HRRL Lordshill 10 miles and SXCL Queen Elizabeth Country Park

HRRL Lordshill 10 miles

A jubilant band of Farnham Runners returned from Hampshire Road League’s third event of the season, the Lordshill ten miler, with most having gained new personal best times for the distance. Conditions were ideal for running, still and kept cool by a light mist.

Sarah Hill was first lady by almost half a minute to stay joint top of the Hampshire Road Race League individual table, her time a splendid 60 minutes 23 seconds. This gave a huge boost to the ladies A team which placed fourth of the ten teams in Division One and are now up from ninth to fifth on aggregate.

With three of their finishers under the hour, the men’s A team topped Division Two, but still lie close behind Portsmouth Joggers overall.

The race was expertly organised by Lordshill Road Runners on fairly flat roads and lanes near Southampton.

Men’s captain Rob Gilchrist was delighted to lead in his team and slice almost 4 minutes from his previous best for an excellent 58 minutes 47 seconds for 35th place and 7th in the M40 category. Not far behind Curtis Anderson showed his potential as he clocked 59:00 minutes on his first attempt at the distance. James Clarke next in 59:38 was followed by Stuart Morel in another PB of 61:29.

Leading the B team was Jason East in 63:08 while the three Stuarts, Stuart Taylor (63:46, PB), Stuart Williamson (64:17, PB) and Stuart Haig (66:27, PB) completed the score which placed the B Team fourth in B Division One (third on aggregate). The C team comprised Mike Walberton (66:36), Tim Cummins (67:25, PB), Alistair Hardaway (67:42, PB by 6 minutes) and John Phillips (70:49, PB). This team was second in B Division Two moving them up to first on aggregate.

Though not making the teams, the remainder also gained PBs: Neil Ambrose 71:13, Jeremy Skedge 72:55, Keith Marshall 77:08, (debut), Craig Tate-Grimes 85:23.

For the ladies, after Sarah Hill came Eloise Stradling who deducted a minute from her time last year for 73:47, 8th senior lady. Not far behind by the end was Jane Georghiou in 74:01(3rd F55). Sarah Marjoram (76:19, PB) headed the B team. Lindsay Bamford (77:04, 8th F45) and Sarah McCulloch (78:44, PB) completed the scoring. This B team were fourth on the day, moving the team up to ninth (of fourteen) in B Division One.
Vicki Clarke (79:48), Mary Denise Fitzgerald (88:21), Tina Harrison (89:07) and Georgi Robinson-Welch (98:02) provided valuable back-up.

SXCL Queen Elizabeth Country Park

After a couple of days of rain the Queen Elizabeth Country Park Southern Cross Country League event was bound to be muddy, which added to the challenge of the hilly terrain on the South Downs. Rugged trail shoes were essential kit for sure-footed descents over the slippery chalky, leaf strewn surfaces and exposed roots through the forest. With more light rain on the day, members were thankful that men’s cross country captain, Matt Dellar, brought a tent for shelter before the off, though conditions stayed warm.

Consistent performances of both men’s and ladies’ teams helped the local club remain joint third on aggregate. The men were sixth and the ladies fifth on the day clinching an overall tally of third out of the 23 clubs in the league.

Eighteen Farnham men battled for the five scoring places while fifteen ladies fought over just three.

Newcomer Curtis Anderson again showed his class with an excellent 6th place of around 300 men. Next was Ian Carley 32nd, followed by Gerald Wyatt 54th. Hot on his heels, Stuart Morgan made a rare appearance for a very useful 55th, while Colin Addison was pleased to make the team, 62nd.

Not far back were Stuart Haig, 67th, and Shaun Marsden 71st. Matt Dellar, probably the muddiest finisher, recovered from a tumble for 80th, with long-standing member Tim Cummins and Ian Marshall close in 83rd and 84th. Then came Stephen Elliott-Nicholls 87th, Neil Ambrose 99th, Alistair Hardaway 124th, Dan Smith, 145th, Tristan Greaves 153rd,

Terry Copeland 205th, Paul Mackie 217th and Geoff Brown 224th.

Ultra-runner Susie Chan had a break from long runs to do this 5 miler and led in the Farnham ladies with a fine 10th place. The consistent Eloise Stradling recorded a valuable 20th and Gabi Hitchcock had to be content with 27th after congestion on the narrow start precluded a swift get-a-way. Jane Georghiou (46th) and Lindsay Bamford (54th) were followed by Anne Snelson (64th) and a close trio of Kayleigh Copeland 81st, Lina Haines 86th and Kay Copeland 88th. Others still smiling at the end were Tara Hunt 103rd, Wendy Carley 111st, Tina Harrison 115th, Becky Martin 123rd, Kathy Brown 184th and Jenni Rayner 189th.

Other races

Hillary Carter chopped over 30 minutes from the previous M60 marathon club record with his 3:55:12 at the recent Leicester Marathon.