LONG Marston Airfield was the location for the Raceways Spring Shakespeare Races of 5km, 10km, half marathon and full marathon distance.
Although advertised as potential PB races due to the flat nature of the course, a series of sharp 360-degree hairpin turns, often allied with windy conditions, can make it a difficult course to negotiate.
Seven Stratford Athletic Club members took part, starting with an absolutely superb performance in the 5km by 17-year-old Seb Hopper. His magnificent time of 19.09 secured him fourth place in a race won by Philip Harrison in 17.31 as 58 runners completed the race.
In the 10km races there were three SAC runners competing. First home was Dave Maundrell, who finished 46th in a time of 51.38.
Little more than a minute and three places behind Dave was Ruth Calderbank in 52.42 to finish in 49th place. Ruth also finished first in her age group.
Bev Bridgen (63rd – 57.32) was next to finish and she, like the other runners, will have picked up valuable points in the club’s Grand Prix competition.
The winner of the 10km was Richard Hayes in 36.05. First lady to finish was Gail Audhali in 23rd and a time of 44.03 as 126 runners completed the race.
There were also three SAC runners in the half marathon. First home was Kate Sergent in 85th place in a time of 2:08.56.
Kate was using this as part of her preparation for the upcoming Manchester Marathon and she was also keen to earn points in the Grand Prix competition. Kate also managed to win her age group.
Next were husband and wife couple, Andy and Karen Brown, in 111th and 112th position respectively. Andy’s time of 3:37.24 was just a second quicker than Karen’s and tends to suggest he is not a big fan of ‘ladies first’ when it comes to running races!
The race was won by Jonathan Winkley in 1:21.03 and first lady finisher in seventh was Lucy Walmsley. There were 112 finishers.
THE ASHBY 20 is a brutal, hilly race with a particularly cruel final 1.5 miles.
Three SAC runners competed and first to finish was Pete Evans in 2:29.09 to earn 197th place.
Next was David Jones who was disappointed with his time of 3:01.20 – a minute a mile and 20 minutes slower than his PB time last year.
Kate Sergeant (3:26.21 – 1,027th) was also slightly disappointed she was just a few minutes slower than last year.
Martyn Sergent was agonisingly close to his target time of four hours, recording a time of 4:02.52.
The race was won by Gareth Lowe in 1:54.38 and first lady to finish was Victoria Nealon in 2:14.29 in 59th place as 1,320 runners completed the course.
ALMOST 2,900 runners completed the Coventry Half Marathon, which was started by former Olympic athlete David Moorcroft OBE.
There were a pair of SAC men and women in action, led home by James Purdey in 330th place in the impressive time of 1:37.22.
He was followed by Ash Habel in 432nd in 1:39.55. Ash should be delighted to dip under 1:40, having pretty much taken a year off from running in 2016.
Lynne Hinson (1,102nd – 1:53.03) was full of trepidation at embarking on the half marathon distance, but she really should not have been as she completed the race comfortably under the two-hour mark.
Christine Pastrak has every right to be pleased with her time of 2:03.22, finishing in 1,602nd place.
Reports thanks to David Jones.
