Fleet Half Marathon, Reading Half Marathon and British Masters Cross-Country Championships

Fleet Half Marathon

“ Cold and wet” will be how the Fleet Half Marathon 2013 will be remembered- with no hint of the “ unseasonably warm weather” of last year’s race.

The flooded Calthorpe Park field near the start was more reminiscent of the Glastonbury Music Festival than a major race but the organisers had done what they could to alleviate and warn about conditions, though the baggage tent was the only pre-race shelter. Despite the wind and rain 2286 finished, underlining the event’s importance in the pre-London schedule.

Twenty-six hardy Farnham Runners took part, some taking on the challenging distance for the first time. Twenty-one finished in under two hours. Times given are chip times.

New member Stuart Taylor took it all in his stride to record 1hour 27 minutes 18seconds (162nd place) to lead the Farnham contingent from the gun with a strong run into constant drizzle.

Returning to race action, popular club coach Steve Gillingham recorded a solid 1-27-50 for 175th place, followed by talented Craig O’Neill, (1-28-02, 180th).

Farnham then packed well with a strong and steady–paced men’s group, comprising Steve Nicholls(1-30-52, 281st), new member Stuart Williamson (1-30-59, 284th), Martin Billett (1-31-13, 289th,13th M50), Michael Rix, (1.31.13, 290th making a welcome return to Farnham colours), Ian Carley (1-31-13, 291st) and Stuart Morel, (1-32-00, 313th.)

Enjoying a tremendous atmosphere generated all round the course by an enthusiastic crowd, first Farnham lady back was seasoned campaigner Lindsay Bamford with a creditable 1-44-32, (839th), followed by Becky Martin (1-49-56, 1112st ).

Other times: Neil Griffiths 1-45-17, Tori Shaw 1-54-49, Ian George 1-54-57, Christy Roxburgh, 1-54-58, Jane Mezzullo 1-55-13 (debut), Emma Drinkwater 1-55-33 Shirley Perrett 1-55-53, Stash Czapski 1-58-51, Pete Strange 1-59-30 , Neil Powers 1-59-47, Jessica Page 2-08-34, Alison Lowes 2-08-44, Kerry Cook 2-09-19, debut, Julia Wade 2-10-33, Stephen Whatley 2-17-14.

Other races

On the same day in similar dire conditions Andrew Ellison was delighted by his excellent performance in the Reading Half Marathon, justifying his free place and running with the elite number of “ELLISON”. Remarkably overcoming injury worries and lost training and despite the large hill in the middle and several smaller ones, he beat his PB by a minute to clock 1:16:21 and place 3rd M45, 98th in a field of almost 13,000.

Jane Georghiou travelled to Sunderland for the British Masters Cross-Country Championships at Herrington Park (6km) and came away with a silver medal for her age group.