Thursday 28th August 2008

NIGEL MARLEY and Leicestershire’s Sarah Haines were the individual winners of the East Midlands 10km road-racing titles at Moulton last weekend (Sunday 24th August).

Windsor's Mark Draper was a comprehensive winner of the race in the third running of what is Northampton Road Runner's flagship event that represented both the County and the East Midlands Championships which attracted a quality field.

With Draper way out in front, four runners contested the runners-up spot with just 13 seconds between them at the finish.

And it was Rugby & Northampton's Nigel Marley who timed his efforts to perfection, taking control over the final two kilometres to hold off the third-placed runner, Wootton's Steve Poole, by just four seconds in a time of 34mins 25secs.

Marley's run secured him the 10k champion title for both the County and East Midlands region.

Winner Draper won by more than two minutes and lowered the amended course record by eight seconds in a time of 32mins 29secs.

Rugby & Northampton dominated the East Midlands team prize, with Marley joined by team-mates, fifth-placed Stuart Nelson (34:38), 12th-placed Matthew Howes (37:01) and 15th-placed Vince Carroll (37:26).

The Women’s race was equally exciting with an exceptional field, for seven kilometres it would have been difficult to choose the winner from a quartet comprising Harborough’s Sarah Haines, Huncote's British Masters international Nicki Nealon, Wootton's Kirsty Wigham and Milton Keynes' Jane Preen.

As the front-running Preen got into difficulty at Spectacle Lane, it was the 33-year-old Haines that surged to the front, a lead she kept all the way to the finish in a new course record time of 37mins 40secs. She was chased home by Nealon, just seconds behind with Wigham third in 38:07.

Full results are available on the following link: www.northamptonroadrunners.co.uk/Downloads/2008results.xls

Ocean Spray Grimsthorpe Castle 10km

Grimsthorpe Castle Estate, Bourne, Lincolnshire

Monday 25th August 2008

BRITISH international Felicity Milton was in superb form over the Bank Holiday weekend smashing the course record on the way to a fine victory at the Ocean Spray Grimsthorpe Castle 10km in Bourne, Lincolnshire.

Milton, the 21-year-old Engineering student representing Durham University, a world cross country representative for Team GB in Mombasa 2007 and the reigning BUSA 5,000m champion, clocked a time of 35mins 54secs to take the win ahead of Stamford’s Philippa Taylor (39:38) and British Masters international Kate Ramsey of Barrow Runners (40:26).

Milton having returned from holiday was only beaten by seven men overall in the race and will now look to retain her title at the Hermitage 10km this Sunday (31st August) where she will face the strong challenge of Charnwood’s British international Jane Potter in what looks to be a highly competitive race.

In the Men’s race Matt Gunby (20), team mate of Milton at Durham University, here representing Woodford Green with Essex Ladies, edged out the East Midlands Half Marathon champion Pumlani Bangani by a margin of just two-seconds following a sprint finish, also winning in a course record breaking time of 32mins 35secs.

Newham’s Andy Barber was third in 34:01 with Loughborough student Lewis Moses taking fourth in 34:38.

Barrow Runners led by Kate Ramsey’s fine third place - as she continues to return to form and fitness having finished runner-up at the recent Isle of Wight Half Marathon, claimed both the Men’s and Women’s team titles with a large contingent competing in the event.

Report by Mark Woolley - Copyright athletics-leics.com

Full results are available on the following link: www.bournetownharriers.org.uk/Results%20pages/Grim%2010K%202008.pdf

XXIX Beijing Olympic Games

Bird’s Nest National Stadium

Beijing, China

Sunday 24th August 2008

Athletics - Men’s Marathon

KENYA'S Sammy Wanjiru defied searing heat to comfortably win gold in the Olympic marathon in Beijing.

The 22-year-old world half marathon champion, who is based in Japan, crossed the line in an Olympic record of two hours six minutes minutes 32 seconds.

Morocco's Jaouad Gharib took the silver medal in 2hrs 7min 16secs with fast-finishing Tsegay Kebede of Ethiopia third in 2:10.00.

Haile Gebrselassie, who set the world mark of 2:04:26 last September in Berlin, competed in the 10,000 metres at Beijing, but the legendary Ethiopian withdrew from the marathon because he feared the city's poor air quality would harm his health over the long haul.

Ninety-eight runners lined-up at Tiananmen Square for the start of the race, which meandered through the streets of Beijing, past the fabled Forbidden City and historic Temple of Heaven before looping back to the square and through the city's financial district toward the stadium.

The 42-kilometre route was exposed but relatively flat, with a gradual incline of four kilometres over the first half and a gentle downward slope the rest of the way.

