Fleet Half Marathon

John Applebee punches the air in jubilation as he completes three laps of the 2006 Fleet Half Marathon course

John Applebee punches the air in jubilation as he completes three laps of the Fleet Half Marathon course

Displaying will power of seemingly superhuman proportions, John Applebee completed THREE laps of the 25th Fleet Half Marathon organised by Fleet and Crookham Athletics Club on Sunday. Starting before 6.30am he had already run a full marathon distance of 26.2 miles before the official start time. He still managed to finish inside 2 hours 30 minutes on his final lap and was still standing after the finish! All his efforts are part of his training for the Comrades 56 mile marathon in June and to raise funds for Leukaemia Research.

Another 30 Farnham Runners took part in the Fleet Half Marathon and most either gained personal best times or experienced the distance for the first time.

Graham Wilton led in the Farnham contingent in a superb 1.19.37 to finish 5th M40 and 53rd in a field of 2466. Mark Taylor also gained an excellent time of 1.22.32 (89th), followed by Nick Hill who achieved a PB of 1.29.00 (244th). Jane Georghiou was tantalisingly close to 1.30 (1.30 .06) and was awarded the first W50 prize. Steve Murphy had a steady run for 1.31.59 while Richard Baldock raised funds for the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice (1.34.13) New member Steve Kitley beat his 1.35 target (1.34.21). Jo Edson was delighted with 1.40.50 that placed her 9th in the W45 category. Stuart Edgoose did extremely well to finish as 2nd M70 despite recent injury (2.05.04).

Other results (all times given are chip times): Ronan O’Carroll and Vince Crowley 1.42.09, Lindsay Bamford 1.42.43, Charlotte Self 1.44.33, Angela Epps 1.44.37, Mathew Mitchell 1.50.31, Gemma Mitchell 1.54.20, Steve Payne 1.55.03, Suzanna Ching 1.54.27, Julie Russ 1.57.16, Liz Baynton 1.59.33, Chris Lyne 2.06.31, Nathalie Garrison 2.06.33, Penny Griffiths 2.08.03, Jenny Andrews 2.10.02, Gill Kenny 2.11.23, Michelle Dixon 2.11.24, Gill Toogood 2.14 02, Sandra Joseph 2.20.04, Margot Applebee 2.21.00, John Applebee 2.28.16, Helen Scullard and Jane Adams (who accompanied John to the finish) 2.28.58.