Members in action across a range of distances – with some brilliant results
HRRL Solent Half Marathon
Just a week before the London Marathon and not long after the holiday season, it was tricky to get teams for the second Hampshire Road League event of the season, the Solent Half Marathon. Those who ran enthused about the course, a very scenic run through the New Forest and then along the coast on a beautiful day.
For Farnham Runners there were just four ladies but they scored highly, coming 6th of the 10 clubs in the top A division and they lie fourth after two races of the 12 in the series. First was Louise Granell, who achieved a splendid time of 1:36:19 as 3rd F35 and 11th lady. Then came Linda Tyler, delighted to be first F60 in 1:43:05. Lindsay Bamford (2:09:19) ran with Debbie Moorcroft who gained a new personal best in her second attempt at the distance (2:09:21). Debbie raised over £600 for the Multiple Sclerosis society.
The men were disappointed to find that, due to a few pulling out due to injury, there was an incomplete team, though there were some fine individual performances. Chris Raby was 2nd M60 with a new PB of 1:31:35, while Justin Clarke was 4th M60 and also achieved a PB with a time of 1:33:10. Both extended their run after the race by a further 9 miles, in training for the Gower Peninsula Ultra later in the month. James Goodwin clocked 1:44:14.
Chichester Half Marathon
On the same day Hannah Skardon opted for a half road/half trail race at the Chichester Half Marathon and was first lady! She described it:
“There is a two mile long killer hill but once you’re up it you have a beautiful course passing through the South Downs and finishing on the Centurion Way. At mile 5 a supporter told me I was the third female, which sparked my competitive streak and I pushed very hard to catch the other two only passing number two at mile 12 to finish first female in 1hr 45min – not a race PB for me but on a hilly trail course I’m very happy with my result.”
SXCL Folly Farm
The first cross country this season, held by Basingstoke and Mid Hants AC for the Southern Cross-Country League was at Folly Farm, the same venue as last year.
The profile of the course was very similar with a three mile uphill from the start, with runners again wondering when it was going to end. At last it started to go down, with glorious far reaching views over the countryside on both sides. The route had been changed this year to bring it in line with the normal tough terrain of this league and was mainly around muddy fields, getting more and more claggy towards the end. Another surprise challenge: the course was almost a mile longer than expected, being almost six miles.
Farnham Runners chairman Nicola O’Connor described the race:
“Proper concentration was required for the very adverse camber on the fields and to avoid stacking it on the slippery trails. So good for mind and body, XC leaves you both tired and inspired.”
Thirty-four Farnham Runners completed the race and many stayed to hear the team results and to enjoy the lunch provided outside in the field near the finish. This year the team numbers have been equalised so four men and four ladies count, not the previous five and three.
The Farnham Runners men put out an excellent team, with two new members leading them in. Joe Collins came a splendid 6th, with Chris Weston in 14th. Just behind him long-time member Charlie Hill-Venning had a superb run for 15th. Returning member Toby Loomis was final scorer in 29th. This team placed 3rd of the 24 clubs.
Colin Addison 50th, Chris Matthews 57th, Sam Angell 67th, Harvey Wickham 82nd, and Matthew Wernham 88th all ran well to place in the top 100.
The ladies were missing some key players who were away running trail races in the Gower Peninsula. Kayleigh Copeland was there for an excellent 9th place, a real boost to the team result. Lindsay Bamford was pleased to be 49th and Kay Copeland in 64th and Jane Georghiou in 67th gained very similar positions to last year. This team came Joint 10th.
Other ladies in the top 100 were Vicky Goodluck in 88th, Gill Iffland in 95th, Jane Allen in 97th and Amanda Muir in 98th.
When the tallies of the men and ladies teams were totalled, the overall placing worked out to be Joint 5th of the 24 clubs, a good result.
Other placings, Men: Paul Keogh 102, Charles Ashby 104, Richard Denby 110, Phil Hames 113, Mike Carter 122, Terry Copeland 153, Terry Steadman 162, Chris Gill 178, Steve Payne 197, Craig Tate-Grimes 200. Ladies: Penny Schnabel 107, Tori Shaw 114, Alison Lamb 116, Nicola O’Connor 143, Julia Tagg 147, Jane Leonard 148, Jackie Wilkinson 155.
Abingdon Marathon
On the same day Neil Ambrose and Stuart Taylor represented the club at the Abingdon Marathon. Neil described the day:
“It started in torrential rain which lasted about an hour and later the sun came out and it was very pleasant. A section of the run which was along a footpath that was rather wet and muddy so felt more like a trail run than a road race!”
Despite the conditions Stuart took a huge 10 minutes off his previous best, set in London in October 2021, to record 3 hours 8 minutes. Neil was a little further back in 3:24.
Great South
A few members were among the 20,000 runners in the Great South 10 miler.
Matt Saker stormed round in 59:38 for a new personal best by two minutes, beating his own M50 club record. He came a fantastic third M50 in the race and his time places him 23rd on the Run Britain table for the age group so far this year. Also in third place for her age group was Jane Georghiou, who currently places 5th in the British age group table for 2022. James Morrish recorded 1:10:25, Peter Callow 1:22:51 (11th M65), Carol Dare 1:36:57, Claire Arnott 2:03:53.
Oxford Half Marathon
Richard Denby ran the Oxford Half Marathon in 1:37:21 missing his PB by seconds.
The flat course starts and finishes in historic central Oxford flat through a park and up to Summertown. It was a crisp sunny day enjoyed by six thousand runners.
Rushmoor Wellesley 10km
Ten Farnham Runners completed the mixed road/trail race, the Rushmoor Wellesley 10km, with some high age group positions. Terry Copeland was 2nd M60 and Kay Copeland 2nd F60, while Peter Callow was 5th M60 and Terry Steadman 9th M60, there being no higher age groups recognised in this race.
See the 2022 Photo gallery page for further photos from the races