"It feels good to make history here," a delighted Wanjiru said afterwards. "It feels good to make history for Kenya and win the gold, I had to push the pace to tire the other runners, I had to push the pace because my body gets tired in the heat when I slow down."

This was just the third full marathon run by Wanjiru and the first Olympic gold in the event for Kenya - a nation defined in athletics by their excellence in distance running.

"In Kenya, we have many medals," he said. "But I'm glad I have this one."

Britain's Dan Robinson finished 24th in 2:16.14, this after lying in 74th place after the first five km, which was run in a blistering 14mins 52secs in hot and humid conditions.

"They went off so quickly in the first kilometre I deliberately backed off the pace," said the 33-year-old who finished in a time of 2:16.14.

"But I always thought more athletes would start coming back and they did, I'm a little disappointed not to make the top 20, but you can only do what you can. Maybe I didn't get my pacing quite right, but I'm satisfied with the run."

Defending champion Stefano Baldini of Italy placed 12th in 2:13.25, this despite nursing a tender thigh that doctors ordered him to rest for three days just prior to the Games.

"In the last 10 kilometres, it was unbelievable what the Africans were able to do under these conditions," Baldini said.

Wanjiru, who only made his marathon debut last year, broke clear just after 36 kilometres, after playing a major role in how the race developed.

Along with compatriot Martin Lel he ensured a fast pace in the first five kilometres which whittled the leading pack down to just eight - Spain's Cheme Martinez the only non-African.

Just after 15km Wanjiru then put in a punishing burst which reduced the leading pack to five and saw them move through halfway in a very quick 1:02.34.

However, it was Gharib who settled the distribution of the medals when, just before 30km, the two-time world champion's spurt delivered a body blow, as he, Wanjiru and Merga drew away.

Wanjiru always looked the stronger of the trio and his breakaway should have left Gharib and Merga to fight it out for the silver medal, but the latter fell off the pace in the vital last two kilometres.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results are available on the following link: http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/Schedule/AT.shtml

Hinckley 5K Charity Run

Mallory Park Race Track, Kirby Mallory, Leicestershire

Wednesday 20th August 2008

GORDON LEE and Juliet Potter were the major winners of the Hinckley 5km Charity Run held in wet conditions on the track of the Mallory Park motor racing circuit in Leicestershire as the Owls and Charnwood continued their domination of the event having won all the men’s and women’s races since the race was established in 2006.

Lee, following his fine victory on Friday night (15th August) at Blisworth in Northampton over 5 miles, led an Owls 1-2 over the line as the 41-year-old held off the strong challenge of team mate Mark Powell to follow in the footsteps of last years winner Paul Richardson to ensure the title remains the property of the Leicester Owls taking victory by a margin of just five seconds in a time of 15mins 18secs.

Powell, the winner of the inaugural event in 2006 clocked 15:23 to take the runners-up position with Ashley Sabin third for the Leicester Coritanians (15:48).

Juliet Potter also completed a hat-trick of victories for Charnwood in the women's event, with Tara Krzywicki and Sarah Maude winning the previous two races - the 26-year-old British international claimed victory in a time of 16mins 36secs, finishing in eighth place overall.

The Loughborough-based club dominated the women’s race with four of the top five finishers representing the green and gold of Charnwood as Birmingham University student Clare Mensley, second in 17:41 and Debbie Marsden, 4th in 18:39, were only split by the third placed talent of Hermitage’s promising Derby Runner Cross Country League champion Gemma Steel (17:55).

With the Midland and National six and four stage road relays coming up on the racing calendar over the next couple of months - both of Leicestershire’s top two road-racing clubs are running into good form ahead of the strong challenge that they will face in the leafy surroundings of Birmingham’s Sutton Park.

Where the Owls line-up against defending men’s champions Notts AC, whilst, Charnwood's women will look to defend their territorial title and then prepare to face the powerful Aldershot, Farnham & District squad led by world junior 1500m gold medallist Steph Twell on the national stage.

In the ‘Kids Caper’ one-mile support race Emily Sales representing Nuneaton Harriers, the reigning Leicestershire county 800m Under-15 champion, claimed the overall victory leading a field of 118 runners over the line in a time of 5mins 20secs. Alex Benfield was runner-up in 5:26.

Report by Mark Woolley - Copyright athletics-leics.com

Full results of the 5km are available on the following link: www.hinckleyrunningclub.com/images/stories/2008/mallory08/mallory5kprov.pdf

Full results of the Kids Caper are available on the following link: www.hinckleyrunningclub.com/images/stories/2008/mallory08/mallorykk2008prov.pdf

Isle of Wight Half Marathon 2008

Sandown, Isle of Wight

Sunday 17th August 2008

NEAR-PERFECT conditions greeted more than 200 runners in this year’s Isle of Wight Half Marathon.

