Solent Half Marathon, Loch Ness Marathon, Alton Downland Challenge, Bushy Park Time Trial and Clarendon Way Marathon

A memorable weekend in the history of Farnham Runners saw a host of excellent results for the club, some in local races and some in the Loch Ness marathon.

Solent Half Marathon

In the Solent Half Marathon the ladies produced the best ever result of second place in Division One of the Hampshire Road Race League. In the Loch Ness marathon two broke three hours and all achieved personal best times. There were also noteworthy results at the Alton Downland Challenge.

Sarah Edson led in the Farnham ladies in the Solent Half Marathon with a new personal best time of 1 hour 29 minutes 30 seconds and an excellent fifth place. Angela Epps lies 5th in the series individual table and her 1.37.41 was a PB by over 5 minutes. Samantha Pelham, 16th in the series table, completed the “A” team in 1.46.55, also a PB. A duo of Kim Mepsted (1.54.54) and Tori Shaw (1.56.26) came a commendable 6th out of 27 “B” teams.

The men were 9th in the very competitive men’s top division. Bob Brimicombe’s secret training continues to bring success as he stormed over the line in only 1.24.33 as 11th in the M40 category. Andy Eakins impressed with a superb 1.26.31 in his first half marathon. Tim Cummins (1.39.18) and Simon Clyde (1.40.05) were delighted to be part of the club’s “A” team while Andy Tweed (1.40.29), Paul Beesley (1.40.51), Steve Payne (1.59.19) and Peter Strange (2.01.48) comprised the “B” team that came 11th.

Loch Ness Marathon

The Loch Ness Marathon saw the club’s chairman and treasurer annihilate their sub 3 hour targets. Dan Smith stormed round in 2.53.46 to record a splendid 20th slot in a race with 1427 finishers while his training partner Steve Kitney, ahead of him until 21 miles, crossed the line in 26th place in 2.55.25, smashing his previous best by an amazing 16 minutes. Mike Ashworth (3.48.29) used the race as training for the forthcoming Dublin marathon while a beaming Richard Sheppard deducted a massive 23 minutes from his PB (4.11.55). Injury denied Charles Ashby the chance of a marathon but he completed the Loch Ness 10km in an excellent time of 37.44, 35th of 1713.

Alton Downland Challenge

On the same day Gabi Hitchcock, one of eleven Farnham Runners who completed the Alton Downland Challenge repeated her success of last year to take the 1st senior lady’s prize with a time of 41.11. Graham Wilton returned to racing to come fourth overall (3rd V40) in 33.56.

Bushy Park Time Trial

The same weekend Mike Anderson gained a new club and course M50 record in the Bushy Park time trial 5km with an outstanding 17.25.

Clarendon Way Marathon

Other members to complete the challenging 26.2 mile marathon distance recently include Lindsay Bamford (3.57.09) and Tim Cummins (4.08.51, PB) in the New Forest marathon, Howard Inns (4.14.08), Joanna Staples (5.46.51) and John Applebee (5.54.46) in the off road Clarendon Way marathon.