Condicote 5Km Club Handicap- 16th July 2023
Like most running clubs, Bourton Roadrunners has a blend of racing-snakes and fun-runners; young-guns and mature runners. But what really makes it stand out from the crowd is the attendance at its club competition events, encompassing any and all of distance and terrains each year. This weekend it was a 5Km handicap, run on quiet country lanes through and around the iconic Cotswold village of Condicote, with support from fellow club members as marshals, organised by Barry O’Leary.
The 16 men and 13 women set-off at time intervals based on their best 5Km times achieved this year; a gap of up to nearly 18 minutes for the fastest runners, with the aim of everyone being able to finish together. What was inspiring for those watching was that the principle worked, with only a small gap between all of the runners.
The women earned the podium positions and bragging rights; with Jo Cooper, Jeanette Brew and Louise Hamilton-Smith leading the club home. In hot pursuit the men were battling among themselves, with Graham Lane edging-out Lee Hutton and Ian Tolfts in a nail-biting finish.
As the rain, which returned at the very of the run, continued for while afterwards the runners gathered in Condicote’s village hall enjoying cake and other refreshments, while reliving the experience.
Parkruns - 15th July 2023
Meanwhile, on Saturday while other club members were either training or taking part in a competitive cycling challenge, a few regulars were out in
support of parkrun, including at the following locations:
Wallaceneuk, Kellso Scotland: Liz Hulcup 27:45 (2nd woman and 1st LV70 – 13th overall).
Chipping Norton School: Catherine Price and Louise Hamilton-Smith – 34:58.
Highlights
The club’s Race Series is starting to take shape after the 7th event; the Club 5Km Handicap at Condicote, where the women snatched the glory from under the men’s noses.
Liz Hulcup was 2nd lady at Wallaceneuk parkrun, Kellso Scotland
Other reports may be found on our recent race reports page.