In a race which took in the hills of Brading, St Helens and Yaverland, the eventual winners were home athlete Paul Cameron, and Brighton’s Katy Moore who finished ahead of Barrow’s British Masters international Kate Ramsey.

The finishers came in thick and fast at Sandown and Shanklin Rugby Club, with runners from the Island, the mainland and abroad registering good times.

Katy Moore representing Brighton, who often races on the Island thanks to her parents owning a holiday home finished 17th overall in a time of 1hr 22mins 07secs.

Moore commented: “I like to take part in Ryde Harriers’ races as they are always brilliant fun.

“This was quite a tough race, it undulated all the way. Now I am quite familiar with the Island I have a much better idea of how far I have to go. I much prefer off-road racing but this was great.”

Leicestershire’s vastly experienced GB international Kate Ramsey clocked 1:28.13 to take the runners-up position ahead of Ryde Harriers Mary Louise Norman (1:36.43).

In the Men’s race Paul Cameron, (37) of Newport, had not run a 13-mile distance since taking part in the Needles Cross Country Marathon on June 1st and had recovered from illness in the week leading up to the race.

Despite this he was still close to achieving the Island Games qualifying time of 1:12.00, crossing the line in 1:15.42 to take victory.

Cameron reflected: “It felt really slow for me, then I hit the hills at St Helens and remembered why I hadn’t done this for a while!”

Full results are available on the following link: www.rydeharriers.co.uk/Results2008/HM2008_Results.htm

XXIX Beijing Olympic Games

Bird’s Nest National Stadium

Beijing, China

Sunday 17th August 2008

Athletics – Women’s Marathon

CONSTANTINA TOMESCU-DITA ran a superb and powerful solo performances to win Romania’s their first ever women's Olympic marathon title in a time of 2hrs 26mins 44secs, but for Britain’s Paula Radcliffe's her Beijing bid for glory ended in tears and pain as she finished in 23rd place struggling with cramp.

Tomescu-Dita finished clear of Kenya’s world champion Catherine Ndereba and China's Zhou Chunxiu as the 38-year-old mother of one, who bettered compatriot Lidia Simon's silver medal from the 2000 Sydney Games.

The race started at under cloudy skies at 7:30am local time and snaked through the streets of Beijing, from Tianamen Square to the Bird's Nest, and its topography boasted four hilly sections

Tomescu-Dita went to the front at the halfway mark where she had a four second lead. That extra burst of acceleration and pace was too much for Japan's 2007 world bronze medallist Reiko Tosa, who dropped off the pack leaving Tomescu out on her own.

Looking strong as she entered the magnificent Bird’s Nest National Stadium to a rousing ovation from the remarkable crowd of 60,000 assembled, the cheers reached a crescendo as she emerged from the tunnel entrance, but Tomescu-Dita circled the track with purpose heading for home.

With a few metres remaining, the exhausted yet jubilant winner finally relaxed enough to blow kisses as crossed the line to secure the Olympic title.

Ndereba outraced China's Zhou Chunxiu over the final 50 metres to win her second straight silver medal in the event in at 2:27:06, whilst, Zhou was one second behind that to earn the bronze.

"It was a great performance," said Tomescu-Dita, who was 20th in Athens and is now based in the town of Erie just outside Boulder in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado with 13-year-old son Raphael and husband Valy.

She continued: “At the 2005 World Half Marathon Championships everybody said I couldn't run, but I showed today what I can do,"

For world record-holder Paula Radcliffe, the 34-year-old 2005 world champion in Helsinki, at the start looked every inch the superstar we have seen dominate the big city events in London and New York - the ponytail, the sunglasses, the nasal strip, the beads around the neck, the ribbon denoting her support for blood-testing, however, this was to prove mission impossible as she began to struggle badly short of form and fitness and had to stop briefly after two hours and 14 minutes with two-miles remaining stretching against the barriers lining the course as her calf muscles began to cramp.

However, the Bedford athlete determined to banish the demons of Athens four-years ago where she failed to finish dug deep and eventually managed to jog over the line in 2:32.38 before crying on the shoulder of team and club mate and early pace setter Liz Yelling, who finished 26th, this after suffering a bad fall which required hospital treatment for a suspected cracked rib, that was later diagnosed as just heavy bruising.

Radcliffe commented afterwards: "Perhaps I pushed too hard to come and compete here, I felt pain in my leg from the start and I was feeling shocks searing up my leg throughout the race. Then I got cramp in my calf near the finish and had to stop to stretch it. It's a real shame as if I had been fully fit I think I would have gone close."

