Feb 9th 2020
The Dursely Dozen is well known for its precipitous slopes, mud rich scrambles and all round toughness so when the weather causes its cancellation you know it must be ‘some weather’. And indeed, who would want to race up and down the forested slopes of the Cotswold scarp in the wind we had this Sunday but the race and many others were a sad loss to this year’s running calendar.
Last weekend in calmer circumstances David Musgrove powered around the nine trail miles of the Lungbuster to finish only 90 odd seconds behind the winner in a strong 3rd place and first V45. Barbara Thomas ran as well.
Lungbuster, Broad Hinton, nr Wootton Bassett, 9 miles trail
1 Andy Bryce (Royal Marines) 1.07.29 3 David Musgrove (Cirencester AC) 1.09.03 – 1st V45 112 Barbara Thomas 2.10.28 123 finished.
parkruns, 5km trail
In contrast parkrunners enjoyed a lovely Saturday morning and some fine results. Jacob McAdam won at Upton Court, Slough despite a somewhat slower time than his best from his usual venue at Slough’s Black Park. Ian Barrett was 2nd at Pomphrey Hill, Bristol, Ross Swain was 2nd at Cirencester and Tom Purnell was 9th at Swindon. Cirencester also saw Robert Stickney (JM10) run close to his PB to finish 24th overall – clearly another junior to watch. Cathie Cowell produced the only Cirencester PB of the week and it was great to see new comer to the club, Gill Hopkins having a go with husband Andy. Nea Sneddon Jones ran well again at Tetbury with Gordon Jones (VM70-74) not so far behind and the McAdams in pursuit when returning to their favourite parkrun. Elsewhere, Neil Morrissey was 8th at Lydney and Paul Timms took time off work to run in San Francisco showing just what a great international institution parkruns are!
Cirencester AC finishers: Cirencester: 2 Ross Swain 20.53, 24 Robert Stickney (J) 23.56, 62 Brendan McCarthy 26.33, 70 Rachel Ranger 26.56, 104 Richard Edwards 29.01, 110 Pam Wheeler 29.24, 127 Samantha Timms 30.31, 130 Cathie Cowell 30.38, 137 Ruth Fulford 31.12, 188 Gill Hopkins 41.16, 198 finished. Tetbury: 11 Nea Sneddon-Jenkins 23.57, 17 Gordon Jones 25.15, 23 Alan McAdam 26.10, 29 Rachel McAdam 27.53, 116 finished. Swindon, Lydiard: 9 Tom Purnell 18.48, 120 David Moss 25.01, 208 Barbara Thomas 28.12, 496 finished. Stroud: 16 Dorian Matts 24.40, 88 finished. Pomphrey Hill, Bristol: 2 Ian Barrett 19.06, 329 finished. Lydney: 8 Neil Morrissey 24.07, 61 finished. Slough, Upton Court: 1 Jacob McAdam 18.49, 176 finished. San Francisco, Crissy Field, USA: 36 Paul Timms 23.19, 141 finished.
Congratulations too, to Luke buck, Ollie Campbell and Isobel Watt who all qualified to run in the S W Schools Cross Country Champs in Bournemouth on Saturday. Ollie (21st overall and 3rd for Wiltshire) and Isobel (16th overall and 1st for Gloucestershire) will go on to run in the National Champs in Liverpool.