Barbour produces impressive 10k effort - The Stratford Observer

Barbour produces impressive 10k effort

Stratford Editorial 13th Nov, 2018 Updated: 13th Nov, 2018   0

OSCAR BARBOUR chopped more than two minutes from his personal best at the Age UK Leeds Abbey Dash 10K, producing one of the fastest 10km times ever recorded by a member of Stratford Athletic Club.

This race, now in its 33rd year, is one of the biggest 10ks in Yorkshire and more than 8,000 runners participated. Barbour, 19, ran a PB of 33:03 to finish 131st overall and eighth in the highly-competitive U20 category.

“I was a bit disappointed as I dropped off in the last two kilometres,” said Barbour, whose time was just 49 seconds shy of the club record. “I am happy but I’ve got more to give.”

The race was won by Adam Craig in 29:08, while Fionnuala Ross was the first woman to finish, clocking 33:30.




Stratford trio conquer Roaches Fell Race

THREE members of SAC took part in the Roaches Fell Race and their combined efforts placed them tenth in the overall team category.


The gruelling fell race in Staffordshire is an out-and-back course of 15 miles, with 3,700 feet of ascent.

Rob Minton was the first of the Stratford trio to finish, placing 28th overall and third in his age group in 2:28:04.

He was out to make amends as he pulled a calf muscle when taking part in last year’s event and was forced to walk the last five miles back. Thankfully his experience this time was less eventful and he had had a consistent nine-week training period leading up to the race.

Minton, who had persuaded club-mates Drew Sambridge and Dan Lynch to join him, commented that it was beautiful and brutal in equal measures.

Both Sambridge and Lynch have experienced the Roaches before when they completed a 30-mile event called the Peaks Skyline. Sambridge paced himself well, hanging back from Minton and Lynch for the first half but then passing Lynch just before the turn, eventually finishing 56th in 2:39:50.

Lynch started strongly and kept a decent pace as the going got tough. He finished just 34 seconds behind Sambridge in 59th place in 2:40:24.

The race, which was contested by 220 runners, was won by Max Wainwright in 2:01:56. Sarah Lilleman was the first woman to finish, clocking 2:36:23.

Weaving breaks 10km PB at Draycote Water

STRATFORD AC’s Sam Weaving returned to the scene of his last two 10km PBs and shaved another seven seconds off his lifetime best at the recent Draycote Water 10k.

Draycote Water is a 650-acre reservoir set high in the rolling Warwickshire countryside near the village of Dunchurch. The flat five-mile road surrounding the reservoir is ideal for running and plays host to numerous events throughout the year.

This was the second of this winter’s five-race series, held on the second Sunday of each month, from October to February.

Four members of SAC competed, with Weaving finishing third in 38:14, taking seven seconds off the PB he had set earlier this year at the same venue.

The other SAC members to complete the race were Sheryl Buckland (1:14:08), Paul Nash (1:14:57) and Shirley Rigby (1:17:12).

Conor Vale won the race in 36:21, while Kelly Butler was the first woman to finish in 42:06 as 295 runners completed the race.

Wolstencroft makes marathon return

THE THAMES Meander Marathon follows a flat and scenic riverside trail along the River Thames and it was here SAC member Dave Wolstencroft competed in his first marathon for 15 years.

Wolstencroft, who was running to raise funds for The Teenage Cancer Trust, finished in 4:49:05.

“I was hoping for around 4:30, but my watch gave up on me halfway around,” said Wolstencroft. “The narrow towpath along the whole distance was also very crowded with other runners, walkers, cyclists and dogs, which was always going to be a limiting factor.”

Fradgley completes New York Marathon

STRATFORD’S Jane Fradgley completed the New York City Marathon in 5:10:48.

Now in its 48th year, the iconic race had 52,808 finishers, all of whom had run through New York City’s five boroughs starting on Staten Island, at the foot of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge and running through the neighbourhoods of Brooklyn, Queens and The Bronx, before ending in Manhattan at the Central Park finish line.

“It was great but, out of the four marathons I’ve done, this was the hardest,” said Fradgley.

“The atmosphere and crowds were amazing – they kept me going. My ears were still ringing four days later.

“I was a bit disappointed with my time as I was hoping for under five hours. Maybe next time.”

Lelisa Desisa won the men’s race in 2:05:59, while Mary Keitany won the women’s title in 2:22:48.

Reports compiled by David Jones.

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