HRRL Overton 5m, HRRL Victory 5 and Pilgrims Marathon and Half Marathon

Overton 5

A busy season of racing kicked off for Farnham Runners with the first of twelve Hampshire Road Race League race at Overton and the second in the series at Portsmouth on the same day as the Pilgrims marathon and half marathon.

After the two league races the Farnham men have taken a promising position of 2nd in Division 2 while the ladies lie 7th in the top flight.

The undulating five mile Overton course was run in the opposite direction this year due to traffic concerns and this stimulated some discussion as to whether this slowed times. Ian Carley was first Farnham Runners home in an excellent 29 minutes 36 seconds for 29th place and 6th M40. Next Charles Ashby in 30-49, Mike Walberton in 31.28 and Steve Kitney in 32-03 made the A team that was 2nd in Division Two. Steve Murphy (33-30), Mike Ashworth, Tim Cummins (both 34-11) and Martin Billett (35-26) comprised the 9th placed B team. This year Farnham Runners are entering a C team; this time Chris Cramp (36-39), Paul Beesley (37-21), Tim Withers (38-08) and Coin Pirie (39-36).

The ladies entered full A and B teams at Overton. Led in by Jane Georghiou in 35-14 (1st W55), Wendy Carley (39-07) and Lindsay Bamford followed to give a 7th in Division One. Charlotte Hunt (43-26) and junior Abigail Ashby (44-38) in their first races in Farnham colours, along with Elaine Ashby (48-25,) helped the B team secure 9th place of 15.

Victory 5

Two week’s later there were some smiling faces on the journey home as lots of personal best times were achieved in the flat Victory Five mile course despite a strong breeze. Charles Ashby deducted 8 seconds to record 29-38 (6th M45) while Mike Walberton eclipsed his previous best by one minute (31-05, 10th M50). He got the better of Steve Kitney (31-25) and Tim Cummins completed the A team in 32-56 (4th Division Two team on the day).

The B team of Steve Murphy (33-18), Martin Billett (33-51), Chris Cramp (35-33) and Tim Withers (PB by over 2 mins, 35.52) made up the B team (13th on the day, lie 7th on aggregate in B Division 1). James Hepworth ran his first five miler in 36-16 followed by Mark Beeson in 38-36. There was no complete C team at Victory but after two events the team is 7th in B/C division 2.

For the ladies Jane Georghiou was pleased to go 2nd on the UK 2011 W55 5 mile table with 33-42. Emma Doven (39-19) and Abigail Ashby (41-01) gained A team status with Helen Cathie in 42-05.

Pilgrims Marathon and Half Marathon

There were some fine results in the Pilgrims marathon and half marathon with Farnham Runners taking the first team prize in the marathon and the second in the half.

Ian Carley and Sarah Hill were using the race as training before forthcoming road marathons and yet came 6th and 7th, with Sarah winning the ladies section by 7 minutes! Both clocked 3-26-40/41; Carley was 3rd M40. Charlie Hill-Venning got the nod over his brother John for 3rd team place but both recorded 3-51-27 (45th and 46th). Other prizewinners included Sue Boxall 3rd (4-28-47) and Phil Masters 1st (4-31-46) in their respective age categories.

James Finney was delighted to be first Farnham Runners over the line in the half marathon (1-41-49) followed by former club chairman Steve Parker in (1-41-53). New member Susannah Chan ran a fine 1-44-14 for 2nd in her age group.

Other times:

Marathon: Dave Armstrong 4-15-22, Warren Butler 4-17-12, Simon Brander 4-21-36, Angela Epps 4-34-08) Hillary Carter 4-34-08, Leslie Boxall 4-35-39, Peter Strange 5-13-46, John Applebee (Sweeper).

Half marathon: Chad Bedard 1-47-00, Nick Hill 1-49-12, Alistair Wilson 1-52-43, Stuart Morel 1-53-11, Terry Steadman 1-52-45, Wendy Carley 1-57-38, Stefan Klincewicz 2-00-19, Richard Adolph 2-11-09, Shirley Perrett 2-13-59, Emma Drinkwater 2-13-59, Nina Muir 2-19-17, Tori Shaw 2-19-25, Diane Drewett 2-24-06, Richard Sheppard 2-24-55, Stash Hutten Czapski 2-26-14.