Fellow Brit Mara Yamauchi ran the race of her life and was in with a shout of a medal as the athletes headed towards the Bird's Nest National Stadium as the 35-year-old Japan-based athlete eventually finished in a highly-creditable sixth in 2:27.29.

"I really wanted to get a medal but it was a really good field so I am pretty happy with sixth," she said.

American Deena Kastor pulled out due to a tendon injury to her foot about five kilometres into the race. American Magda Lewy also didn't finish thanks to a knee injury. Kastor, the 2004 bronze medallist, said she felt a pop in her foot.

"My foot has been sore for the past week," said Kastor. "I thought it was just tendons, they get hypersensitive leading up to a marathon. I was icing it this week. It didn't affect how I was training. It was a bit sore when I woke up. I didn't expect to be finishing the marathon in a bus."

Report by Mark Woolley.

Leading Results:
1 Constantina Tomescu (Rom) 2h26:44, 2 Catherine Ndereba (Ken) 2h27:06, 3 Zhou Chunxiu (Chn) 2h27:07, 4 Zhu Xiaolin (Chn) 2h27:16, 5 Martha Komu (Ken) 2h27:23, 6 Mara Yamauchi (Gbr) 2h27:29, 7 Irina Timofeeva (Rus) 2h27:31, 8 Lidia Elena Simon (Rom) 2h27:51, 9 Souad Ait Salem (Alg) 2h28:29, 10 Salina Kosgei (Ken) 2h29:28, 11 Zivile Balciunaite (Lit) 2h29:33, 12 Kum Ok Kim (Prk) 2h30:01, 13 Yurika Nakamura (Jpn) 2h30:19, 14 Anna Incerti (Ita) 2h30:55, 15 Dire Tune (Eth) 2h31:16, 16 Nina Rillstone (Nzl) 2h31:16, 17 Bruna Genovese (Ita) 2h31:31, 18 Luminita Talpos (Rom) 2h31:41, 19 Madai Perez (Mex) 2h31:47, 20 Christelle Daunay (Fra) 2h31:48, 21 Benita Johnson (Aus) 2h32:06, 22 Svetlana Zakharova (Rus) 2h32:16, 23 Paula Radcliffe (Gbr) 2h32:38, 24 Monika Drybulska (Pol) 2h32:39, 25 Eunjeong Lee (Kor) 2h33:07, 26 Liz Yelling (Gbr) 2h33:12

Full results are available on the following link: http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/Schedule/AT.shtml

Tuesday 12th August 2008

LEICESTERSHIRE'S female athletes led the way over the weekend producing two fine victories both on road and over the country.

Kim Looms triumphed at the Jagermeister 10km held on the roads surrounding the University of Nottingham Campus on Friday 8th August.

The 27-year-old representing Charnwood, a fourth place finisher at last months BUPA Great Capital Run, crossed the line in a lifetime best of 38mins 57secs over the distance to take victory.

In the Men's race Tom Doe of Lincoln Wellington claimed victory in a new course record of 30:58, with Shepshed's Mark Rose taking third place in 34:58.

Full results are available on the following link: www.formulaonecc.co.uk/

Leicestershire's reigning 10,000m track champion Debbie Marsden won the Cranham Boundary Chase in Gloucestershire on Saturday 9th August.

The 30-year-old from Charnwood clocked a time of 36:41 to secure the win in the event that consisted of 5.8 miles off road racing in very tough windy and wet conditions.

Full results are available on the following link: www.gloucesterac.co.uk/html/cranham_results.html

2008 Newark Half Marathon

(Incorp. East Midlands Championships)

Newark, Nottinghamshire

Sunday 10th August 2008

SOUTH AFRICAN Pumlani Bangani won the East Midlands Half Marathon Championships with a fine sub-70 minute victory in Newark.

The 34-year-old Salford Harrier, winner of the 2006 Experian Robin Hood Marathon - a prolific racer on the United Kingdom road running scene, finished clear of Ben Hope (Woodford Green) and the Mark Powell (Leicester Owls) to take victory in a time of 1hr 09mins 18secs to collect the first prize of a Breitling Watch on offer for the race winner.

Hope finished second in 1:09.30, with Powell, the reigning Leicestershire champion over the distance, third in 1:09.36 as the top three all dipped under the 70-minute barrier.

Helen Decker representing Ipswich Jaffa won the Women's race as the 28-year-old, winner of the Asics Fleet Pre-London Half Marathon back in March, clocked a time of 1:18.53, with Jane Preen of Milton Keynes taking second in 1:20.34 and Burton's Abbey Norman third in 1:20.47.

The East Midlands title, plus a Breitling Watch, went to Redhill Road Runners Carolyn Hay (1:26:42).

