Daniel

The duo of Anna Duignan and Wendy Couper took part in the Endurance Life event at Birling Gap in Sussex located at the extremities of the South Downs National Park.

Couper said, ‘it is a stunning venue starting at finishing at Birling Gap, which was severely damaged during the recent storms. The route offered views of the Seven Sisters and included a very windy climb up Beachy Head.  We did the 10km which actually measured 7.7 miles.  The conditions were fortunately dry and we somehow managed to escape a hail storm.’

Anna completed the course, rated as strenuous, in 1:42 and Wendy in 1:50.

This event is one of a series of 10 coastal trails organised throughout the winter. They are all off road and are rated 1-5, 5 being extreme and 1 easy.  All the events come highly recommended by participants, offering runners dramatic scenery, views of the coast and lashings of sea air.

Eastleigh 10k report will follow next week.

The Exbury 10k became the ‘Exbury 5’ for this year’s participants. This picturesque New Forest event, starting and finishing in Exbury Gardens, was cut short this year owing to the disappearance in part of the foreshore path. The path, along Lepe Beach, had suffered some erosion in recent heavy rains forcing race organisers to change the route. This part of the course is not a favourite with runners, with its energy sapping shingle and on-shore breezes, so I don’t expect the runners really objected!

Romsey Runners had two men in the top ten, finishing 3^rd and 7^th respectively. The ladies were equally pleased with their times.

RRR finishers:

• Toby Burrows, 30:10, 3rd overall
• Neil Jennings, 31:06, 7th overall
• Duncan Walling, 34:07
• Penny Jennings, 38:08
• Naomi Farrington, 49:38

Tam Ryan and daughter Rio completed their last long run before the London Marathon. Both ladies were among the 465 finishers of the Cranleigh 21. Organised by the fabulously named, ‘Cranleigh Tortoise and Hare Runners’, the Cranleigh 21 draws a number of spring marathon runners from all around the South East. Many use it as an indication of performance and to gain valuable experience for their big day. The route is a series of pleasant long loops along the quite lanes of the Surrey countryside. There are a couple of long gradual inclines on route and a sharp sting just before the finish to test those tired legs.

Tam had a good run, managing yet another personal best. Finishing in 2:33:18 as 7th Lady, 2nd in age category.

Rio had a tougher run though, getting cramp in her calf at the 12 mile mark and finishing in 3:18:41.

The John Austin Half Marathon is organised by volunteers in memory of John Austin, headed by his wife Irene Austin. 100% of the money raised by the event goes to support the work done by the Oakhaven Hospice Trust, in nearby Lymington. The course is a scenic off road, traffic free route running through the beautiful New Forest.

Last Sunday saw the 4th John Austin Half Marathon. The race was run on a new route this year due to flooding caused by recent poor weather. The new course was greeted enthusiastically by runners with a record number of entrants taking part; there were 531 finishers. Romsey Runner, Nick Berryman finished in a time of 1:34:13.

Further North, over the border in Wiltshire, the Salisbury 10, organised by the City of Salisbury Athletics & Running Clubs, also took place. This is known as a friendly race, suitable for all abilities. The route follows the banks of the River Avon North of Salisbury through the gently undulating Woodford Valley with fine views of the cathedral spire on the return leg.

This Sunday’s race was run in unseasonably warm and sun-drenched conditions providing Tam Ryan personal best for the 10 mile distance. Tam finished in 1:10:49 and fellow Romsey lady, Alison Soloman finished in 1.35.23. There were a total of 694 finishers.

Romsey lady Tam Ryan completed ‘The Terminator’ on Sunday 23^rd February.  The aptly named event includes a number of tough hills and plenty of mud. This year’s course had been extended to make it 12 miles in length and those planning it found a hill for that final mile. Tam finished in 1:47:57 as 5th Lady overall, 3rd in her age category and 77th out of 439 finishers.

Alice Lane and Robert Gold ran the Winchester 10k in times of 52:16 and 1:00:38 respectively. The race looked like it may be in jeopardy because of recent groundwater flooding in Winchester, however it went ahead.

And slightly further afield, Wayne Windebank took part in Reading half marathon, finishing in a time of 1:35:42. The Mizuno Reading Half Marathon not only takes in the highlights of the city centre of Reading but also still passes through the beautiful grounds of the University campus. The race culminates at the Madejski Stadium to the cheers of thousands, providing a great atmosphere.

After the final race of the 2013/14 CC6 series Romsey Runners fared well. The ladies finished in 4^th place, the men in 6^th and, in the team competition, the club was placed 5^th overall. Well done to those taking part.

The men’s competition ended up being a close run thing with Neil Jennings just pipping Christopher Brown by one point! They finished 15th and 16th respectively. Congratulations to Neil who improved his performance by 29 places over the series, and to Christopher who improved by 18 places.

In the ladies’ competition, congratulations goes to Tam Ryan for finishing first for Romsey ladies in 4th place overall, closely followed by Lynda Brown in 7th place overall, not far behind her was Becky Tovey finishing in 9^th place and Jo Weguelin was in 13th.

For those training for a spring marathon, the Bramley 20 mile is a key event in the calendar. Three Romsey ladies made the journey North of Basingstoke for the two lap event. Runners follow a gently undulating route through the lanes of north Hampshire, facing a couple of longer inclines, which always seem worse second time around.

