TRXCL Denmead, Fleet Half Marathon and Silverstone Half Marathon

TRXCL Denmead

In the last round of the Today’s Runner Winter League at Denmead a beaming Dan Smith crossed the line first by a good margin. He was justifiably pleased with his achievement, as it was eighteen years ago (Andy Green in 1989) that a Farnham Runner won a race of this series, despite a number of second places.

Farnham Runners finished the season as runners up in the Today’s Runner series, even though illness, injuries, skiing holidays and the Fleet half marathon reduced the ladies to only two runners, an incomplete team. Given 7th position overall on the day, this was discounted as the club’s worst result, but no matter as they had done enough in the other rounds to place a safe second of the 19 clubs and have the option of a place at the national final plate competition in Derbyshire in April.

After captain Dan Smith came Charles Ashby 5th, a personal best position by five places. Newcomer Colin Butfield (34th) made a positive contribution to the team on his debut while stalwarts Andy Tweed (40th) and Nick Hitchcock (43rd) made up the five scorers. They were backed up by Matt Burns (52nd), Steve Payne (90th) and Bob Brimicombe (115th). The two ladies were Sophia Colley who ran an impressive first race in Farnham colours (34th) and Diane Cox (40th).

Fleet Half Marathon

On the same day another Farnham Runner, John Applebee, displayed his athleticism in a different but truly remarkable way by going round the course of the Fleet Half marathon not once, not twice, not three times (as last year) but an amazing FOUR times! He started at 3.30am – all in aid of Leukaemia Research and to train for his 24 hour run on a treadmill on June 18th when he hopes to run 100 miles. He was accompanied by friends and family on different laps of his route, some on bicycles. Anyone interested in sponsoring John please contact www.justgiving.com/apples

Graham Russ continued to impress with his enviable easy style to finish 37th of over 2000 runners in 1 hour 17 minutes and 19 seconds. Ian Carley (1.25.51) crept ahead of Mark Taylor (1.26.45) both in excellent times.

Other Farnham results (all chip times): Steve Gillingham 1.30.27, Colin Addison 1.31.12, Rupert Lawrence 1.38.28, Alan Froud 1.39.41, Howard Inns 1.50.16, Kevin Ellis 1.54.26, Richard Sheppard 1.55.51, Julie Russ 2.00.46, Helen Desmond 2.06.27, Caroline Freeman 2.07.24, Chris Jackson 2.09.50, Rachel Crowther 2.10.49, Helen Scullard 2.11.37, Emma Doven 2.14.25, Shirley Perrett, 2.19.16, Sandra Bray 2.19.15, John Applebee (3.24.00- 4th lap!!).

Silverstone Half Marathon

The following Sunday Michael Rix flew the flag for Farnham in the Silverstone Half Marathon, actually measured at 13.4 miles, not the usual 13.1. In gale force winds and hail he finished in a splendid 1hour 18minutes, his 5.50 pace helping him to feel that a very good time for the London marathon is on the cards. At times running in the pack with well-known British female marathoner, Tracey Morris, his time placed him 17th of 6075 finishers.