Full results are available on the following link: www.newarkathletics.co.uk/newark-half-marathon-results-2008.html

Joy Cann Memorial 5

(Incorp. 2008 LRRL Summer League)

Huncote, Leicestershire

Wednesday 6th August 2008

TIM HARTLEY and Jane Potter raced to fine individual victories at the 16th edition of the Joy Cann 5 Mile, the penultimate event in the 2008 LRRL Summer League.

In warm conditions in Huncote Tim Hartley was in sparkling form racing to an impressive forty-one second victory, this having destroyed the field to cross the line following a superb solo performance in a time of 24mins 56secs.

Hartley (40), the Silverstone Half Marathon champion and defending race champion out paced strong opposition as Notts AC team mate Ashley Sabin, running in the colours of the Leicester Coritanians, secured second place in 25:37, with the Leicester Half Marathon champion James Douglas (Charnwood) - having ran well on the track at the recent (BMC) British Milers races taking third in 25:40.

As with Hartley, British international Jane Potter was a class apart in the Women’s race, the 26-year-old who led the way for Team England at the Marseilles 10km back in May, finished out on her own clear of Hermitage’s Gemma Steel taking victory in a time of 28:08 - following in the footsteps of Charnwood team mate Tara Krzywicki who triumphed in the race last year (27:53).

The emerging talent Steel finished runner-up well over a minute adrift in 29:16, with Charnwood's experienced Debbie Marsden securing third in 29:33.

British Masters international Nicki Nealon, following her triple medal winning performance at the 2008 European Masters Championships in Slovenia the previous week, where the Huncote Harrier claimed gold in the F40 Marathon and silver and bronze over 5,000m and 10,000m finished leading Vet in fourth place (30:00).

Full results are available on the following link: www.huncoteharriersac.co.uk/results/FullJC508.pdf

The final fixture of the 2008 LRRL Summer League is the John Fraser 10 Mile that takes place on Sunday 7th September 2008 - Start time 10.30am. Entry forms are available on the following link: www.owlsac.org.uk/owls10.asp

Saturday 2nd August 2008

FLORA LONDON MARATHON runners are set to be offered special advice from one of Britain's best-ever runners over the 26.2mile distance on how best to prepare for next April's race at a series of workshops being planned in the East Midlands by England Athletics.

Paul Evans, who won the 1996 La Salle Bank Chicago Marathon in a time of 2hr 8mins 52secs and was twice an Olympic finalist overt 10,000 metres, will be on hand throughout the project to offer expert advice and guidance.

The proposed programme will centre on four workshops supporting runners as they train for the big race that takes place on Sunday 26th April 2009.

In addition, three East Midlands races (TBA) will be used as part of the runners preparation and it is intended to offer free kit to athletes taking part through working with a major sportswear manufacturer.

The workshops, which will begin in late October, will cover all aspects of marathon running, including training specifics, hydration, mileage, lifestyle and race focus.

The workshops will also include opportunities to listen to an ex-elite marathon runner and other professionals from specific areas relating to endurance running.

The plan will be discussed at the next East Midlands Regional Endurance Forum meeting at Loughborough University on Wednesday 20th August (7pm). For further details contact Steve Moore on 01509 228765 or by email: smoore@englandathletics.org

Heanor 5 Mile

Shipley Hall Cricket Club, Heanor, Derbyshire

Friday 25th July 2008

GEMMA STEEL secured a well-deserved second place behind race winner Clare Woolis to guide the Leicestershire-based Hermitage Harriers to team victory at the sixth edition of the annual Heanor 5 mile race.

On a very warm humid evening the 22-year-old fast improving Steel, winner of the Hungarton 7 earlier in the month, clocked a time of 30mins 28secs over the rural two-lap course from the Shipley Hall Cricket Club to take the runners-up position behind race winner Clare Woolis (29:18) representing Sutton Harriers with Leicestershire compatriot Debbie Marsden of Beaumont Running Club securing third place in 31:57.

Steel’s fine performance combined with team mates Sarah Maynard (26th in 45:54) and Judith Brand (28th) gave the Hermitage club the overall team victory.

In the Men’s race Ben Radbourne completed a fine home victory, the 32-year-old representing Heanor finished clear of Ripley’s Ashley Deeming and fellow team mate Darren Ridout to take the win in a time of 27mins 21secs.

Paul Gregory was the highest placed Leicestershire athlete clocking 28:53 to finish in fifth place overall as the Hermitage team of Gregory, John Terry (11th in 30:12), Darren Wilson (13th in 30:30) and Lee Tomlinson (14th in 30:32) finished in second place behind host club Heanor.

The 1.5mile Run Run was won by 14-year-old Sam Barker representing Shelton Striders in a time of 9mins 27mins with Long Eaton’s Louise Jansen the first girl over the line in 12:19.

