Four of the Romsey contingent took part in the annual New Forest 10 mile race on Sunday and three members were rewarded with personal bests for their efforts.
The race is popular as it combines a series of off-road route paths and tracks within a forest setting. The start and finish are at New Park just north of Brockenhurst. This mid-summer event has suffered in the past from extremes of weather, ranging from dizzy high temperatures to heavy rain and flooding. This year proved no exception and a light drizzle and cooling temperatures prompted the organisers to opt for space blankets at the end!
Neil Jennings 1:00:37 PB
Stuart Cripps 1:17:25 PB
Penny Jennings 1:23:13
Rebekah Lurcock 1:25:22 PB
Romsey Road Runners, entered a ladies team in the South Downs Relay on Saturday, 20th June. The route starts in the grounds of Slindon College just outside Chichester and uses the Monarch Way and the South Downs Way. Runners then follow the National Trail west towards the Queen Elizabeth Country Park for the finish. The Romsey team consisted of Tamatha Ryan, running the 1st leg, passing the baton on to Jo Weguelin. The third leg was run by Becky Tovey and Lynda Brown, the 4th member, brought the team across the finish line.
The ladies team completed the course in 3:35:12, placing them in 6th position in the female standings and 30th overall; with 112 teams finishing.
Well done to the nearly 300 runners who ran today’s Beer Race and in particular to Paul Pallister (27:31) of Hardley Runners and Anna Smith-James (33:43) of Hedge End who won the male and female races respectively. The results and a link to today’s photos have now been uploaded to the Beer Race page.
Thank you to all the people who have taken time to send in feedback, be it through Facebook, Twitter or email. We’re glad you enjoyed it.
We look forward to welcoming you all back next year!
Message for all members helping with the race tomorrow – please check your email for all the details, including what time you need to arrive in the morning! Thanks
Three Romsey Road Runners travelled to Royal Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire on 31st May to take part in a sprint triathlon.
The triathlon consisted of a 400m pool swim, 20km bike ride and a final 5k run. ‘Conditions were wet and windy making the event a little more interesting,’ reported Derek Kelly.
The fastest time from the Romsey contingent came from Derek Kelly – who won his age category. Derek had a combined time of 1:30:35, (9:25 swim, 47:09 bike, 30:17 run).
Alice Lane followed in second place, finishing 10th in age category. Alice’s total time was 1:34:11 (9:09 swim, 52:39 bike, 28:39 run) and third was Julia Abab. Julia, finished 4th her in category, in a time of 1:46:28 (12:55 swim, 1:00:58 bike, 28:17 run). Julia’s time included an unscheduled pit stop to replace her chain, adding an additional 7 minutes to her time.
We are delighted to announce that the Beer Race has sold out! There will be no entries available on the day. Race packs will be sent out ahead of the race, and we look forward to seeing all those who have entered next Sunday.
Still thinking of entering the Beer Race? Please be quick as we very close to selling out! Postal entries have now closed, online entries will close on Friday unless we reach capacity before then. Pint glasses at the ready!
Entries for the Beer Race are selling fast – just 50 places left! Postal entries close today, but you can still enter online via Run Britain or Runners World until 29 May, unless race capacity is reached beforehand.
The Lymington Lifeboat 10k took place last weekend. Organised to support the work of the RNLI; this scenic off road 10km takes runners on a single lap of the nearby quiet lanes and coastal path, offering views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight and bracing sea breezes.
RRR finishers
Jo Weguelin 47:19
Andrew Archibald 47:31
Ann-Marie Skill 55:59
Also, well done to Mike Roberts who ran a swift 1:12:30 to complete the Alton 10 mile last Sunday. Starting at finishing at Treloars College the race follows an undulating route through the picturesque Hampshire countryside and villages to finish back at the college a few metres from the start.
Elsewhere, Steve Reed, who completed the notoriously hard-core Swashbucklers Middle Distance Duathlon, comprising a 5k run followed by an 80k bike and a 22k run to finish. Steve managed to complete the first 5k run in 19 minutes, followed by 2 hours 29 min for the 80k bike ride and a 2 hours for the final run of 22k. Steve topped his age-group rankings and came in 5th overall!!
