Bourton Roadrunners’ Race Reports - Bourton Half Marathon, Loch Ness Marathon and Chiltern 50 Ultra Challenge

Bourton Half - 29th September 2024

After days of poor weather, with several local races having been cancelled due to flooding, Bourton Roadrunners Club was blessed with dry conditions this Sunday morning, for the Bourton Half Marathon, hosted by Greystones Nature Reserve, Bourton on the Water. It was Ben Kruze of Stratford Upon Avon who led from the start, finishing in one hour, 12 minutes and 19 seconds, with Josh Beech of Abingdon AC second (1:14:33) and Rob Green of CLC Striders, Cheltenham third (1:14:56).

Chelsea Baker from Bristol & West AC was first woman, in a brilliant time of one hour, 25 minutes and 10 seconds, with Emily Chandler of Stroud & District AC second (1:27:25) and Amber Bullingham of Weston Tempo third (1:28:31).

Despite most Bourton Roadrunners club members and their families being engaged in supervising the event, the club was able to spare four participants to run in what proved to be a very competitive field. In-form Graham Lane had a superb run and was rewarded with a silver medal in the male vet-70 category for the Gloucestershire AAA County Championships, finishing in a time of one hour, 52 minutes and 38 seconds. Jaq Underwood gave Graham a good chase, finishing in 1:54:26 and fourth LV50. County silver medals were also won for Bourton by Basia Legierska in the LV40 category, who had a strong run, finishing in 2:02:31 and Liz Hulcup in the LV70 category. Liz kindly ran as the “tail runner”, ensuring that everyone finished safely, finishing in 2:42:51.

Of course everyone likes to celebrate the winning runners, however, every participant has their own story, and these are also worth highlighting. For example, there was Robin Stroud from Winchcombe, who works for the NHS, turning up to run in a shirt and a pair of trousers, looking as though he was on his way out to Sunday lunch afterwards. He had a strong run, finishing the demanding course in two hour and 40 minutes, and said that it enables him to blend in with the crowd should he be unable to finish. There was also a group of young men who turned up twenty minutes after the race had started. It appears that they had some sort of bet on finishing. They were “chaperoned” by Ian Tolfts until they managed to catch the tail runners, with them running the last mile in six minutes and 35 seconds.

Loch Ness Marathon - 29th Septembet 2024

On the same day Bourton’s Pat Gill had travelled to Scotland joining over 3700 other runners in the tough Loch Ness Marathon, where he achieved a fine four hours, 28 minutes and 15 seconds.

Chiltern 50 Ultra Challenge - 28th September, 2024

Meanwhile, the day before, three Bourton runners took part in the Chiltern 50 Ultra Challenge, a 50Km trail run. It started at the Henley Showground, following the Thames out to Henley Bridge, before picking up the Shakespeare Way and the Chilton Way, finishing back at Henley. Bourton’s Allie Quinn, Louise Hamilton-Smith and Claire Carroll were among the 700-plus hardy runners that completed this challenge.

Having spent weeks in preparation they ran together, with Allie finishing in nine hours, 25 minutes and 57 seconds, Louise in 9:26:02 and Claire, who was running in aid of Pancreatic Cancer UK, in 9:26:17.

Parkrun events - 28th September 2024

Despite many parkrun events being hit by the inclement weather this weekend, three of our runners did manage to find one each.
King George V Playing Field, Cheltenham: Chris Dry – 27:59.
Woolacombe Dunes: Linda Edwards – 44:30 (incorporating sand dunes and the beach).
Wycombe Rye: Susan Hunt – 28:18.

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Highlights

Bourton Roadrunners were hosting their annual Bourton Half this week, with four members running, and were also present at Loch Ness Marathon, the Chiltern 50 Ultra Challenge and parkrun.

A few photos taken by John at the finish of the Bourton Half - 29th September 2024. Click on thumbnail to load.
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Graham looking strong at the finish of the Bourton Half, where he won a County Silver for MV70 - 29th September 2024.

Jaq looking fresh at the finish of the Bourton Half - 29th September 2024.

Basia at the finish of the Bourton Half, where she won County Silver at LV40 - 29th September 2024.

Liz in her usual role of "tail runner", making sure everyone get round safely, at the Bourton Half, where she won County Silver at LV70 - 29th September 2024.