Berkeley Fission 20 & Weston Half Marathon - 23rd & 24th March 2024
Another busy week for Bourton Roadrunners Club, but why settle for one race when you can fit two in.
In-form veteran runner Darren Long started his weekend on Saturday at the Berkeley Fission 20 mile race, part of the Gloucestershire AAA road race series, where he finished well up the field in two hours, 19 minutes and 27 seconds. He was accompanied by Kevin Goodwill (2:38:03) and second-claim member Linda Edwards (3:40:52).
The following day Darren travelled to Weston Super Mare with partner and fellow club member Maxine Emes, where the pair ran together at the Weston Half Marathon, finishing in a very respectable one hour and 40 minutes (Darren 1:40:20, Maxine 1:40:21) and both finishing 10th in their respective age-category!
Banbury 15 - 24th March 2024
Bourton’s Danny Hannig is also making a name for himself, having turned in fine performances at this year’s Bourton 10k and last year’s half marathon. This weekend Danny provided an inspiring performance at the Banbury 15, a fiercely competitive event known for its fast times, where he completed the 15 miles in one hour, 33 minutes and 41 seconds and 7th overall.
Pound the Pound - 24th March 2024
Meanwhile, Steph Holton and her friend Catherine Wheeler, both of whom are preparing for the coast-to-coast challenge in May, travelled to Exmore, North Devon. Supported by Steph’s husband Gary and her mum, Steph and Catherine ran Pound the Pound.
This multi-terrain event, with over 2500 feet of elevations, has the object of covering as many 4.3Km laps of the Wistlandpound Reservoir as possible within a six-hour time limit. Inspired by the scenic backdrop of Calvert Exmoor in Kentisbury (and the prospect of the forthcoming coast to coast challenge), the intrepid pair finished joint-first ladies completing a remarkable 14 laps (over 35½ miles); a full lap ahead of the second lady.
In addition to the fun and comradery, this event raised over £8000 for two local charities.
Cleevewold 14 - 24th March 2024
Claire Cox opted for a race nearer to home with the Cleevewold 14, organised by Cheltenham & County Harriers. Starting and finishing at the medieval Postlip tithe barn, the course took in Cleeve Common, comprising lots of hills and a fair bit of mud, but plenty of beautiful scenery, and passed Belas Knap Long Barrow, the Neolithic burial mound. Claire was content with her position of 46th.
Twin Lakes 20 - 24th March 2024
Susan Hunt, never one for taking the soft-option, travelled to Milton Keynes for the Twin Lakes 20. Following the picturesque River Ouzel and the Grand Union Canal, and never far from water, and as the name suggests the 20-mile multi-terrain course took in laps of two attractive lakes.
Despite Susan finding the going tough at times, she reported back that she absolutely loved it, finishing 6th in her category in a very respectable three hours, 21 minutes and 39 seconds.
Parkrun events - 23rd March 2024
Of course no weekend would be complete without parkrun and Bourton Roadrunners were present at the following locations:
Chipping Norton School: Edward Hare - 19:01 (2nd Place overall and JM11/1), Pippa Krzywiec - 23:31 (JW11/1 and course PB), Barry O'Leary - 24:35 (VM50/2) and
Julie Smith - 34:19 (VW55/1 and course PB).
Evesham: Claire Carroll - 31:11 (VW60/3), Louise Hamilton-Smith - 31:11 (Course PB).
Newport, South Wales: Jaq Underwood - 27:25 (VW55/1).
Northala Fields: Susan Hunt - 25:42 (VW55/2).
Southwark: Niamh Shoemark - 23:49 (VW55/1), Eva Shoemark - 23:49.
Highlights
Darren ran the Berkeley Fission 20 on Saturday then the Weston Half Marathon on Sunday; wow!
Darren at the Berkeley 20 - 23rd March 2024. Click on image for a larger version.
Kevin at the Berkeley 20 - 23rd March 2024. Click on image for a larger version.
Steph and Catherine at Pound-the-Pound - 24th March 2024. Click on image for a larger version.
Other reports may be found on our recent race reports page.