Gibbet Hill 10K, Elstead Marathon, Bushy Park Time Trial, British Masters Track Championships and HRRL results

Gibbet Hill 10K

Farnham Runners came within a whisker of pulling off a team victory in the Gibbet Hill 10 km on Wednesday 12th July. Mixed teams of four men and three ladies counted and when positions were totalled they were just two points behind the organising club Haslemere Border Athletics Club.

Not for the faint hearted this race climbs some 500ft from Haslemere to Gibbet Hill, mainly on tracks and then includes a steep descent on roads back to Haslemere.

The 15 Farnham Runners made up almost 1/10th of the entries this year.

In great form Michael Rix led in the Farnham contingent with an excellent eighth place in 39.19, followed by Charles Ashby who was 4th veteran (41.28, 14th). Dan Smith came home 18th (42.15) with Steve Murphy the fourth male scorer (42.22, 7th M40).

Jane Georghiou was second lady (44.56, 1st W45) with Samantha Pelham (49.53, 10th lady, 5th senior lady) and Suzanna Ching (57.02, 9th F35, 22nd lady) making a fine contribution to the team in this tough race.

Other results: Nick Hill 43.59, 11th M40, Colin Addison 44.05, 13th M40, Steve Kitney 44.49, Jim Bosworth 45.12, 14th M40, Terry Steadman 45.16, 6th M50, Don Melvin 51.01, 14th M50, Julie Russ 59.33, 6th F45.

Elstead Marathon

In the Elstead Marathon (5 mile) Farnham Runners featured strongly with Michael Rix winning and Mark Taylor runner up. Newcomer Sam Pelham put in an impressive performance to finish 3rd lady.

Bushy Park Time Trial

Mike Anderson has now twice smashed his own Farnham Runners M45 5 km record of 17.33 set last year. His latest time is 17.16 set on the 15th July in the Bushy Park time trial at Teddington, a flat 5 km but including towpath so not the fastest surface. Richard Baldock recorded a fine 20.27 in his first 5 km on the same day.

British Masters Track Championships

Jane Georghiou won her 10th British Masters track medal with silver in the W50 category in the 10.000m at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham with a time of 42.28. She clocked 20.15 in the 5,000m the previous day, which placed her fifth in a more competitive field.

HRRL overall results for 2005-6

In the Hampshire Road Race League Farnham Runners men stay in Division One for next season, while the ladies just miss promotion from Division Two.

The Farnham men finished in 7th place of the ten teams in the division. Their B team was 12th of 20 teams in the B division.
The ladies placed 3rd in Division Two at Brading and maintained their third place for the final tally.

Captains Dan Smith and Jane Georghiou featured highly in the individual tables, Dan taking 12th slot and Jane 5th in the ladies section.