Tewkesbury Guy Fawkes 5m - 4th November 2018
For some, the Tewkesbury Guy Fawkes 5 mile road race was their second race of the weekend. The race, which was the last event for this year’s Gloucestershire AAA County road race series, was extremely well organised and well marshalled.
The first Bourton Roadrunner to finish and running well after completing the Bournemouth marathon in under 3 hours, was Darren Long - 2nd MV45 in 30:28 and 19th position overall. Margaret Hollamby had another fine run - 1st LV60 in 38:12 and Liz Hulcup joined the prize winners - 1st LV65 in 40:47.
Graham Lane had another strong race in 39:05 and Nick Harper, in his first 5 mile race, ran a creditable 40:03. Lynn Hudson paced Allie Quinn as she knocked a minute off her PB, both 47:08 and Shirley Creed came out of “retirement” following a long injury, running 49:36. Ellen in her first race at the distance ran with Donna Harper, with the pair battling in a sprint-finish, achieving 54:36 and 54:37 respectively. Jeanette Brew, in her first race, ran with Coral Feenan-Hill to complete the race in 65:18 and 65:17.
New York City Marathon - 4th November 2018
Susan Hunt and Linda Edwards joined over 50,000 other runners in the one the world’s hotly-contested events; the New York City Marathon, which passes through the five boroughs, starting at Staten Island and finishing in Central Park, Manhattan. Both veteran runners, with Susan having previously represented England at marathon distance.
Susan had been planning this race for some time in memory and celebration of her late mother’s own participation in the early days of this blue-ribbon event, when few women ran a full marathon. Both Susan and Linda certainly acquitted themselves with both providing fine performances, and should feel proud of their times – Susan 4:23:12 and Linda 4:51:24.
Gloucestershire Cross-country, Malmesbury - 3rd November 2018
The second round of the Gloucestershire cross-country series was held at Charlton Park near Malmesbury. Although a slightly warmer day than the past few, it was still difficult running conditions in the blustery wind. In the ladies’ race Emily Field had another fine run in a time of 28:53 - 3rd LU17, 25th position out of a field of 171 finishers. Following close behind was Diana Dee 4th LV50 - 48th in 30:45. Unsure whether to run due to an injury Jenni Glass did well to finish in 32:34. Gabby Jones LU17 was next in 34:28, and completing the team was Margaret Hollamby, 37:34.
In the highly-competitive men’s race Cal Winwood finished 42nd from a field of 249 finishers, in a superb time of 35:46; his first race of the series. David Quli, having watched his son put in a brilliant performance in the earlier boys under-13 race, ran a very strong 40:48 to finish 131st. Chasing David was the ever-improving Martin Cook (having watched his son Jonathon racing too) achieved a respectable 41:37 over a very challenging course. Completing the men’s team was Ben, who ran a strong race in 46:13.
Gloucester City 10k - 28th October 2018
After an extra hour in bed on Saturday night (the clocks went back), three members of Bourton Roadrunners gathered at a chilly start line in Quedgeley, Gloucester on 28th October for the Gloucester 10K. The field was 791 runners. A largely flat course, of a single anti-clockwise, traffic- free loop took runners out into the countryside before returning to the finish line in industrial estate where it started.
With the extra hour’s sleep under their belts, Ian Tolfts achieved a PB of 50:34 (sub-50 must be next!) (285/795, 35th M50) whilst Mary Worker ran 1:07:56 (697/791, 45th F50) - a great time for her with some splits faster than she imagined! Linda Edwards, in her last longish run (with no plan for a fast time) before the New York Marathon the following weekend, finished in 53:43 (363/791, 8th F50). All told, a good event, well run and a good course for setting a PB.
Exmoor Half Marathon - 27th October 2018
Saturday 27th October saw one of Bourton Roadrunners’ husband and wife teams take part in the challenging off-road Exmoor “Half Marathon”. The course consisted of bogs, boulders, rivers and moors, to steep coastal paths and sheer drops!
The course should have been 15 miles, but someone in their wisdom decided to move some signs, sending runners “all over the place”. Steph and Gary Holton ran 16.7 miles in 3:35:29, with an elevation gain of 2,988 feet. Surprisingly enjoying it and would do it again.
Highlights
5 races covered by this report:
Tewkesbury Guy Fawkes 5m;
NYC Marathon;
Glos. AAA cross-country, Malmesbury;
Gloucester City 10k;
Exmore off-road half.
Bourton runners among the prizes at Guy Fawkes 5.
Darren Long at Tewksbury 5m race. 16 photos of the event available via above gallery.
Cal Winwood at Gloucestershire AAA cross-country, Malmesbury. 15 photos of the event available via above gallery.
Other reports may be found on our recent race reports page.