For Rio Brookes-Gibbs it was her first 20 miler. Rio wasn’t even sure that she could run the 20 miles and was pleasantly surprised to finish in a time of 2:56:23, giving her a real confidence boost for the London Marathon in April. Shantha Dickinson was pleased too, sticking to her marathon training plan and finishing in 2:33:24. Finally, seasoned runner Tam Ryan finished in a personal best of 2:27:19. Three happy ladies.

In the shorter Bramley ten mile, Wayne Windebank and Becky Tovey had cracking runs both managing massive personal bests.

Windebank finished in 1:08:49 and Tovey in a time of 1:16:34. The unexpected dry and sunny conditions with a slight wind were just perfect for running and rewarded those turning out on Sunday with pleasing results.

Sunday 2nd February saw Tam Ryan and Rio Brookes-Gibbs competing together in the Blackmore Vale Half Marathon, in nearby Dorset. This has a reputation as a tough course as it has relentless hills and is known for being exposed; both make it tough. The last mile is up a steep ‘killer’ hill up towards the end, literally finishing runners off. Brookes-Gibbs realised a personal best was no where near possible but finished strongly in 1:55:30. Ryan did get a PB and was very pleased with her performance on this tough course. Finishing in a time of 1:34:07, as 7th overall and 2nd in age category.

On Sunday 9th February the Chichester 10k saw the Romsey men in action. The duo of Paul Burnage and Christopher Stocks completed this popular road race. Many participants go all out in hope for a personal best, as the route is flat with some nice downhills in places; one nearing the finish.
Over 1,600 runners finished event, “the rain managed to stay away, there were no floods, leaving only a strong wind to battle through,” said Burnage afterwards. Paul finished in 43:38, positioned 336rd with Christopher Stocks finishing in 409th position in a time of 44:51.

RRR’s, Tam Ryan took part in the’ Stonehenge Stomp’ with daughter Rio Brookes-Gibbs. The Stomp’ is organised by Amesbury Walkers as a long distance walk but is open to runners as well. The circular countryside routes offer views of the famous stones and Salisbury Plain. Both ladies completed different distances; Ryan finishing the 30km route and Brookes-Gibbs the completed the 20km route. Rio has recently joined RRR and the ‘Stomp’ represented her first off road event. Mum Tam said, ‘she found it very tough in the horrendous conditions; we both got battered by rain wind and unforgiving mud!! Rio slipped over twice, she was pleased to finish.’

The ‘Romsey 5’ saw a good turn out of RRR. A total of 10 of the Romsey Club participated in this popular annual race, despite the poor weather on Sunday. Heavy and persistent rain dogged most of the day and puddles were abundant. The runners headed around the grounds of the Broadlands Estate completing a number of short laps on tarmac paths.

There were a number of Southampton Runners representing ‘Team Bennett’, running in memory of local runner Todd Bennett.

RRR Finishers:

• Wayne Windebank 35:07
• Chris Stocks 36:04
• Joanna Wegnelin 38:19
• Stuart Cripps 38:57
• Tony Peelo 39:26
• Alice Lane 41:13
• Alison Soloman 45:07
• Anna Duignan 46:26
• Fiona McLeod 46:27
• Deborah Rees 47:01

The New Year welcomed another opportunity for many local runners to take part in the annual Stockbridge ‘George Skeates’ 8 mile cross country event. Many walkers, runners and cyclists took part with the money raised going to the George Skeates Benevolent Fund.

Runners, including a small Romsey contingent, started from the Town Hall on the High Street heading out of the town to find the mud and puddles offered by the off road hilly route.

Despite the overcast morning and recent heavy rains, conditions were surprising good under foot apart from ‘Gun Boat Gully’, was very muddy and slippery – just as well it’s near the finish!

Neil Jennings was the first Romsey man home in 55:55, knocking 4 minutes off last years time and finished as 5th man overall. Neil Payne finished in 1:09:26.

Becky Tovey was the 2nd lady to finish in 1:07:42, Penny Jennings 1:10:27 and Julia Abab came just behind in 1:12:07.

As the festive season approaches, the Keyworth Turkey Trot, half marathon took place last weekend, organised by the local Scouts. The race you imagine is a gentle affair by the name, however, the course is a single circuit, all on road, starting and finishing in the village of Keyworth, South Nottinghamshire. Runners pass through the undulating rural scenery and villages of the Wolds, in what was described as a challenging event. Romsey’s Matt Hammerton finished in 5th place in a time of 1hr 16m 15secs.

A trio of Romsey ladies: Wendy Couper, Anna Duignan, Gill Gallus participated in the 10K Endurance Life event from Lulworth Cove, Dorset, last weekend. The event was graded as “extreme” and according to 3 RRR, that was a ‘very good description’.  ‘The Jurassic Coast path is amazing to run along and very undulating’, said Couper afterwards. The 10k stage of this event takes runners up 1200 feet of ascent, offering some stunning views of the fabulous Jurassic coast.

The trio performed stonkingly very well, claiming the first 3 places in the FV60 category. First back was Anna Duignan in 1.25.23, followed by Wendy Couper in 1.30.44 and Gill Gallus 1.35.40 3rd FV60.  The winning trio put their fine performance down to the conditions on the day, which were very good underfoot and the weather was extremely kind, staying dry.

Duncan Walling ran the longer distance in the Dorset Coastal trail coming 171st with a time of 03:27:03 saying, ‘That was tough!’