HRRL Gosport Half and HRRL Hayling 10m

Two excellent results within a week by both men’s and ladies’ Farnham Runners teams have boosted the club’s Hampshire Road Race League positions. The men’s team now lies 6th in Division One with the ladies 5th in Division Two. An outstanding turn-out of 22 club members for the first and 23 for the second race helped to ensure the good results.

Gosport Half Marathon

First home by almost two minutes in the Gosport half marathon was veteran Graham Wilton (1.18.56) who took 30th place and 8th M40 slot in this very competitive race. The next three took advantage of the flat course and ideal conditions to post personal best performances. Dan Smith forged ahead for 1.20.38 and came 41st of the 984 finishers. Charles Ashby stopped for a while when he felt unwell half way round and yet still beat his personal best by 1½ minutes (1.23.57, 72nd). Steve Kitney is improving with every race (1.25.00, 79th). These four made up the team that came 8th in Division One.

The B team comprised Steve Murphy (1.30.24), Nick Hill (1.31.09), Terry Steadman (1.34.39), who won the 3rd M55 prize and Andy Tweed (1.37.17). Don Melvin (1.40.28) took an amazing 5½ minutes from his previous best.

The ladies team of three topped Division Two by a huge margin of 234 points. Jane Georghiou had hoped for inside 1.30 (1.30.29, 10th lady, 2nd W50). Sam Pelham had an excellent first half marathon (1.40.07, 40th lady) keeping just ahead of Clair Windiate (1.42.14, 45th lady) who took an impressive ten minutes off her first attempt at this distance.

Other Farnham times: Tim Cummins 1.43.45, Colin Goody 1.44.35, Howard Inns 1.45.16, Lindsay Bamford 1.45.18, Simon Burgess 1.49.40, Richard Sheppard 1.50.21, Richard Adolph 1.57.47, Caroline Freeman 2.00.15, John Applebee 2.01.24.

Hayling 10m

Stuart Morgan, boosted by his success at recent cross-country races, made a late decision to run in the Hayling 10 miler. Although his attempt at a sub hour time was thwarted by a strong wind (1.01.05, 40th, 12th M40) he put in a strong performance to lead in the team that came 7th in Division One. Many of the Runners still had the effects of the half marathon the previous week in their legs and yet Dan Smith (1.01.47) and Charles Ashby (1.02.33) were also close to the hour. Ian Carley had a superb debut at this distance for 1.05 13 to make up the A team of four.

Steve Murphy (1.06.06), Colin Addison (1.07.45) and Steve Kitney (1.08.02) and Matt Burns (1.11.21) made up the B team that also placed 7th.

The ladies fielded the same A team as at Gosport with similar success- they were easily 1st in Division Two. Jane Georghiou crossed the line in 1.08.54 (3rd W45, 17th lady) Clair Windiate in 1.14.49 and Sam Pelham in 1.14.54, 40th and 42nd lady respectively.

Lindsay Bamford led in the B team that came second in Division Two with a new PB of 1.16.36. Angela Epps (1.17.05) and Gabriela Hitchcock (1.17.46) were not far behind.

Other Farnham times: Andy Tweed 1.11.42, Chris Jackson 1.13.46, Don Melvin 1.14.49, Nick Hitchcock 1.17.46, Howard Inns 1.20.09,Steve Payne 1.21.17, Caroline Freeman 1.25.49, Richard Sheppard 1.26.57, Abigail Harrison 1.28.54.