Daniel

Wendy Couper took part in the Adventure Boot Camp Farnborough Charity 5K event on 6th July. This was Farnborough’s inaugural charity run is in aid of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. The route took runners through grass and wooded areas of the in Rushmoor Arena, Aldershot. It was both interesting and achievable for beginners, whilst still enough of a challenge to tax experienced runners looking for a race. Wendy finished 1^st  Female V70 in a time of 37:20.

RRR Tam Ryan completed the Dorney Dash 10km race on Saturday 26th July. This is a fast flat course consisting of a series of laps around the Olympic Eton Dorney Lake, making it ideal for PBs. However, the weather proved far too hot and several runners pulled out after a few miles and a number of ambulances had to be called. Tam was unaffected and finished in 43:25 and second her age category.

Four RRRs ran at the Lakeside 5k in Hillsea on the 30^th July. This was race 4 of a 5 race series, previously known as the Promenade 5k. The route is fast and flat, ideal for fast times. RRR finishers: Jade Rolfe 20:29; Tam Ryan 20:34; John Quayle 21:29; Di Cross 24:23.

The 3^rd August saw a number of Romsey Runners, broaden their experiences and take part in the Wellington Triathlon, in Crowthorne, Berkshire. The triathlon includes a swim, cycle and run. Taking part in the ‘Super Sprint’ event was Wendy Couper, in her 10^th year of competing is this popular event. Wendy completed the 200m swim/12m cycle/5km run – in a total time of 1:43:16 – placing her 1^st in the V60 age category.

Five Romsey ladies took part in the Three Peaks Challenge as part of ‘Team Nikki’, raising money for Brain Tumour Research in memory of Nikki Lewis.

Sarah White, Nikki’s cousin and her fellow team mates Hannah, Becky, Alice and Michelle – all ladies from Romsey Runners – were ‘Team Nikki’.

The Three Peaks Challenge involves climbing the three highest peaks in England, Wales and Scotland, usually within 24 hours. The three peaks are: Snowdon, in Wales (1085m) Scafell Pike, in England (978m) and Ben Nevis, in Scotland (1344m).

Starting at Ben Nevis ‘Team Nikki’ rose to the challenge taking on the peaks one by one, encouraging one another; “We are very pleased to report that we completed the challenge in 23 hours 50 minutes and the fundraising total is heading towards £2,500 or more which is fantastic and well worth the exhaustion, aches and pains! We were very lucky to have great weather all weekend and were treated to 3 out of 3 views which kept our spirits high!”

On a more local note, RRR were out in the New Forest on 12th July, taking in the scenic sights offered by the New Forest 10. The weather was warm and the route pleasant taking runners along gravel tracks and through open forest in a loop starting and finishing at New Park near Brockenhurst. The results were Neil Jennings, 1:07:58 (PB); Daniel Lurcock, 1:18:58 (1st ever 10 mile race); Penny Jennings, 1:24:31; Brenda Topliss, 1:30:15 (1st in age category); Di Cross, 1:32:22 and Charlotte Maslen, 1:43:59.

The annual Wyvern 10k in Fair Oak also took place on 12th July. Now organised by Hedge End running club, the Wyvern 10k was established as an Olympic Legacy Event in 2012 and is aimed at promoting running at a local level; the out and back road run is proving popular. RRR finishers were Wayne Windebank, 43:12 and John Quayle, 46:55. Former GB Olympic 400m runner and local man, Iwan Thomas also ran and came in at 44:33.

On 21st May, 28 RRR took place in the third RR10 of the season. The Men fielded two teams finishing 4th and 14th while the Women fielded four teams finishing 6th, 13th, 25th and 37th.

RRR male finishers: 3rd Matt Hammerton, 6th Paul Cardy, 25th Andrew Proctor, 30th Toby Burrows, 32nd Neil Jennings, 33rd Ian Ralph, 37th Christopher Brown, 53th Tony King, 84th Jade Rolfe, 117th John Quayle, 147th Stuart Cripps, 154th Andrew Archibald, 202nd Greg Roulston, 205th Dave Page.

RRR female finishers: 11th Tamatha Ryan, 15th Rebecca Marriner, 25th Hannah Hunt, 27th Jo Weguelin, 39th Becky Tovey, 52nd Penny Jennings, 53th Alice Lane, 69th Julia Abab, 107th Naomi Farrington, 110th Deborah Rees, 116th Ruth Page, 118th Linda Webb, 119th Julie Shanker, 149th Wendy Couper.

Becky Tovey and Tam Ryan ran in the warm sunshine to complete the Hook 10 road race. A flat road race, which was well organised took runners through lanes in and around the village of Hook, North Hampshire. Tam finished 5th lady in 1:12:40 and Becky came in as 15th lady in 1:18:22.

The pair, on a roll, took part in the Windlesham Pairs 10km Relay. Organised by Windle Valley runners, a mass of 186 runners competed in this inaugural event. Teams – male, female or mixed, young and slightly older – took it in turns to complete a 1km undulating loop until the 10km distance had been completed. Team Ryan and Tovey were the 3rd ladies home in a time of 41:13 and 37th overall out of 93 teams. Nearly non-stop saxophone music provided runners with inspiration whilst tea, coffee and cakes at the finish rounded off a pleasant evening.

In May, RRR Duncan Walling took part in the Ox Ultra Marathon in Wiltshire, organised by White Star Running. Advertised as one of the UK’s toughest and longest marathons, it included a hilly off road route through King John’s royal hunting ground of Cranborne Chase. In his first ever Ultra, Walling finished the 37.6 miles in a time of 7:55:05; 35th out of a total of 75 finishers. Afterwards Walling said, ‘It was my first marathon let alone my first ultra and, with hindsight, was perhaps a bit far as I’m still a little stiff. But it was great fun, an amazing location and weather.’

An impressive 13 Romsey Runners took part in last weekends’ local Eastleigh 10k road race. The event, sponsored by B&Q, now in its 30^th year, is renowned for providing runners with opportunity of achieving a personal best for the distance. The course is flat and fast starting and finishing from Fleming Park Leisure Centre, Eastleigh. Well over 2,000 runners finished, encouraged by spectators along this popular course.

Romsey finishers included:-