HRRL Ryde 10 miles, South of England Cross Country Championships, Bramley 20 and British Masters Athletics Federation 10 Mile Championship

HRRL Ryde 10 miles

Ten intrepid Farnham Runners ventured to the hilly and very windy Ryde 10 miler, organised by Ryde Harriers, lucky to avoid the heavy rain and severe gales of the preceding and following day.

Sarah Hill set off “like lightning” and wasn’t seen by other club members till the end, clocking 1 hour 1 minute and 24 seconds. She was first lady by seven minutes, putting herself in a commanding position at the top of the individual Hampshire Road League table, with just one more good result needed to clinch victory. For the men Ian Carley (1:03:00, 21st, 4th M45) kept a 20 meter lead on a chasing James Warren (1:03:19, 24th, 5th M40), who kept trying to catch him to no avail. Next came Neil Ambrose (1:10:44), proud of a new 10 mile best despite the conditions. John Phillips was a worthy final A team scorer in 1:11:06. This result gave the men 4th on the day and helped them stay two points clear at the top of Division Two, dropping just one point to second placed Portsmouth Joggers. An incomplete team of Jeremy Skedge (1:17:43), Nick Hill (1:22:12) and Paul Day (1:23:54) gave the B string 11th in B Division One, slipping down just one place on aggregate to 5th.

Lindsay Bamford (1:22:45) and Tina Harrison (1:26:50) ran with Sarah Hill for the ladies A squad, securing a useful 6th in Division One and keeping the aggregate place at 5th.

South of England Cross Country Championships

For the first time in Farnham Runners history a full team (of four ladies) took part in the South of England Cross Country Championships held at the iconic Parliament Hill fields on Hampstead Heath. Eloise Stradling led them over the hills and through the mud for 265th place of 501 finishers in 41 minutes 42 seconds. Not far behind was Kayleigh Copeland in 42:13 (285th), with a strong Lindsay Bamford (44:03, 320th) ahead of Jane Georghiou (44:25, 331st, 2nd W60). They placed 38th of 53 complete teams.

Bramley 20

Though not a Hampshire Road Race League event this year five members chose the Bramley 20 as part of their marathon preparations. Rob Gilchrist was the quickest in 2:06:26 (7th M40), taking almost six minutes off his time last year. He was followed by Stuart Williamson (2:20:25), Emma Pearson (2:41:22), John Walker (2:45:38) and Jane Mezullo (3:02:40). Four ran the 10 miler at the same venue, gaining some high category positions; Keith Marshall (1:14:09, 4th M55), Chris Jackson (1:15:47, 4th M60) Peter Strange (1:59:29, 3rd M70) and Richard Sheppard (1:59:31).

British Masters Athletics Federation 10 Mile Championship

On the same day Jane Georghiou won a British Masters Athletics Federation gold medal as first F60 at the 2016 ten mile championships hosted by Lytchett Manor Striders in Dorset, recording 1:18:11.