Full results are available on the following link: www.heanorrunningclub.com/

Tuesday 22nd July 2008

LEICESTERSHIRE athletes produced a selection of fine performances across the United Kingdom over the weekend, with victories in Northumberland, Wycombe and Sherwood Forest, plus top places at the BUPA Great Capital Run in London’s Hyde Park.

Here is a round-up of their performances and results.
Hartley crowned king of Northumberland

Tim Hartley produced a superb performance to take victory in the 29th edition of the Northumberland Coastal Run from Beadnell to Alnmouth on Sunday (July 20th).

Hartley, who was among a party of 30 athletes from the Barrow Runners Club in the 800-strong field, won by a margin of over a minute-and-a-half with Morpeth’s Michael Morris, also a debutant in the race, finishing second and defending champion David Kirkland, of Alnwick, securing third.

Hartley (40), took up the running midway through the 13-mile contest and said he was unfamiliar with the course.

“It’s my first visit to compete in the event and I really enjoyed it,” said Hartley. “I started off pretty steadily, not knowing the course, but once I got to the front it was a case of pushing on all the way to the finish.”

In the early part of the race to Dunstanburgh Castle it was Morris and Heaton’s James Buis who set the pace, with eventual winner Hartley running with Kirkland 15 metres behind.

However, Hartley joined the leading duo approaching Craster and began to make his bid for victory. Kirkland’s knowledge of the course helped him in the second half of the race and he came through to overtake Buis and take third place. Buis had to be content with fourth place for the second consecutive year, even though he ran six minutes quicker this time around thanks to a tail wind.

www.alnwickharriers.co.uk/Results%20Page.htm

Phil Chritchlow continued his fine run of form having recently completed overall victory in the Holme Pierrepont Grand Prix Series, the 40-year-old representing Beaumont Running Club claimed first place at the Grant & Stone Wycombe Half Marathon.

Chritchlow crossed the line in the Buckinghamshire town in a time of 1hr 14mins 28secs to take victory ahead of Serpentine’s Nicholas Torry (1:14.50) and Matt Bennett of Chiltern Harriers (1:15.12).

www.handycrossrunners.co.uk/Wycombe.html

Claire Wilson, (30) representing Charnwood completed the trio of victories for Leicestershire athletes with a well-deserved win at the Sherwood Pines 5km Trail Race in Mansfield.
Looms shines at BUPA Great Capital Run

Charnwood’s Kim Looms finished in a fine fourth place in the Mass race at the BUPA Great Capital Run held over a 10k course in London’s Hyde Park, the 27-year-old Warwickshire athlete clocked a time of 39mins 34secs as Reading’s Liz Hartney won in 39:04.

In the Elite event Michelle Ross-Cope made up for her disappointing performance 12 months ago by finishing the top female in the mixed race contested mainly by domestic runners.

The Stoke veteran recorded a time of 33:28 for an easy win over fellow British international Natalie Harvey and Nicky Archer who crossed the line in 34mins dead and 34:51 respectively.

Former IAAF World Cup 5,000 metres champion Mike Kigen was a convincing winner of the Men’s race.

Kigen moved to the front just after the halfway point and struck 40 seconds off the course record with his winning time of 29:42.

He surged ahead in the last four kilometres to keep the title in Kenyan hands, finishing well clear of former European 10,000m bronze medallist Jose Rios and Richard Limo.

The Spanish runner-up clocked a time of 29:04 with Limo, second in last year's Amsterdam marathon, finishing in 29:06.

http://secure.greatrun.org/results/quickresults.php

Hungarton 7 Mile

(Incorp. LRRL Summer League)

Hungarton, Leicestershire

Tuesday 8th July 2008

LEICESTER OWLS Mark Powell produced a superb front-running solo performance to take victory at the 25th staging of the Hungarton 7 mile race, recognised as the toughest event on the racing calendar in Leicestershire, this despite the rain-swept conditions.

Powell, (29) the reigning Birmingham Cross Country League champion and current holder of Leicestershire County titles over both half-marathon and 10,000 metres - having set a personal best of 68mins 45secs at the Mansfield Half-Marathon just three days prior to the Hungarton race, led from gun-to-tape to claim an impressive win in the challenging conditions crossing the line in a time of 36mins 08secs to narrowly miss out by a margin of just eight seconds on the £125 share of a £500 cash bonus on offer from the race organisers for a sub 36-minute clocking.

The Silverstone Half Marathon champion Tim Hartley representing Barrow Runners finished second in 36:36, well inside the 37:30 time limit for the cash bonus for veteran men. The Owls Gordon Lee was third in 37:32.

