Cotswold Hilly 100 Relay - 26th May 2024
The Cotswold Hilly 100 Relay, organised by Stratford upon Avon Athletics Club, has been operating for over thirty years, and is a ten-stage relay event covering some of the most challenging hills in the north Cotswolds, starting and finishing in Stratford and travelling as far as Chedworth. Teams of ten runners representing many local clubs commence the first-leg at 5am, passing their baton to the next team member at the designated location, and so forth.
With a course record of an impressive 9 hours and 24 minutes, set by Massey Ferguson Running Club in 1989, one can sense a strong competitive spirit amongst many of the teams taking part. However, there is also social element for many of the runners. Bourton Roadrunners had three teams taking part and their finishing times were: Team A – 12 hours 33 minutes, Team B – 15 hours 23 minutes and Team C – 16 hours 27 minutes.
Team members were (Team-1): Susan Hunt; Danny Hannig; Alex Pye; Tim Hemming; Pete Carrick; Eva Shoemark; Claire Cox; Craig Hamilton-Smith; Rebecca Townsend; Steve Howell. Team-2: Janet Balinski; Gilly Howell; Chris Dry; Lee Hutton; David Rees; Megan Ratcliffe; Iain Cox; Graham Lane; Basia Legierska; Gill Carrick. (Team-3): Coral Feenan-Hill and Shirl Creed; Nicky Patterson and Shirl Creed; Tom Hill; Michela Sartori; Lisa Braid and Jaq Underwood; Louise Hamilton-Smith and Noelle Morgan; Janice Townsend, Allie Quinn and Lee Smith; Jenny Evanson; Giles Canning and Tom Knight; John Harding; Viv D'Alton; Connor Shoemark.
The winning teams were Leamington C&AC (Men) – 9:34:19; Spa Striders (Women) – 12:43:00; Northbrook (Mixed) – 11:17:05. A special word of praise goes to the Leamington men’s team, who were approximately 10 minutes outside the 35 year-old course record (partly due to being held-up at the railway crossing).
Wainwrights Coast to Coast Trail - 19th-26th May 2024
Bourton Roadrunners’ Steph Holton decided that the best way of celebrating her 60th birthday would be to run the Wainwrights Coast to Coast Trail, with her friend Catherine Wheeler, and Steph’s husband Gary, scheduled to take seven days.
The intrepid team set off 19th May and traditionally starts by touching the sea and picking up a pebble in St Bees on the west coast and finishing 201 miles, and 27,423 feet of ascent, later touching the sea and casting the pebbles in Robin Hoods Bay in the east.
After months of training, running became secondary as they faced other greater challenges with terrain, weather and even being chased by farm animals, as they worked their way across England. There were many highlights, one of which was the support and company of friends and family.
Northampton 10k - 26th May 2024
After a completing a number of off-road, tunnel and overnight challenges, Bourton’s Annie opted for a more traditional road race at the Northampton 10k, where she completed the relatively flat course in a time of 74 minutes and 46 seconds.
Parkrun events - 25th April 2024
Bourton members were, as usual, out in support of parkrun events at a variety of locations, including:
Cinder Track, Whitby: Linda Edwards - 28:59 (VW60/3).
Evesham: Dougal Hamilton-Smith - 21:03, Alex Wilson - 26:19, Tom Knight - 28:43, Louise Hamilton-Smith - 28:44 (Course PB).
Finsbury Park, London: Giles Canning - 28:50.
King George V Playing Field, Cheltenham: Chris Dry - 54:05.
Newport, South Wales: Jaq Underwood - 25:48 (VW55/2).
Quakers Walk, Devizes: Susan Hunt - 25:32 (VW55/2).
Witney: Sally Rowlands - 32:08 (VW50/3) in her first parkrun!
Highlights
Congratulations to Bourton’s Hilly 100 Relay team members and supports.
Bourton’s Hilly 100 Relay team relax afterwards - 26th May 2024
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Other significant activities to recognise.
Steph and Catherine after completing the Wainwrights Coast to Coast Trail - 26th May 2024. Click on image for a larger version.
Annie taking advantage of the podium for a photo at the Northampton 10k - 26th May 2024. Click on image for a larger version.
Other reports may be found on our recent race reports page.