27 RRRs turned up for the second RR10 of the season at Stoney Cross, another bumper turn out for RRR. Remember that anyone can compete in these races, all you need is a RRR shirt (and something for the bottom half…) Look out for the emails!
After two races, the men lie 12th in the team event, while the women are 7th.
A dozen intrepid Romsey Road Runners headed west to Pembrokeshire for the penultimate leg of the Endurance Life Coastal Trail Series 2014/15 over the spring bank holiday – the club’s annual weekend away.
The races – ranging from 10k to a 35 mile ultra – began on the slipway in the pretty village of Little Haven. What started as a dull but overcast day soon deteriorated into driving rain and high winds, making the narrow coastal paths tricky to negotiate and obscuring some of the glorious views out over Marloes Sands and the stunning coastline towards St Brides. The headwind facing runners at the disused Second World War airfield, RAF Dale, was especially challenging – though runners agreed it would have been an even greater challenge trying to land a plane in those ferocious gusts. Even the local kite festival was cancelled!
First off at 8.30am was Toby Burrows in the Ultra. Having run the London Marathon the previous weekend, he finished the 35-mile route in an impressive 6:00:29, 11th man home overall. Becky Tovey and Di Cross set out half an hour later on the 28-mile marathon course. Becky just missed the medals, finishing 5th in the women’s race in 4:50:41, with Di – running her sixth race in the series – finishing an hour later in 5:51:46, 2nd in age category. Lindsey Friedman and Naomi Farrington started 90 minutes later in the half marathon, running together to finish in 3:42:42 and 3:42:46 respectively.
The club was well represented in the 10k, with five runners tackling the linear route from Marloes back to Little Haven. Brenda Topliss was first of the Romsey contingent home in 1:35:06, 1st in the FV60 category, followed by Anna Duignan in 1:36:32 (2nd in Category), Ruth Page in 1:43:53 (3rd in category), Wendy Couper in 1:46:49 and David Page 1:57:20 (3rd MV60).
It took some time for the Romsey Road Runners to thaw out and dry off afterwards but all enjoyed the trip to Wales. In common with the other events in this series, the races were well organised and friendly, taking in some glorious stretches of British coastline. Highly recommended for lovers of the great outdoors – and a challenge.
Harewood 10k 2015
Also, on the same weekend, a 5 RRRs took part in the Harewood Forest 10k at Wherwell. Including Anna Duignan and Wendy Couper, fresh back from Pembrokeshire.
This annual cross country race has a challenging course with several climbs and takes place in the heart of Hampshire’s second largest woodland. First home for Romsey was Alice Lane in 58:02 followed by Julia Abab 1:00:05, Anna Duigan 1:04:41, Derek Kelly 1:05:27 and Wendy Couper 1:17:16.
Marie Duignan completed the Boston Marathon. Marie who had been living in Boston until recently finished the course in a time of 3:28:18, gaining her an automatic place for next year. ‘Considering all interruptions to my training with the moving from America back to the UK, and then Romsey to London, I was really pleased with this time. Not my best, but certainly not my worst!’
RRR London Marathon Finishers 2015
Taking part in the 35th London Marathon last Sunday were 3 Romsey Runners: Toby Burrows, Neil Payne and Tam Ryan. The near perfect conditions favoured all runners, and Romsey preformed well. First home for the club was Tam Ryan in 3:12:52, she was followed by Toby Burrows in 3:27:41 and Neil Payne finished in 4:30:24.
Much closer to home there was an impressive turn out by RRRs at the first ever Southampton 10k/Half Marathon. This debut event was billed as having something for all. Runners started in Hoglands Park in the city centre, the route
RRR Southampton Half Marathon Finishers 2015
remained flat with the notable exception of its crossing of the Itchen Bridge, where participants were provided with views of the entire city and glimpses of the Isle of Wight.
Mark Stileman was 4th home and 1st in age category in the 10k in a time of 38:51.6.