Hermitage Harrier Gemma Steel underlined her improvement over the last twelve months by taking overall victory in the Women's race as the 22-year-old finished in a time of 42:02, and as with Powell just missed out on the time bonus.

The ever-improving Birmingham University student Clare Mensley racing in the colours of Charnwood secured second place in 42:43.

Inform Nicki Nealon representing Huncote Harriers, the World Masters Half-Marathon gold medallist and winner this summer of her eighth East Midlands Road-Running Grand Prix title, finished just inside the 43:00 time limit for veteran women by a margin of five seconds, this despite struggling with stomach cramps.

Full results are available on the following link: www.btinternet.com/~Dpalmer192/hungindvis7results08.html

Saturday 5th July 2008

PHIL CHRITCHLOW completed an excellent four-race performance to win the overall title at the 2008 Holme Pierrepont Grand Prix Series.

In the opening race of the series held on Tuesday 24th June at the National Water Sports Centre - Chritchlow followed his fine runners-up position at the recent Man v Horse event in Llanwrtyd Wells by winning the Holme Pierrepont 10km.

The 40-year-old representing Beaumont Running Club, a former Derby Runner Cross Country League champion, crossed the line in a time of 33mins 02secs taking victory ahead of Long Eaton’s Paul Lewis by a winning margin of 20 seconds, with Leicester Coritanian David Miles third in 33:35.

In the Women's race Jessica Macrory prevailed in a time of 38:03, with Formula One’s vastly experienced Verity Butler taking second in 38:45. Charnwood's Beverley Gray secured third in 38:47.

Full results are available on the following link: www.hprcrun.co.uk/GP/Archive/GP2008R1.htm

Chritchlow followed his win in the opening race with a runners-up place at the second event in the series, a 5k race in the beautiful surroundings of Nottingham’s Wollaton Park on Thursday 26th June - clocking a time of 16mins 42secs to finish second to Cardiff athlete Rowan Axe (16:28). Hermitage Harrier Alastair Watson was third in 16:43 with Leicester Coritanian David Miles fourth (16:48).

The Women’s race was a repeat of the opening event with Jessica Macrory once again taking victory winning in 18:52, Verity Butler finished second in 19:15 and Charnwood’s Beverley Gray taking third with 19:46.

Full results are available on the following link: www.hprcrun.co.uk/GP/Archive/GP2008R2.htm

The third race staged at the Rushcliffe Country Park on Tuesday 1st July witnessed Chritchlow consolidate his position at the top of the overall standings with victory over the four mile course in a time of 21mins 13secs - ahead of Long Eaton’s Paul Lewis (21:21) and Leicester’s David Miles; third in 21:36. Alastair Watson (Hermitage) claimed fourth in 21:50.

Jessica Macrory was equally dominant in the Women’s race completing a hat-trick of victories in the series clocking a time of 24:24 to edge clear of Charnwood’s Claire Wilson (24:58) and Formula One’s Verity Butler (25:10). Loughborough student Katie Lomas also representing Charnwood finished fourth in 25:31.

Full results are available on the following link: www.hprcrun.co.uk/GP/Archive/GP2008R3.htm

The overall title success for Chritchlow was completed at the fourth and final race on Thursday 3rd July at the Colwick 5 mile event winning with a time of 26mins 28secs to take his third victory ahead of Miles (27:19) as the Leicestershire duo claimed the top two positions in the series standings.

Jessica Macrory confirmed her position as the Women’s title winner taking a fourth straight victory in a time of 30:22 to defeat Verity Butler (Formula One) and Charnwood’s Beverley Gray, returning to the series to claim another well-deserved third place with a consistent set of performances clocking 31:22.

Full results are available on the following link: www.hprcrun.co.uk/GP/Archive/GP2008R4.htm

2008 East Midland Road Running Grand Prix Series – Milton Keynes 10km

Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

Tuesday 1st July 2008

NICKI NEALON, just 48 hours after winning the British and Midlands Masters 10km titles at Prestwold in Leicestershire, underlined her dominance of the 2008 East Midland Road Running Grand Prix Series by taking a comfortable victory at the final race, the Milton Keynes 10km.

Having already secured a remarkable eighth overall title success - her third in the eight race series having won at Rugby and Bedford, the 40-year-old Huncote Harrier placed the icing on the cake with a fine victory in Milton Keynes finishing just over one minute ahead of the field in a time of 37mins 16secs.

Home athlete Imogen Thornburgh (Marshall Milton Keynes) finished runner-up in 38:17 ahead of the ever-consistent Wootton Road Runner Kirsty Wigham (38:28).

In the absence of overall champion for this year, Tipton’s Nigel Stirk, Coventry’s Scott Hazell took advantage to win the Men’s race in a time of 32:38, finishing out on his own ahead of Wootton’s Phil Melling (33:21) and Marcin Fudalej of the host club Marshall Milton Keynes.

