HRRL Alton 10, HRRL Netley 10K, Shakespeare Marathon and Edinburgh Marathon

Alton 10 and Netley 10K

Farnham Runners ladies have achieved their target of promotion back to Division One of the Hampshire Road Race League. They won Division Two by ten points with three top and six second placings among the twelve events. As only the best eight races count, their position was secure even before the last race.

The Farnham men did well to stay in the very competitive top flight last year but could not avoid relegation this time and so will have a battle on their hands for promotion next season.

Vice-chairman Ian Carley led in the teams in both the last two races, the Alton Ten and the Netley 10km.

Alton 10

At Alton he put in a fine performance for 18th place of 490 finishers in a time of 1 hour 2 minutes 9 seconds while Steve Kitney (1-07-53) led a trio of Mike Walberton (1-08-30) and Sean Smith (1-08-32) for an A team result of 8th. Mike Ashworth (1-08-50) led in the B string followed by Mike Smith (1-08-59), Martin Billett (1-10- 05) and Nick Hill (1-11-26).

They were just ahead of a tightly packed group of Charlie Hill-Venning (1-11-31), Nick Hitchcock (1-11-31), John Hill-Venning (1-11-33) and Tim Cummins (1-11-41). Three more teams comprised Dave Armstrong (1-12-09), Steve Murphy (1-13-15), Terry Copeland (1-14-06), and Les Boxall (1-16-51); Terry Steadman (1-17-42), Howard Inns (1-20-39) Colin Pirie (1-26-41) and Mark Beeson (1-27-56); Neil Griffiths (1-28-50), Stefan Klincewicz (1-29-27), Hillary Carter (1-31-10) and Richard Sheppard (1-40-47) followed by Stash Hutten and Peter Strange both in 1-42-29.

For the ladies Gabi Hitchcock made an excellent contribution to the team result and was delighted with a new 10 mile best of 1-11-56, taking 12th ladies slot out of 156 (6th senior lady). First in her age category and 16th lady overall came Jane Georghiou in 1-13-31. Wendy Carley’s rigorous training for a forthcoming marathon paid off with a new personal best of 1-17-16, and a place in the A team that topped Divison Two.

Angela Epps led in the B team in 1-18-38 followed by Renee Ayache (1-19-04) and Lindsay Bamford (1-19-47). Close behind was Sue Boxall in 1-20-06, then a group of Emma Drinkwater (1-31-35), Christy Roxburgh (1-31-41) and Shirley Perrett (1-31-56). Helen Cathie clocked (1-37-22), and Sally Lawrence (1-39-19) while Emma Doven, walked to the finish after sustaining an injury.

Netley 10

In the Southampton race Ian Carley clocked a sub 36-minute 10km for the third time (35-55) to take 19th and 6th in the M40 category. Next Mike Walberton and Mike Ashworth also both recorded their third best times (39-33 and 40-33 respectively) although the three lap course is not renowned for fast times. Steve Murphy (41-12) completed the 9th placed A team, followed by Leslie Boxall in 48-08 and Richard Sheppard in 55-56.

Ladies’ captain Jane Georghiou forgot her shorts and was kindly lent some by a rival team to come 15th of 222 ladies (3rd F50) in 43-14. Newcomer Renee Ayache showed her potential in 46-20 while Sue Boxall was delighted to make the A team with 46-43, followed by Lindsay Bamford in 47-23 and Wendy Carley, who was pacing herself before the Edinburgh marathon in 51-36.

On the final count of the best nine results the men placed 9th of ten A teams and 10th of fifteen B teams (both in Division One). After their A team success the B ladies came 8th of fifteen (Div 1). In the series ladies’ and mens’ individual tables Jane Georghiou finished 10th, Ian Carley 14th, Wendy Carley 41st, Mike Walberton 50th, Steve Kitney 64th, Steve Murphy 69th, Nick Hill 83rd, Chris Cramp 99th and Stefan Klincewicz 115th.

Shakespeare Marathon

New member Jason East gained another sub 3-hour time in the Shakespeare marathon in Stratford, clocking an excellent 2-58-54.

Edinburgh Marathon

Atrocious weather did not daunt an enthusiastic group who tackled the Edinburgh marathon. Wendy Carley was on target for a personal best until she battled strong headwinds and hail from mile 20. She still finished strongly for an excellent 3-44-39 and was delighted to have over five minutes to spare for a guaranteed entry in to the London Marathon next year. Stefan Klincewicz, Richard Sheppard and Peter Strange all tackled their second marathon in five weeks finishing in 4-22-46, 4-35-58 and 5-01-24 respectively, followed by Jacqui Lee in 5-01-51 and Andrew Perrin in 5-27-05.