There was a big turn out for the Houghton trail events this year, with the added attraction of no mud, dry conditions and sunny to boot! This low key local event caters for walkers, runners and cyclists and offers a gentle undulating series of routes around the village of Houghton. There is something for everyone, with varying distances for all participants. The proceeds raised from the event are donated to the Houghton All Saints Church. This year a record 357 people participated. The tea and supply of cakes was very welcomed at the finish by all those taking part.
RRR finishers:
Neil Jennings – Houghton 2015
Neil Jennings 43:41 Winner of the 11k trail race
Mark Adams 51:50
Tony Peelo 56:23
Penny Jennings 59:37
Marion Kelly 1:09:11
Greg Roulston 1:17:56
Ruth Page 1:20:06
Wendy Couper 1:23:25
Steve Edwards cycled the 32k in 1:37:01, finishing 16th.
Alice Lane and Beth Downhall did the shorter 5k distance. Beth finishing in 13th place in 44 mins.
And finally, the best of luck to RRRs Tam Ryan and Neil Payne who are competing in the Virgin London Marathon, this coming Sunday.
One of the series of Endurance Life Events, took place on Saturday 11th April, this time in lovely Exmoor. It is billed as the toughest course in the series and is definitely a grueling test of endurance for even the very hardest trail and fell runners. This didn’t put off a hardy group of RRR who ventured to Devon and enjoyed the pleasing scenery offered by this challenging trail event. The Romsey contingent did well and were rewarded for their efforts. Results were as follows:
In the 10K distance, Lynda Brown finished in 1:14:26 and was placed 3rd in the FV40 category whilst Wendy Couper finished in 2nd place in the FV60 category in a time of 1:49:49. In the Half Marathon, Di Cross finished in 2:45:11.
The ladies were cheered on by two former RRRs: Carol Brunner – who now lives in the Heddon Valley – and Angie Stuckey.
The rain was very light but the wind was really hard work at the Exbury 5 on Sunday for all participants. The distance shortened to 5 miles for the 2nd year because of damage to the beach path caused last winter is still not repaired. Despite the blustery conditions, RRR Neil Jennings achieved a personal best and delivered on his objective to get below 30 minutes for the 5 mile course, in 29:38. Penny Jennings finished in 39:19 and Alice Lane was not too far behind in 42:27. The fun run was enjoyed by and Chloe and Bethany who completed the 1.5km run within the grounds of Exbury.
Cranleigh 15/21 2015
In Surrey, fellow RRR ladies Becky Tovey and Tam Ryan completed in the Cranleigh 15/21 miles respectively. Many were using this as their last long run before a spring marathon. The wind and rain made this event tougher this year as runners completed either 2 or 3 laps of undulating Surrey countryside. Nevertheless, Tam finished in 2:35:52 and Becky in 1:59:19.
Neil Payne completed the New Forest Running Festival 20 mile race on Sunday 22nd March, finishing in a time of 3hrs 28 mins. The event took runners on a mixture of gravel tracks and off road bridleways through the New Forest starting from Linwood. ‘The event was very well organised event with great feeding stations, it provided excellent preparation for next months the London Marathon,’ said Payne.
Eastleigh 10k 2015
On the same day, a contingent of RRR participated in the annual Eastleigh 10k. This local event is now very popular and often rewards runners with personal bests (as its on road and flat). According to those taking part, ‘the beautifully sunny day was surprisingly colder than it looked, but warmed up nicely with the sunshine.’ The course and those taking part didn’t disappoint and personal bests came in their masses.
Anna retired from Test Valley Borough Council recently. To mark the occasion, she lead a walk with participants consisting of fellow work colleagues, friends and some RRRs from Andover to Romsey. The journey was 19 miles in length and took approximately 8.5 hours, including pit stops. The weather was damp on and off but sprints and enthusiasm remained high. A total of £1000 was raised in the process for Cancer UK. We hope you enjoy your retirement, Anna.
Four of the Romsey contingent took part in the annual New Forest 10 mile race on Sunday and three members were rewarded with personal bests for their efforts.
