HRRL Bramley 20, Stubbington Green 10, Ryde 10, and other races

HRRL Bramley 20

Many Farnham Runners training for spring marathons braved unrelenting rain and biting wind in long training runs the previous Sunday and were thankful that conditions for the Hampshire Road Race League Bramley 20 miler were ideal.

Both men’s and ladies teams are at the bottom of Division One of the league, the men just three points from safety and the ladies with thirteen to catch up on to avoid relegation. However, there is still hope when some scores are discounted at the end of the season. Good teams will be needed for the last four fixtures: Salisbury 10 mile, Eastleigh 10km, Alton 10 mile and Netley 10km.

At Bramley most from the local club were happy with their performances. Andrew Ellison was on form to place 6th in the M40 category (1st M45) with an enviable 2 hours 4minutes 12 seconds, 28th of 780 finishers. New member Doug Cackett took the distance in his stride for 2-35-01. Chris Cramp tested his legs over 20 miles for the first time (2-39-19), the day after a 5km parkrun, while Alistair Wilson (2-47-39), gained a personal best accompanying Stuart Williamson (2-47-44) on his debut. The first four gave the team 7th out of 10 in the Division. Peter Strange was rewarded with a course best of 3-16-45.

A trio of ladies gained a very useful 5th place out of 10 in the top flight. Jane Georghiou claimed a new course record (2-32-04) for her age group by nine minutes to go 3rd on the category’s UK Athletics “All Time” ranking list for the distance. Lindsay Bamford ran well for 2-55-59 and Emma Drinkwater in 3-23-11 was the essential 3rd scorer.

HRRL Stubbington Green 10k and Ryde 10 miler

Although incomplete teams entered the previous two Hampshire Road Race League events there were some commendable individual performances.

In the Stubbington Green 10km Andrew Ellison clocked an impressive new PB of 35-42 in 20th place (5th M40) and Jane Georghiou was first in category with 44-27.

Travelling overseas for the Ryde 10 miler were Mike Walberton (1-06-29, 5th M50), Jane Georghiou 1-13-22 (9th lady) and Chris Cramp, again after a parkrun, with a new PB of 1-13-51.

Other races

Sarah Hill continued her impressive list of accomplishments recording a new Farnham Runners ladies’ half marathon time of 1-19-19 in the Brighton Half Marathon, finishing as second lady and beating the old course record.

With a time of 20-46 at Basingstoke parkrun, Charlotte Hanson was delighted to join fellow club members, Ian Carley and Lindsay Bamford who have come first in recent parkruns (5km).