A burst of beautiful weather was very welcome for club members running all kinds of events this weekend.
On Saturday five Cirencester runners took to the trails of Worcestershire for the Winter Wychavon Way ultra. The event follows the Wychavon Way which runs the length of Worcestershire and covers 40 miles from Droitwich Spa to Broadway. Taking in canals, rivers and meadows, there is a significant climb up Bredon Hill giving views over the Vale of Evesham. The weather on the day was kind but the course very muddy and hard going in places.
Rob Forbes was victorious and ran a spectacular race covering the distance in an almost unbelievable 5.19.29, an hour ahead of the second placed finisher and setting a new course record.
Howard, Jo, Lara and Rupert set off together although Howard soon decided he wanted to get home in time for tea and so surged ahead finishing in just over eight and a half hours. Very impressive, especially given his possibly ill judged decision to wear road shoes.
Jo reports that she, Lara and Rupert enjoyed the views and the company and finished just after dark.
Wonderful performances all round.
26th February, Wychavon Way 40, 40 miles, trail
1 Rob Forbes (Cirencester AC) 5.19.29
29 Howard Ewan 8.33.10
56 Lara Tompson 10.26.53
57 Joanna Roberts 10.26.57 – 3rd in age category
58 Rupert Chesmore 10.26.59 – 1st in age category
62 finished
Brian Harris and Keith Firkin, each with a marathon in the not too distant future, both completed the Wokingham Half Marathon on Sunday.
With the combination of the fairly flat course and the good weather conditions on the day, Brian was quietly confident of improving on his 1:33 half marathon PB from Stroud last year and was aiming to break through the magic 1:30 barrier. After a sub 68 minute first 10 miles he really struggled to hang on but managed to maintain his effort and finish just 3 seconds inside his 1:30 target. He was surprised to find that his time was only good enough for 13th in his MV60 age group. Obviously a very fast field on the day.
Keith also put in a very fine 1:38 performance as he prepares for Brighton marathon in April.
27th February, Wokingham Half Marathon, 13.1 miles, road
1 Joshua Grace (Aldershot Farnham & District) 1.06.06 (1.06.06)
562 Brian Harris (Cirencester AC) 1.30.29 (1.29.57)
892 Keith Firkin 1.39.26 (1.38.24)
2694 finished
Martin Croucher travelled to Kent again this weekend to add another two marathon medals to his vast collection, 114 and counting. Each event was a 6 hour timed challenge comprising laps of a course.
Saturday was Marathon Day, 26/2. According to Martin, everyone should run a marathon on 26th February and it will be written into law if he’s ever in charge of such things! For Sunday’s event, The Book Day Challenge, Martin reports that he was going along nicely at an easy pace but decided to walk the last couple of miles to begin his recovery process.
Well done Martin on another epic weekend.
26th February, Marathon Day Challenge, 6 hours timed challenge, trail
1 Robert Cameron-Wood (Unattached) 36.1 miles, 6.18.43
3 Martin Croucher (Cirencester AC) 29.5 miles, 5.13.49
78 finished
27th February, Book Day Challenge, 6 hours timed challenge, trail
1 Robert Cameron-Wood (Unattached) 36.1 miles, 6.16.00
15 Martin Croucher (Cirencester AC) 26.2 miles, 4.52.10
45 finished
Over 600 runners enjoyed a lovely atmosphere at the ever popular Bourton 10k. There was a great turnout from Cirencester.
Dave Bell was first home in 17th overall and very pleased at finishing inside his sub 34 target. A definite gremlin in the chip timing system misrepresents Tom Purnell’s impressive 35.21 finish. Rarely spotted on tarmac, James and Liz Thomas both bagged Bourton PBs as did Rachel Barrow. Simon Campbell was delighted to finish comfortably inside 40 minutes.
Tom Payne, reaping the benefits of club training, earned a big PB taking two minutes off his previous best. James Widdowson, having very patiently worked his way back from an injury that threatened to end his running altogether, was thrilled to be back at a race in a club vest. He will undoubtedly soon reach his goal of getting back to sub 50 minutes for 10k.
Karen Higuera, taking a walk break whilst suffering from a stitch, was encouraged along by a Gloucester lady to get going again and was first Cirencester lady home.
Tracey Seville almost didn’t make it to the start after a road closure meant a walk across fields to get a lift from her friend, fellow club member Helen Manners.
Ruth Fulford put in a fine performance to finish second in her FV70 age group.
Great performances across the board at a well supported race that is always fun to take part in.
27th February, Bourton 10k, 10k, road
1 James Denne (Gloucester AC) 31.14 (31.14)
17 David Bell (Cirencester AC) 33.50 (33.50)
32 Tom Purnell 35.21 (40.05)
35 James Thomas 35.35 (35.23)
50 Ian Barrett 36.24 (36.19)
61 Brecht Grieten 37.05 (36.59)
80 Andy Fellows 38.09 (38.04)
97 Simon Campbell 39.05 (38.56)
196 Tom Payne 43.43 (43.38)
236 Leigh Guilbert 45.10 (44.51)
240 Neil Morrissey 45.22 (44.59)
271 Karen Higuera 46.22 (46.11)
338 Gemma Lund 49.00 (48.40)
357 Elizabeth Thomas 49.53 (49.42)
374 Howard Ewan 50.28 (50.05)
387 Rachel Barrow 51.08 (50.43)
390 Gordon Jones 51.14 (50.52)
392 Tom Morgan 51.19 (50.53)
394 Rob Tuttle 51.25 (51.00)
402 Rachel Ranger 51.44 (51.31)
423 Jocelyn Randall 52.23 (52.09)
425 Tanya Everett 52.24 (52.10)
430 James Widdowson 52.48 (52.25)
533 Tracey Seville 59.57 (59.42)
539 Barbara Thomas 1.00.07 (59.45)
545 Ruth Fulford 1.00.48 (1.00.20) – 2nd LV70
613 Paul Barrow 1.18.21 (1.17.41)
616 finished
At Coventry parkrun Ollie Campbell was involved in quite a battle and finished a very close second. There was a top ten finish for Neil Morrissey at Cirencester and Nea Sneddon-Jenkins was first lady at Tetbury.
26th February, parkrun, 5k, trail
Coventry parkrun
1 Alistair Leivers (Unattached) 17.10
2 Ollie Campbell (Cirencester AC) 17.18
525 finished
Cirencester parkrun
1 Tom Stockdale (Unattached) 19.28
8 Neil Morrissey (Cirencester AC) 22.42
43 Brendan McCarthy 28.31
51 Pamela Wheeler 31.45
72 finished
Tetbury Goods Shed parkrun
1 Alex Milne (Unattached) 16.28
8 Nea Sneddon-Jenkins (Cirencester AC) 21.23 – 1st Female
19 Paul Timms 22.55
49 Samantha Timms 28.41
86 finished