Rich books a GB slot, multiple Stroud HM successes, OMM freezing "fun" & Club Champs winners
- brian17harris
- Oct 28
- 6 min read
Multisports - ATW Grafham Duathlon, 26th October
This standard distance duathlon (10k run - 40km bike - 5k run) was a qualifying event for the 2026 European Championships.
Rich Allen, dropping his least favoured leg of the triathlon (the swim), was in great form again
“Cold, bright and breezy! Cramped up on Run 2 which cost me 1st place AG but not much I could do about that. Chuffed with the result: 8/142 overall, 2nd 40-44 AG 🥈.”
But more importantly, Rich beat the winner in the 45-49 Age group, so under the relevant rules (which are different to EA) given that he will be 45 by next July when the Europeans are being held in Spain, he qualified to represent GB there. Massive congratulations Rich !!
{Results still not on the event website}.
TRAIL RUNNING
The OMM (Original Mountain Marathon) event in Penrith in the Lake district is a bit unusual.
Held at the end of every October since 1968, it is for pairs and comprises two runs over 2 days (Saturday-Sunday). The scoring is also a bit of a mystery to outsiders, but orienteering skills are needed to score max points.
For the club Aaron Willis was running with Alex Banks, and Andy Hindson with [Andy 2].
Day 1 was 18.8 miles and over 6,500 feet of elevation, during which Aaron and Alex notched up some Strava segment top tens and multiple summitbag peaks. Aaron summarises their race :-
“It was a bitter but fine morning at Shap Abbey in the Eastern Fells of the Lake District where the OMM got under way. Doing the Long Score route, we were given a map where we plotted our path in finding the most controllers we could in 7 hours. We had a decent first day but it was hard going. Back at camp it was cold, and we struggled to keep warm overnight and were thankful for the morning to come so we could get back racing. Navigation was harder the second day, and we were less successful but overall did well to finish 85th/185.”
Andy Hindson describes his experience
“The first day started well with a below zero wind chill factor but clear skies. However, the tussock bashing and general rough ground got to Andy’s ankles and they called it a day after 9 controls at the top of Sleddale. The mid camp was in upper Sleddale and we bagged a camping spot by the wall overlooking the site. Still a good day on the hill even though we didn’t complete the course. Andy decided that day 2 would be a walk back to Shap on footpaths as his ankle didn’t miraculously recover overnight. Not surprised, and the night was the coldest mountain marathon I’ve ever endured. Proper type 2 fun!”
Also on the trails, but over just 10 miles, one day, and no mountains, but plenty of puddles ;-)), David Wright and old friend Keith Firkin enjoyed the New Forest 10 in Brockenhurst
1 Joshua Price (Vectis Academy) 54.48
153 David Wright (Cirencester AC) 1.12.50
238 Keith Firkin 1.18.49
PARKRUNS 25th October 2025
There were no milestones or PB’s at Ciren parkrun this weekend, but it was good to see club chairman Luke Campbell continuing to improve his fitness after an ankle injury, albeit the ankle is still not right. His superior pacing experience showed as he reports advancing from 32nd at 1km to finish 16th as he overhauled those going off too fast. Fingers crossed for a sub-20 by Christmas.
Cirencester: 5 Toby Conway (J) 20.57, 16 Luke Campbell 21.58, 40 Paul Timms 23.51,58 Holly Stewart-Hodges (J) 26.19, 119 Gordon Jones 29.21, 137 Pam Wheeler 30.13,148 Anna Stewart-Hodges 30.47, 162 Samantha Timms 32.03, 239 finished.
Tetbury: 56 Alan McAdam 27.25, 67 Rachel McAdam 28.24, 166 finished.
Stonehouse: 11 Stephen Hale 25.24, 49 finished.
Marlborough Common: 41 David Moss 27.42, 141 finished.
Bridport, St Mary’s: 110 Richard Edwards 32.22, 147 finished.
Fell Foot, Newby Bridge, Lake District: 78 Susanna Austin 27.06, 259 finished.
STROUD HALF MARATHON (&10k)
This popular race is traditionally the last in the club’s road championship calendar (more on that later). With not quite so many runners as in prior years, there were still lots of personal success stories, including a new club record and one age group prize.
