Sizzler 2025 results - 2 out of 3 wins ain't bad (and a club record for Kate Kilby)

Last Wednesday 11th Cirencester Park was once again the wonderful setting for the popular Summer Sizzler, with three races put on by the club this year, made possible with the help of a large team of volunteers, lead by Pam Wheeler as Race Director.

The senior event had sold out, maybe because it was our year to be a Glos AA road race fixture.

Paul Robinson oversaw the two junior races beforehand, the 2km for U9 and U11 juniors, and the 3km for the teens U13 to U17 – many thanks to Paul for standing in for Dorian Matts.

There was a great club turnout for both junior races with over 50 young athletes in all, and even better Cirencester runners won both events – congratulations to Albert and Ben in particular.

In the 2km, Albert Platts finished comfortably first overall, and amongst the U9 runners, Jacob Harrison was 1st boy and Brecon Musk 3rd. Poppy Wilson finished 3rd overall girl.

For those of us wrinklies gauging pace in minutes per mile, Albert’s was just inside 6:30.

Junior Sizzler 2km – U9 to U11 (Cirencester AC finishers)

1 Albert Platts 8.04, 6 Jacob Harrison 8.57, 7 Ruaridh Wright 8.59, 11 Digby Withington 9.20, 13 Henry Thomas 9.25,14 Poppy Wilson (3rd girl) 9.27, 16 Brecon Musk 9.42, 17 Joseph Leicester 9.43,21 George Platts 9.46, 23 James Kalantzis 9.52, 27 Rowley Selby 10.03, 30 Emily Hughes 10.16,31 Ephra Coupland 10.21, 37 Alex Willis 10.29, 40 Toby Hughes 10.38, 42 John Kinsey 10.47,43 Sophi Mason 10.49, 45 Ottilie Honor 10.57, 47 Ania Gasior 11.02, 49 Deacon Coupland 11.08, 50 Ted Lumley 11.08, 53 Esther Eldridge 11.20, 54 Monty Crawford 11.20, 55 Maximillian Murphy 11.20, 56 Henry Stokes 11.31, 57 Oscar Smith 11.32, 58 Jack McPeak 11.32,59 Florence Tanner 11.39, 62 Maya Burgier 11.47, 65 Hope Williams 12.01, 69 Alyssa Edwards 13.44,73 Emilie Zaparka 14.57

In the 3km for the teens, club members took 5 of the top ten slots.

Ben Clarke is only just out of the U15 age group, and raced an impressive 5.01 over the straight and flat Bourton mile recently. He won the 3k sizzler with an average pace of 5.38 per mile.

Ben was 20 seconds clear of second claim member, another Ben (Conway) in 2nd place.

Junior Sizzler 3km – U13 to U17 (Cirencester AC finishers)

1 Ben Clarke 10.30, 4 Elliot Fountain 11.23, 6 Toby Conway 11.46, 7 Bertie Andrews 11.52,9 Oscar Harris 11.55, 12 Edward Knight 12.04, 22 Georgia Hills (4th girl) 12.58, 25 Josh Neal 13.13, 29 Myles Fuller 13.32, 30 Wilf Andrews 13.37, 33 Wilfred Ryder 14.08, 34 Beatrice Wallis 14.13, 35 Emma Cunningham 14.13, 36 Abigail Cunningham 14.18, 37 Joshua Dunn 14.29, 39 Alice Averies 14.39, 40 Abigail Dunn 14.53, 41 Evie Mence 15.09,43 Ellis Bowen 15.28, 44 henrietta Davidson 15.42, 45 Isla Wright 15.55, 46 Isabelle Dunn 15.58, 48 Annelise Crawford 16.18, 49 Magnus Brown 16.33,51 William Ashmore 16.38, 52 Alice Philp 17.02, 56 Evie Honor 17.26, 57 Isobel Daniels 17.44, 58 Ruby Crouch 17.47, 59 Ella Lazauska 17.47, 60 Ellena Daniels 19.00, 61 Katie Leicester 19.02

In the senior race, another Ben topped the podium, but this time not from the home club.

First man home for Ciren, in 5th place overall and first “oldie” was Rob Forbes in 35.13, particularly impressive as he’d run 35.08 for 4th place (and first oldie) in the Fairford 10k only 3 days earlier.

Our “K3” trio of ladies each won their age groups -

Kate Jacobs 2nd lady overall (and 1st FV45)

Karen Higuera 1st FV60

Kate Kilby 1st FV65

Congratulations to all our prizewinners, but especially to Kate Kilby whose time of 50.05 set a new club FV65 record, breaking the 50.48 set by Carole Clark in 2016.

In the county road series, remarkably the “K3” trio are all unbeaten this season in their respective age groups, and Kate Jacobs is still leading the Open ladies rankings.

If we can field enough runners in the remaining AAA races, the ladies veterans could well be challenging for another team medal season. Keep going ladies!!

Club secretary and 2nd man home for the club, Rich Allen sent this report

“Unable to race the Stroud Beer Race back in May I was keen to score some Glos AAA points at Sizzler and stay in the running for the road race series {Ed. – Rich is 3rd place in his age group}.

It was a warm, balmy evening and a competitive field due to it being a Glos AAA fixture.

As expected, the race got off to a blistering start and I had to remain disciplined not to get carried away with the pace. I tried to stay as close as possible to clubmate Rob Forbes but that was always going to be a tough ask (as I have learned from various Parkruns!). The race went to plan; I managed to maintain a consistent pace throughout despite the muggy conditions and was happy with my 36:13 chip time, finishing 12/265 male and 2/36 Age Group (1 minute behind Rob who, impressively, had raced Fairford 10k just 3 days prior!). It was great to see so many club colours on the course and the event was extremely well organised and supported by an army of amazing volunteers.

Special thanks to club stalwart and President, Pam Wheeler, for organising another brilliant Sizzler. It really is such a popular event around Cirencester and it ran seamlessly. Pam, once again, you have done the club, yourself and the town proud!”

Lastly, the county road series tables now have a newly added age category – MV85, to include new club member Gerald Billis, who said

“A big thanks from me for the great kindness and encouragement given to me on my first Sizzler.  It helped me do better than I expected having only just got back into training after quite a long layoff.  It was really well organised and a super friendly event.”

{Apologies, couldnt load a group photo this week}

1 Ben Robinson (Bristol & West) 32.04 (chip 32.04)

5 Rob Forbes (Cirencester AC) 35.14 (35.13) – 1st V40

12 Rich Allen 36.16 (36.13)

26 Kate Jacobs 38.37 (38.34) – 2nd lady / 1st FV45

70 Andy Duff 42.01 (41.55)

91 Tommy Payne 43.24 (43.22)

96 Ben Francis 43.35 (43.31)

141 Elysia Harrison 46.36 (46.21)

159 Karen Higuera 47.36 (47.28) – 1st FV60

210 Kate Kilby 50.12 (50.05) – 1st FV65, club FV65 record

281 Jonathan Higgs 54.21 (53.47)

478 Ruth Fulford 1.13.08 (1.12.18)

510 Gerald Billis 1.24.56 (1.24.55)

510 finished