Weekend review: January 14 & 15 2012

Saturday January 14, 2012

Country to Capital 45

Near perfect conditions greeted record numbers of runners at the opening race in the 2012 UK ultra race calendar. The clear skies rewarded runners with idyllic views across the Chilterns as almost 200 runners started the journey to London. A group of 9 runners set the early pace, arriving at 8 miles 4 minutes inside the course record pace set in 2011 by Craig Stewart.

Photo: Nearly 200 runners take to a fast start down Wendover high street

As the early pace started to tell, the lead group was whittled down. Edward Catmur reached the halfway point on his own closely followed by Kwame Okojie, Matthew Lynas, Rob Heaslop and Mark Jefford, all pursuing gaps less than one minute to the man in front as the pace heated up.

Edward continued to stretch his lead on the canal, ultimately winning the race in 5:22:38. Mathew Lynas held on for second place in 5:35:40, claiming the prize for 1st V40 runner with a fast finishing Oliver Sinclair 3rd in 5:38:11.

Harry Hunter, belied his years to claim the V50 prize in 7:27:30 - improving by over 30 minutes on his time from 12 months earlier. Well stocked and plentiful feed stations providing a generous selection of savoury snacks as well as cake, jelly babies, sports drink and plentiful supplies of water.

The ladies race was even closer with only two minutes separating the leaders at the finish. The early pace was set by Claire Shelley who built a five minute lead over the rolling countryside of the first half.

Cath Holloway in second started to close the gap once the runners reached the canal and moved into the lead shortly before thirty miles. Behind them Wendy Shaw was the first to make a serious move getting within sight of the leader at the final checkpoint before falling back to third place. Trinity Booth finishing strongly to claim second place in 6 hours 50 minutes, but the winning lady on the day was Cath Holloway in 6:49:30, also claiming the Female Vet prize in the process.

Photos: Runners enjoyed the Chiltern trails. Edward Catmur (centre) held off the challenge of Mathew Lynas and Oliver Sinclair

Men's results

Women's results

Click here for full results

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Rough n Tumble 10

The biggest challenge of the day for the 600 runners who turned out on a beautiful sunny winter morning, was not the grueling 10 mile hilly run that lay ahead but which cake to choose at the finish from the huge array of home baked produce provided by the villagers of Milton Lilbourne!

Photos by Steve Goulding

Runners from as far afield as Bolton attended this year's Rough 'n' Tumble 10 mile cross country race, which was voted no1 race this year by readers of Runner's World magazine because of its reputation for having a great friendly atmosphere, beautiful views of the Pewsey Vale and breathtaking climbs that can only be done on all fours!

This year the weather conditions were perfect for running which resulted in the winner, Avon Valley's Tom Fisher, breaking the course record to come home first in a time of 1.04.33, followed by Andrew Fisher in 1.06.50, who broke the course record in the over 40 category and Cirencester's Roy Forbes in third in 1.08.20.

The women's race was won by Gemma Jones of Horwich Harriers in a time of 1.19.00, followed by Niki Morgan of Chepstow Harriers who also broke the course record for the over 35's in a time of 1.20.12. Third place went to Susanne Enhard of Compton Harriers who also broke the over 45's course record in a time of 1.20.56.

Steve Goulding, Race Organiser said 'all the runners were truly roughed and tumbled but all came out as winners over what can only be described as the toughest multi terrain race in Wiltshire'. He would also like to thank the residents of Milton Lilbourne for their huge help and support, with special thanks to Perky Deadman, village hall chairman, and also to St John Ambulance.

Photos by Steve Goulding

Men's results

Women's results

Men's age category results

Women's age category results

Click here for full results

Wadenhoe Winter Challenge - Race 3

Without winter rain falls this third race in the series was set to be another fast one. Only the frosty surface made for slightly tricky conditions for the less experienced.

The ‘bog’ alongside the river was pretty tame with barely ankle deep miud to negotiate.

With a fairly small field (5 participants in the quadrathlon, and 20 in the duathlon), the duathlon was always going to be dominated by Jez Cox, a former number one in the national duathlon rankings. Jez led out, with 15 year old Tom Stead (racing in the Quad) hot on his heels. The field had spread out a fair bit by the second run lap, although postions 2 to 6 were still anybodies with the tough and technical bike leg to come.

Current leader in the duathlon competition, Steve Giles was holding onto second place, with Wadenhoe 'rookies' Dave Briggs, Matt Wootton and Dave Rayment in hot pursuit.

Jez stretched out his lead and eventually finished in 56 mins 38 seconds (a record??). Steve Giles finished second in 59 mins and 9 seconds (also first MV40). Glen McGowan was first MV50 in 64 mins 24 seconds

An old hand at Wadenhoe Patrick Schlabetter returned for the first time this series and showed us just how strong he (still!) is on a bike, posting 35 mins. total time 1.07.12

The ladies duathlonrace was won by Hayley Abraham in a time of 75 mins 10 seconds. Naomi Brewer came in second in 1 hr 20min 24sec.

The Quad was won by Tom Stead in 1 hr 21 mins 47 secs with Keith Reid second in 1 hr 30m 35 secs. First lady was Roz Giles in 1 hr 34 mins 22 secs.

Race 4 is on 5th Feb!!

Men's duathlon results

Women's duathlon results

Men's quad results

Women's quadresults

Click here for more info and full results in due course