After training hard, Dave Bell was rightly pleased with his execution on the day, only just missing out on breaking 73 minutes, which was his “A* goal”. He felt really strong and controlled for the first 6 miles in particular. The hill up to mile 7 was tough work though, and he had to dig quite deep from around 9 miles; the last couple of miles hurt! 😩.
In a high qualify field, Dave’s best time since 2019 and a new V40 club record (congratulations on both counts!!) was still only enough for 3rd in his age group.
Charlotte Wilton had quite some time off with injury earlier this year, so it was wonderful to see her back on good form.
“Haven’t run since Abingdon 20 as picked up a horrible blood blister under my big toe nail 🤢. Ouch! Took first 4-5m steady to check toe was ok. Then felt pretty good! Happy with that today. Love this race!”
{Ed. - Charlotte’s spectacular 36s sprint for the line was sub 5min mile pace, and as far as I can tell from Strava the segment has only ever been run faster by one club member - Aaron Willis, and then only by 1 second. So, Charlotte finished faster even than Adrian Williams!)
Rachel Ranger was running the event for the 5th time. She felt strong until mile 8, but then it was a real struggle. Nevertheless, after a sticky patch she also picked it up with a sprint finish to set a course PB, and her 2nd fastest HM ever, just 20 seconds behind her Bristol half in 2023.
It wasn’t that long ago that Thursday morning and Parkrun stalwart Stephen Hale (almost V70) was worrying whether or not he could race continuously for 10k (Ed. - I assured him he could). On Sunday he enjoyed running double that, and was grateful for the tips on the hill situation. His finish time was within 3 seconds of his Australian cousin’s 2025 HM – the relative with whom he was “competing” at parkrun earlier this year. Congratulations on your first HM! {Look out next week for his 100thParkrun at Tetbury if all goes to plan.}
Karen Higuera, despite struggling with a chest infection, had “a lovely day out” topping it off with some bakery treats on the way home. She left before learning she’d actually come 1st in the FV60 age group, so we hope her prize finds its way to her.
{ Ed. - last year they were rather nice slate plaques}.
Another Thursday morning regular and almost V70, Brendan McCarthy mostly does parkruns, but also enjoys the Stroud race. This year he registered an impressive 10 minutes improvement over last year’s time, finishing comfortably inside 2 hours.
26 October 2025, Stroud Half Marathon, 13.1 miles road
1 Lester James (Team Bath AC) 1.07.59 (chip 1.07.58)
12 David Bell (Cirencester AC) 1.13.03 (1.13.02) – club V40 record
298 Charlotte Wilton 1.37.11 (1.36.51)
614 Rachel Ranger 1.49.54 (1.49.08)
677 Stephen Hale 1.52.38 (1.51.38)
733 Karen Higuera 1.54.49 (1.54.14) – 1st FV60
878 Brendan McCarthy 1.59.17 (1.57.54)
1468 finished
Whilst most of our members were running the half, one opted for the inaugural running of a point-to-point 10km that finished at the start of the HM.
Joyce Matthews was pleasantly surprised when she checked her watch with 2 miles to go and her time of just outside 44 minutes won her an age-group prize and just missed a podium finish in 4th. She’s got her sights on the HM next year.
26 October 2025, Stroud 10km, road
1 Andy Monro (Severn AC) 39.02 (chip 39.01)
23 Joyce Matthews (Cirencester AC) 44.05 (44.01) – 4th lady / 1st FV50
263 finished
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP 2025 RESULTS
As usual, Stroud HM marks the end of the club championships. Congratulations to the top 3 for this year as follows.
Men
Rich Allen, 118
Andy Duff, 115
James Widdowson, 102
Ladies
Kate Jacobs, 120
Karen Higuera, 105
Kate Kilby, 90
AND FINALLY
Next weekend is a really busy one
the finale to the Glos AAA road series at Tewkesbury - several members are in contention for golds
XC in Cirencester PARK
the first running of the Cirencester Half Marathon - do please send us full feedback if you are running it (or are trapped in your house by the road closures!)
New York marathon - best of luck to the Kilsby's and Sophie Chudley
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