Full results are available on the following link: http://mcs.open.ac.uk/mkac/08emgpmkall.htm

Prestwold Hall 10km

(Incorp. BMAF and Leicestershire & Rutland 10km Championships)

Prestwold Hall, Leicestershire

Sunday 29th June 2008

CHRIS DAVIES, the flying postman representing Telford AC, completed a fine 25 second victory to defeat Tim Hartley to take victory at the second edition of the Prestwold Hall 10km.

Davies (31), who finished 12th for Team Wales in the final of the 5,000m at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games gained his nickname ‘Flying Postman’ as he decided that the best way of training and working to fund his athletics career would to be a postman – an early finish meant he was free to train in the afternoon.

Here on the outskirts of Loughborough over a slightly altered course from twelve months ago around the Prestwold Hall airfield Davies was a class apart showing his international class to secure the win in a time of 30mins 40secs to out pace the inform Tim Hartley (31:05) and Cardiff’s third placed Alex Haines (31:36), with Loughborough-based Newham & Essex Beagle Ian Grime, winner of last year’s Edinburgh Marathon and Charnwood’s Leicester Half Marathon champion James Douglas fourth and fifth respectively.

For Hartley, having recently set a lifetime-best 24:17 for five miles in his first year competing at veteran level, second place did however, secure the 40-year-old, who also competes for the host club Barrow Runners as second-claim, both the British Masters, Midlands Masters and Leicestershire & Rutland 10km road titles that were incorporated into the event this year.

Nicki Nealon is already a well-established British Masters international with a running CV that many at this level could match, and so it would be again as the Huncote Harrier added yet another title to her impressive career list that includes World, European and domestic titles.

Having recently secured a remarkable eight overall title success in the East Midlands Road Running Grand Prix Series Nealon completed a hard fought victory following a very tight battle with one of Leicestershire’s brightest talents Gemma Steel of Hermitage Harriers - the two only separated by a margin of just three seconds at the finish line as Nealon claimed the win in a time of 36:21. Reading’s Liz Hartney secured third in 36:49.

A bumper field of 704 runners took part in the race this year well up on 2007 inaugural running mainly due to the event incorporating the Leicestershire Road-Running Summer League, the British & Midlands Masters Championships and Leicestershire & Rutland 10km Championships swelling the numbers.

Report by Mark Woolley.

Full results are available on the following link: www.barrow-runners.co.uk/results/ResultsPrestwold08.pdf

Roadhoggs Glooston 10km

Glooston, Leicestershire

Saturday 21st June 2008

CHRIS SOUTHAM and Larraine Porter secured fine individual victories in the second edition of one of Leicestershire’s newest events on the annual race calendar at Roadhoggs Glooston 10km.

Southam completed a comfortable win over the undulating two-lap course to add to his fine victory at the (LRRL) West End 8 at the beginning of the month as the 43-year-old representing Stilton Striders crossed the line in the village of Glooston in a time of 34mins 20secs finishing well over two-and-a-half-minutes ahead of second placed Leicester Coritanian John Grindley (37:00) and fellow marathon specialist Mark Chamberlain of the host club Roadhoggs (37:12).

Southam’s time was just one second outside of the course record set by Garry Payne in the inaugural event twelve months ago.

West End’s Larraine Porter won the women’s race with ease in a time of 43mins 10secs finishing one minute twenty-four seconds clear of former Leicester Owls Debbie Napier (44:34) with Trinity Booth representing Hogweed Trotters securing third in 45:12.

Former British Steeplechase record-holder Tara Krzywicki, who has recently returned to racing, course record of 36:27 was never under threat.

Full results are available on the results page: www.athletics-leics.com/results.html

2008 East Midland Road Running Grand Prix Series – Harborough 5

Market Harborough, Leicestershire

Tuesday 17th June 2008

TIPTON’S Nigel Stirk and British Masters international Nicki Nealon completed fine performances to take victory at the Harborough 5 and guarantee the overall individual 2008 East Midland Road Running Grand Prix Series titles.

Stirk held off the challenge of the Owls Gordon Lee to take victory in a time of 25mins 20secs, whilst Huncote’s Nicki Nealon completed a comfortable win out pacing Milton Keynes Imogen Thornburgh by a margin of 18 seconds, clocking a time of 29:36 to win a remarkable eighth title success.

Full results are available on the following link: http://mcs.open.ac.uk/mkac/08emgpharboroughall.htm
The final race of the 2008 East Midland Grand Prix Series – Milton Keynes 10km - takes place on Tuesday 1st July - start time 7.45pm.