HRRL Lordshill 10m, Fleet 10K and Great South

Fleet 10K

Farnham Runners had a good turnout for the Fleet 10k in a large field of 475 on a crisp Sunday October morning. Club members performed well in a friendly race with good organisation by Fleet & Crookham AC.

A fast slightly downhill start through the shopping centre spread the field out quickly and a couple of deceptive up hill gradients proved that this two-lap course was not completely flat.

Julian Mann ran a season’s best finishing a superb 9th in thirty seven minutes 12 seconds, closely followed by an outstanding Mike Anderson in 11th overall, and 1st in V50 category with another season best 37-25. Scott Salmon clocked 40-58, followed by club captain Martin Billett in 41-50, for 7th and 8th respectively in their categories. They were followed in by Mike Taylor (43-22) and John Broy (43-27), both in personal best times, Chris Cramp ran well for 44-48 with Daren Carter also bringing home a PB in 48-37.

Great South

On the same day some members joined 25,000 others for the Great South 10 miler at Portsmouth, the normal headwind for the last two miles not too strong this year.

Back from injury Tim Cummins posted a good time of 1-07-56. Jane Georghiou (1-10-54) was outpaced by a well-known runner in her section but the pair take first and second in the category’s UK athletics rankings for the year so far. Stuart Morel was given a start at the back and resolutely wound his way through the masses for a very commendable 1-12-34. Nick Hill was satisfied with 1-14-22 after little training, while Alistair Wilson was pleased with a new best by two minutes (1-15-12). Vikki Roberts ran a steady 1-40-00 in her first 10 miler, followed by Andrew Perrin in 1-40-52. Julia Wade (1-42-21), Alicia Lewis (1-43-58), Anna Shepherd (1-54-42) were all on their debut and Karen Jackson enjoyed the run to raise money for charity.

Lordshill 10 mile

The fourth Hampshire Road Race of the season, the Lordshill 10 mile, took place on an inauspicious day when most were happy to stay indoors. The rain stopped but it was windy and cold. The route had to be changed slightly but there were still two unavoidable 50meter sections with freezing cold water up to calf level.

Showing his class, Andrew Ellison sped round for an excellent time of 58 minutes 58 seconds to place 18th of 408 and 4th M40 in this competitive league. Jason East (1-03-19), Mike Walberton (1-06-36) and newcomer Alistair Blowers (1-07-11) made the A team that placed 7th in the top division to hold on to 7th on aggregate. Martin Billett (1-10-24), Tim Cummins (1-11-56), Chris Cramp (1-13-58) and Alistair Wilson (1-16-29) comprised the B team (10th, aggregate 12th). Peter Strange recorded 1-35-13.

The ladies had full A and B teams for the first time this season. Lindsay Bamford (1-19-57) led them in, followed by Lucy Enstock (1-20-14) and Tori Shaw (1-25-01). However these results could not lift the ladies from the aggregate of 10th in the strong Division One. Wendy Carley headed the B string that placed 6th (aggregate 12th) in 1-25-20 with Emma Dawson and Jacquie Ashley Collins both in their debut 10 miler clocking 1-30-31.