HRRL Stubbington Green 10k and SXCL Chawton House

HRRL Stubbington Green 10k

The first of the year’s Hampshire Road League races, the Stubbington Green 10k attracted an enthusiastic band of thirty Farnham Runners. The race is renowned as a fast course but it’s not without its inclines. A strong breeze during the first half slowed times and was not quite made up as runners finished along by the coast at Lee-on Solent with the wind mainly behind them. Slick organisation by hosts Stubbington Green Runners saw results published quickly and most Farnham Runners were pleased with their times, four among the prize-winners and three more in top ten age category positions despite very tough competition.

The men’s A team consolidated their promotional spot at the top of Division Two with a worthy second place on the day. They were led in by a strong James Clarke, whose 36 minutes 16 seconds put him 56th of 1744 finishers. Next Matt Saker was delighted with his prize for coming 3rd M50 in an enviable 37:03.

Harvey Wickham in 39:12 and Neil Ambrose who gained a personal best of 39:18 kept up a good style of running to complete the A squad score.

Colin Addison led in the B string 41:32 for 9th M55, followed by Keith Marshall whose 42:10 put him 7th in the M60 category. Mikey Taylor in 42:32 and men’s captain John Phillips in 42:37 finalised the B team score in B Division One.

A men’s C team of Terry Copeland (43:38), Tim Farrant (45:39), Craig Tate-Grimes (48:39) and Ali Hardaway (53:31) gave a result that sees the team lying 6th with seven of the twelve races still to go.

Kayleigh Copeland put in an impressive performance for 42:51, close to her personal best, to lead in the Farnham ladies. Louise Granell ran strongly for 45:19, while Linda Tyler picked up 2nd F55 prize with 46:12. The team lie 6th of 10 in A Division One after a 7th place on the day.

Jane Georghiou headed the B team, her time of 48:22 putting her 2nd in the F65 category. Next Anne Snelson in 49:58 and Kay Copeland, 6th F55, in 51:51 completed the trio. A smiling Clair Bailey was pleased with a new PB by 50 seconds, 53:27. Alison Yearsley in 59:44 and Nicola O’Connor in a PB 61:39 were happy to help the Ladies Cs rise by one place in the season’s table. Just behind was Susan MacKenzie in 1:01:45.

Douglas Blyth came a fine 2nd in the M75 category in 1:03:24.

Jackie Wilkinson (1:02:57) and Carolyn Wickham (1:07:20) gained new PBs, Sally Kerr (1:04:24), Lix Lepine Williams (1:06:03) and Kate Marshall (1:08:19) were all graduates of a 2018 Farnham Runners’ England Athletics ‘Get Me Started’ programme, accompanied by Jacquie Browne (1:07:23) and Richard Sheppard 1:11:39.

SXCL Chawton House

The following week the fifth of the six Southern Cross-Country League fixtures was at a new venue and it got a thumbs up from the runners. Organised by Alton Runners, it took place in the grounds of Jane Austin’s Chawton House. The 5 mile undulating route was mostly on grassland around the estate, taxing but scenic, especially when the sun came out.

Farnham Runners’ men came 4th and ladies 6th, which gave them joint 4th overall on the day, out of 24 teams.

Richard Lovejoy strode out in front to win the race for the Farnham club. Andrew Ellison had to settle for 33rd, while Mark Maxwell (46th) pipped Harvey Wickham (47th) to the line. Stuart Haig completed the scoring in 49th. Neil Ambrose, 56th, Charlie Hill-Venning 63rd, Tim Cummins 80th, John Phillips 83rd and Colin Addison 99th, ran strongly to support the team.

For the ladies Emma Pearson and Louise Granell both put in impressive performances for personal best 5th and 7th places respectively. Linda Tyler in 45th was the final scorer. Sue Taylor ran well for 49th, followed by Eloise Stradling 51st, Lindsay Bamford 52nd, Jane Georghiou 59th and Kay Copeland 71st.

Other placings Men: Phil Barker 102, John Hill-Venning 114, Steve Bailey 126, Justin Clarke 132, Craig Tate-Grimes 160, Tim Farrant 186, Mike Stephens 187, Paul Tucker 195, Geoff Brown 196, David Hay 197, Keith Toms 204, Richard Sheppard 262.

Ladies: Clair Bailey 119, Tina Harrison 134, Jane Probett 137, Pauline Hamilton 145, Alison Yearsley 147, Julia Tagg 157, Sue MacKenzie 158, Jacquie Browne 160, Shereen Atkinson 191, Tracy Holmes 192.