2nd Feb 2020
Rob Brown was 11th in the infamous Arc of Attrition taking 10.47.49 to complete a punishing fifty miles of coastal path between the Minack Theatre, Porthcurno, all the way around the “foot” of Cornwall to Porthtowan. Many of us know that scrambling up and down coastal paths can be tough in summer but add blustery winter conditions and we understand why this race is so highly rated and earns 3 coveted UTMB points (for those wanting to enter the Ultra Tour of Mont Blanc). This was a fine run from Rob as he takes on increasingly tough challenges. Richard Hurdle (who ran the double length 100 mile run in 2018) finished in 12.04.21, also an impressive run given his injury induced lack of fitness.
Arc of Attrition, Porthtowan, Cornwall, 50 miles trail
1 Jamie Stephenson (Mile High Running Club) 8.27.44 11 Rob Brown (Cirencester AC) 10.47.49 28 Richard Hurdle 12.04.21 101 finished.
James Widdowson went down to Dorset running twice around the Portland Peninsula to climb over 800m and complete 43 wind blown kilometres in 5 .10. 43. His battles with slippery mud, rocks and sea spray – especially along a super exposed causeway will have been great for his confidence as he prepares for an even tougher 60km race in Cyprus in March.
Portland Coastal Marathon, 26.2 miles trail
1 Simon Arthur (Egdon Heath Harriers) 3.37.40 (chip 3.37.38) 40 James Widdowson (Cirencester AC) 5.10.43 (5.10.35) 97 finished.
Cozza Clark gave herself a brief break from triathlon training to run the Longleat 10k and to finish 3rd lady in 42.51. Kerry Smith also had a good run finishing in 53.27.
Longleat 10km, road
1 Nathan Young (Wells City Harriers) 33.58 (chip 33.57) 43 Corinne Clark (Cirencester AC) 42.51 (42.47) – 3rd lady 312 Kerry Smith 53.27 (53.19) 1374 finished. Ruth Fulford had to travel all the way to Chichester to have a second crack at trying to qualify for the England Masters Champs. Her two weeks living the good life in India had minimal effect on her time – this time of 58.48 but we have to wait to see if her 5th FV70 place earned the coveted qualification.
Chichester 10km, Goodwood, 10km road
1 Nick Goolab (Belgrave Harriers) 29.01 – course record 1116 Ruth Fulford (Cirencester AC) 59.47 (chip 58.48) 1518 finished.
parkruns, 5km trail
Ollie Campbell won at Chippenham for the third time this year and Junior (11-14) Isobel Watt’s PB of 22.01 at Cirencester brought her in first lady again. Tom Purnell was seconds short of a PB at Stratford with 17.59 and David Musgrove and Mark Sysum both stayed sub 20 at Cirencester where Juniors Henry Broadley and Joe and Sam Cook all ran well and Cathie Cowell, released from tail running, set a new PB. Nea Sneddon- Jenkins continues to improve this time with an all parkrun PB of 22.14 at Worthing. The numbers at Tetbury were swelled even more by the arrival of team Tuttle and Barrow with Lyn Tuttle running her first and Paul Barrow his fastest parkrun.
Cirencester AC finishers:
Cirencester: 2 David Musgrove 19.29, 3 Mark Sysum 19.54, 5 Isobel Watts (JW11-14)) 22.01 – 1st lady, 26 Neil Morrissey 25.52, 29 Paul Timms 26.08, 32 Henry Broadley (JM11-14) 26.19, 42 Rachel Ranger 27.54, 54 Brendan McCarthy 28.47, 68 Joe Cook (JM 10) 30.49, 69 Sam Cook (JM15-17) 30.50, 73 Pam Wheeler 31.00, 78 Samantha Timms 31.35, 84 Cathie Cowell 32.18, 153 finished.
Tetbury: 29 Alan McAdam 24.21, 32 Rob Tuttle 24.46, 43 Rachel McAdam 25.53, 57 Rachel Barrow 27.10, 96 Paul Barrow 30.22, 122 Lynne Tuttle 34.03,
131 Thomas McNally 35.39, 142 finished.
Swindon, Lydiard: 155 David Moss 26.34, 208 Barbara Thomas 28.15, 548 finished.
Swindon, Seven Fields: 29 Gordon Jones 25.18, 128 finished.
Chippenham: 1 Ollie Campbell (JM15-17) 17.44, 272 finished. Stratford-u-Avon: 7 Tom Purnell 17.59, 469 finished.
Worthing: 54 Nea Sneddon-Jenkins 22.14, 505 finished.