TRXCL Midhurst, HRRL Hardley a Half and Great South Run

TRXCL – Midhurst

An uneven surface and puddles near the start of the Midhurst Milers new course at Ambersham Common gave runners a fitting start to the Today’s Runner Cross-country Winter League. Farnham Runners began their season with a sound 6th place of the 19 teams.

Stuart Morgan and Michael Rix, neither great enthusiasts of cross-country led in the men’s team and both put in excellent performances for personal best positions. Morgan was in contention for fourth near the finish but had to settle for fifth tag, while Rix was not far behind in 8th. Charles Ashby ran strongly for 16th place with new member Dave Armstrong (72nd) and veteran Don Melvin (80th) each making a huge contribution to the team that placed 6th.

Other men’s results: Matt Burns 92nd, Steve Payne 93rd, Richard Adolph 108th, Howard Inns 117th.

Jane Georghiou (3rd) and newcomer Clair Windiate (10th) were both pleased with top 10 positions while Nathalie Garrison put in a splendid performance over the difficult terrain for 40th to complete the ladies’ team that also came 6th. Eloise Garrison (55th) kept just ahead of Gill Kenny (56th) with Michele Dixon following (66th).

HRRL – Hardley a Half

In the second race of the Hampshire Road Race League on 15th October 2006, Farnham Runners’ men gained an excellent 3rd place in Division One. Graham Wilton flew round in 1.20.58 for 20th place (7th veteran) with captain Dan Smith crossing the line in 1.23.51, while Charles Ashby took over two minutes from his PB (1.25.35). Steve Kitney is improving with every race and gained a new personal best of 1.26.38. These four made up the “A” team.

Steve Murphy (1.34.49), Nick Hill (1.35.40), Tim Cummins (1.43.05) and Don Melvin (1.46.31) formed the team that came 5th of the 15 “B” teams.

The ladies had only one representative, Lindsay Bamford who ran well for 1.48.00.

Other results: Howard Inns 1.50.12, Steve Payne 1.51.48, Richard Sheppard 1.55.59.

Great South

Some Farnham Runners braved rain, wind and crowds at Portsmouth for the Great South Run (10 miles).

Graham Wilton (58.55) and Michael Rix (59.01) broke the hour and finished 75th and 77th respectively out of 11,633 finishers. Next for Farnham came Mark Taylor in 1.03.07 for 147th slot while Steve Murphy had been given a start in a later “wave” and after 3 miles had to weave in and out of slower runners so ran well for a time of 1.06.15.

Jane Georghiou was 40th lady and first in the W50 category (1.08.19).

Tim Cummins (1.14.39) was followed by Nicolette Overy (1.19.44), who almost equalled her PB. Richard Sheppard was delighted with his time of 1.24.55 after taking a massive 51 minutes from his Great North half marathon time a few weeks before. Jo staples recorded 1.30.09, Rachel White 1.33.04 and Jane Adams 1.40.29 while John Applebee collected for Leukaemia Research dressed as a banana (1.52.02).