Humph's Hilly Half Marathon Race Report
Saturday 19th June 2010 at 6pm
In contrast to the usual hot sultry conditions of the Humph's Hilly Half, this year's event was held in almost perfect conditions, starting at 6 p.m. from the centre of the picturesque village of Bourton-on-the-Water. Whilst not an easy course, living up to it's 'hilly' name, the route meanders through Cotswold villages and beautiful scenery to finish back in Bourton-on-the-Water.
This year's winner, from the home club of Bourton Roadrunners, Mike Smith was delighted to have defeated previous several times winner, Gary Payne of George Elliot Striders, with a tactical race, tracking him for the majority of the race and opening up a one and a half minute lead by the finish to record 1:16:18 ahead of Vet 50 Gary's 1:18:44. A late entry, all the way from San Francisco and attending Princeton University, was 19 year old Colby Pines in his first Half Marathon, with an excellent debut of 1:23:06, followed by Johann Breytenbach from Stratford AC in 1:23:38 and Roger Gill, unattached in 1:24:51.
In the Veterans categories outside the first 5, Dave Rantell of Cheltenham & County Harriers finished first MV40 with a time of 1:25:34, chased by Ewen Smith of Bourton in 1:26:39. Martin Townsend of Woodstock Harriers, 3rd MV40, completed in 1:27:48 and Andy Maybury of Black Pear Joggers 4th MV40 in 1:28:44.
The other Veteran categories, receiving 1st prize only were: MV45 Brian Miller, Leamington C & AC 1:26:51, MV50 Paul Barnes, Cheltenham & County Harriers 1:28:53, MV55 Richard Hookham, Malvern Joggers 1:31:04, MV60 David Parsons, Oxford City AC 1:30:28, MV65 Colin Talbot, Midland Masters AC 1:41:14, MV70 Peter Chittenden, Top Zone Runners 1:53:26.
Michelle Parsons of Evesham Vale RC led the Ladies Race by a huge margin of 4 minutes for 1:29:02, with second place Kim Drinkwater of Gloucester AC finishing strongly in 1:33:12 and Brittany Teague of Bourton 3rd in 1:39:06.
Lucy Walmsley of Bourton took first LV35 in 1:33:55, followed by Karen Galpin of Almost Athletes, 2nd LV35 in 1:40:19 and Denise Evans, unattached, 3rd LV35 in 1:45:09.
The first place winners of the other categories were: LV40 Claire McBride, unattached in 1:42:06, LV45 Jane Leckebusch, Gloucester AC in 1:42:38 and LV50 Deborah Southgate, Angels RC in 1:47:44.
Bourton Roadrunners took both the men and ladies' team prizes, consisting of Mike Smith, Ewen Smith and Darren Long, with a huge margin of 50 points and Lucy Walmsley, Brittany Teague and Jan Short by just 2 points clear of Gloucester AC.
Highlights
Take a look at a few photos that Jo Lewis kindly took around the course.
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