23.55, 67 Stephen Hale 24.43,71 Rachel Ranger 24.59, 103 Brendan McCarthy 27.13, 171 Pam Wheeler 30.17,193 Susanna Austin 30.59, 197 Richard Edwards 31.03, 198 Samantha Timms 31.05,199 Kirsty Leggate 31.07, 208 Gareth James 32.13, 229 Casey Vatcher 33.34, 304 finished.
Swindon, Seven Fields: 43 Ben Francis 24.53, 139 David Moss 33.12, 196 finished.
Stroud, Stonehouse: 6 Colin Tapley 21.24, 93 Clare Tapley 34.40, 101 finished.
Stroud, Stratford Park: 9 Ian Barrett 21.36, 148 finished.
Carterton, Kilkenny Lane: 122 Gordon Jones 35.30, 153 finished.
Westbury, Thoulston: 8 Martin Croucher 21.16, 169 finished.
Three Brooks, Bradley Stoke, Bristol: 298 Ruth Fulford 35.38, 374 finished.
Cambridge, Brooks Ley: 209 Alan McAdam 26.34, 308 Rachel McAdam 30.18,473 finished.
Perth Half Marathon
Jos Randall and her son Alex, after warming up with an off the books parkrun on Saturday, took on the Perth HM in the early hours of Sunday (for us in the UK).
They enjoyed great views and Jos says the temperature stayed in a comfortable range. Jos finished in c. 2hr 15, with her first 10k stronger than the 2nd - maybe jet lag?
1 Matthew Ramsden (Australia) 1.09.51 (1.09.49)
3850 Jos Randall (Cirencester AC) 2.25.14 (2.16.23)
5344 finished perthrunningfestival.com.au
Grittleton 10k
After his Isle of Wight outing last week, Rob Tuttle was in action (incognito, i.e. entering unaffiliated) closer to home this weekend with this newsletter’s former editor Rachel Barrow. Rob’s time of 52:16 placed him 127th.
“What a lovely run! Very well organised, picturesque route, smashing marshals, well supported.”
New member Blair Thomson finished 1st V50 and 6th overall in an impressive 38.00 - well done Blair, hope the age-group prize was decent?
11 October 2026, Grittleton 10km, nr. Chippenham, 10km road
1 Ross Purchase (Porthcawl Runners) 33.07 (chip 33.07)
6 Blair Thompson (Cirencester AC) 38.01 (38.00) – 1st V50
127 Rob Tuttle 52.16
383 finished icompete.co.uk
Oxford Half Marathon
Susanna Austin had been planning to run the Oxford HM for her first time with Jos Randall (an old hand at this race) but as mentioned above Jos ended up going to Australia, so a friend of Susanna ran instead.
“Had a good run at Oxford half today. My first time and it was lovely, if busy. Finished in 1.57.34 and it was a good trial run of shoes and fuel and glycogen levels after my horrendous marathon 3 weeks ago. We were delighted Wadham College let us in to use their loos as official ones too far from the start. Hence the smiley faces in the photo! Lovely flat course and great long-sleeved top in a bag at the end.”
The official time was a bit slower than Susanna mentioned, but still comfortably sub-2hr – well done
1 Alex Miell-Ingram (Oxford Social Run Club) 1.07.21
4868 Susanna Austin (Cirencester AC) 1.58.27
Royal London Parks Half Marathon
Three more club ladies were racing over the HM distance in London – mother and daughter Clare and Bella Stickney, along with “mentor” and club captain Kate Jacobs.
Clare was going well (averaging 7-minute miles for the first 5) before she unfortunately tripped over another runner, which broke her rhythm and she then “sat back” for the rest of the race, albeit still picking up a pretty decent time.
“Thank you ❤️ it was an amazing day with the legends Kate Jacobs, Bella Stickney and Tim Stickney who flew round amazingly. Incredible atmosphere & sights and supporting the Children’s Book Project. Not my best run and shocked from falling but a great day all in! Xxx”
Kate sent this short message
“We had a lovely day in London! The race started fast and I thought I’d pay for it, but I dug in and had a strong race. I wasn’t watching the time so 1:24 was a nice surprise! It was also great to see Bella run such an incredible club record.”
Kate’s splits were impressively even, and she beat over 800 ladies in her age group – a fantastic result. Whilst Kate was around 2 minutes off Wendy Micholl’s sub 1:23 club age record, the youngest lady racing, Bella Stickney absolutely smashed the Under 20 record set in 2009 by Alice Thomas at 1.57.12.
Many congratulations Bella – it’s great to have good runners coming through our junior section and staying with the club. There doesn’t appear to be a ladies U20 record set yet for 10 or 20 miles or marathon, but no pressure ;-)
1 Sam Brashaw (unattached) 1.09.30
149 Kate Jacobs (Cirencester AC) 1.24.38 – 13th lady / 1st FV45
1107 Isabella Stickney 1.36.47 – club U20 record
1741 Clare Stickney 1.40.44
Bath & Bristol Railway 50k
For his first(?) ultra, Casey Vatcher sensibly chose a nice flat course, 50km along the route of the old railway line from Bath towards Bristol, now a shared-use cycle path. Organised by Relish Running (who put on events at Westonbirt amongst others) competitors could choose from multiple distances, so that probably makes it a running festival ;-)
Casey had a great run, comfortably breaking the 4-hour mark despite slowing over the last 10k.
“I couldn’t quite believe I went sub 4 and that certainly wasn’t the intention setting off! My training had been gearing up for 5:00/km but I went out quick, felt comfortable so just stuck with it and managed to hold on - with a gruelling last 8km but still maintained a decent pace. Would thoroughly recommend the course, which was flat tarmac throughout and with excellent organisation, including marshals on electric bikes checking in on runners!
It really was a great event, apart from a few stubborn cyclists on the path on the way back 😅”
That’s an impressive average of around 3:20 marathon pace including for the extra 6 miles – an excellent time, many congratulations Casey.
{Ed. PS just spotted Casey using 262 shorts, I have also got these, awaiting their first race. helpful waistband pockets for horizontal gels. Still need runderwear too for me. End of commercial ;-) }
Chicago Marathon 11 October
And last but definitely not least, this weekend Kate and Andy Kilby added to their Abbott Major marathon tallies, this time in Chicago.
Kate was first home of the pair
“Phew! Snuck under 4:30 which was my target. Garmin said about 4:25 but not sure of official results. Rather warmer than anticipated and hadn't packed any suncream. Fabulous race and crowd. The walk back to the hotel was 6 times harder than the marathon! And I got lost 🤣”
Andy (2nd claim member) finished in 5.36, not sure if found their hotel any easier. [Ed. – I expect so as men usually have a better sense of direction don’t they ;-) ]
Congratulations to both - what an adventure.
1 Amos Kipruto (Kenya) 2.01.09
29421 Kate Kilby (Cirencester AC) 4.29.17
52616 finished chicagomarathon.com
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