HOT on the heels of the gold medal success of team-mate Phil Brennan in Australia, Stratford AC’s other septuagenarian international athlete Roger Wilson triumphed on international duty in the British and Irish Masters Cross Country International in Glasgow, writes David Jones.
Roger, who has had a torrid couple of years with injury, came first in his age group in the 6k race, winning the gold medal in a superb time of 26.12, a full 48 seconds ahead of the second placed runner.
In doing so, he also led home the English team to claim gold.
English runners finished in first, third and fifth places, finishing with nine points, comfortably ahead of second placed Scotland on 20 points.
Roger and Phil’s next event will be as part of a team representing SAC at the British Masters Cross Country Relay Championships at Long Eaton on Saturday.
IT IS hard to believe but, for some runners, a mere marathon is just not long enough.
With his 40th birthday fast approaching, Stratford AC’s Neil Wicks, at the suggestion of his wife, decided to run a 40-mile ultra-marathon!
Neil’s chosen race was the Tollymore Trail Ultra Marathon, run within the confines of Tollymore Forest Park in Northern Ireland.
The route consisted of a series of forest trails, allowing the runners to take in the spectacular scenery. Each lap was roughly half a marathon in distance so, for those competing in the Ultra, it was a three-lap race.
Neil was able to complete the race in the magnificent time of 5hrs, 32.58 to finish in a superb third place, a comfortable 24 minutes ahead of the fourth placed runner.
Seventy runners completed this gruelling race, which was won by Nicki McPeak in a time of 5:23.11.
ALTHOUGH overcast, the weather stayed reasonably mild and calm for the latest of the Autumn Shakespeare Races held at Long Marston Airfield.
Each event consists of a 5km, 10km, half and full marathon race. In the 5km race, SAC member Ash Habib finished in 71st place in a time of 37.28.
Ash has not raced for some time, so should be pleased to be back running again. The race was won by Phillip Harrison in 17.42 as 81 runners completed it.
In the 10km race, SAC newcomer Jon Mulkeen finished in 39th place in a personal best time of 46.34.
Some 186 runners completed the race, which was won by Jonathan Ashley in a time of 35.53.
The marathon at Long Marston consists of a gruelling eight laps of the airfield and two of SAC’s lady marathon specialists took part.
Rebekah Loftus finished in 61st place, seventh lady and fifth in her age group. Her superb time of 4:07.5 was a PB and two minutes quicker than her time for the Stratford Marathon in April.
Rebekah stated she had never felt less ready for a marathon but it proved to be 13th time lucky as she ran a PB. She said that, despite the flat course, it was a mentally difficult race to complete due to having to complete eight laps.
Tara Lambert finished in 74th place and was 12th lady to finish and sixth in her age group. Her time of 4:27.46 was just a couple of minutes slower than her time at the Londonderry marathon in June but, considering the gruelling nature of this course, it was still a magnificent time.
The marathon was won by Jason Merrick in a time of 2:46.40 and first lady to finish was Alayne Malkin in 15th place in a time of 3:16.23 as 91 runners completed the race.
