Almost Athletes Club Records

It was a prolific running weekend for many Almosts, including Mike Line, who completed his 250th parkrun at King George V Playing Field, following it up a day later with a 2:06:38 finish at Cheltenham half marathon.

Most parkrunners took it steady this weekend in order to save their efforts for Sunday’s big local draw. That said, several Almosts secured top ten gender finishes, including Nick Lewis at Cheltenham (19:16); Ben Taylor at Newent (20:15); Patricia Dendy at Seven Fields (21:05); Hamish Adamson at King George V Playing Field (21:39); Paul Haig at Foots Cray Meadows (23:07); and Jo Foster at Dishley, Loughborough (23:18). King George V Playing Field again proved to be a fertile hunting ground for the Almost ladies, where the first four home – Rachel O’Bryan, Rosemary Hubbard, Cat Daly and Vicky Kennedy (+ Hershey) - were Almosts. Also at KGVPF there was an outright parkrun PB for June Franks and course PBs for Mike Kennedy, Dave Davey, Dave Chittock, Deb Cartlidge and Sandra Stuart.

Completing two very different back-to-back endurance challenges over the weekend were Allan Green and Cos Pearson. Allan ran the Saturn Running 100 Marathon Club AGM marathon from the Thames Side Brewery in Staines on Saturday in 5:48:28, following it up with a gritty effort at Cheltenham half marathon the following day (2:12:12). Cos did the Wye Valley Trail Race, a half marathon event starting and finishing at Chepstow racecourse on Saturday, continuing her stellar running year with her second fastest half marathon (1:58:59) at Cheltenham just one day later, missing her PB by just 19 seconds.

Also running on Saturday in the delightfully named Jolly Running Celebration Caper was Karla Cleverley. The Caper is an off-road lapped event with ‘jollification station’ based in the gardens of the Double Locks pub in Riverside Valley Park, Exeter. Karla completed four laps for a total of 13.2 miles in 3:35:23.

The noise and support of the purple army on every corner of the streets of Cheltenham doubtless gave runners a much-needed boost on what turned out to be a very warm race, particularly in the latter stages around the racecourse. The thoughtful ‘Run4Rich’ and ‘BeMoreDoug’ markings on the Honeybourne Line certainly caused more than one lump in the throat. A special shout out to Prash Sripathi, who ran in a penguin costume in honour of Rich Walklate, finishing in a very creditable 1:50:13 in what were undoubtedly less than ideal conditions for full-body costumes.

A huge thank you to Claire Hawes, Zak Hussain, Penny Lewis, Peter Mitchener and Steve Taylor, without whose photos and videos it would have been impossible to piece together the Cheltenham half marathon and 10k results.

In the half marathon Mike Johnstone was first home for the club, equalling the club’s longstanding MV40 record of 1:22:17 for a top 50 finish.

Recording a top ten age category finish in the MV60 category were Kieran Keating (1:36:06, 2nd); Peter Morris (1:40:05, 6th) and Neil Tring (1:45:03, 10th). Sue Pearce was third in the FV45 category (1:37:19, also first lady Almost home). In the FV55 category Jeanette Gullick was 3rd in 1:47:24; Nikki White 7th in 1:51:26 in her first event in club colours; Alison Hume 9th in 1:54:46 and Sarah Wallbridge 10th in 1:55:10. In second place in the FV65 category Pauline Bargus was a mere 24 seconds behind the category winner (2:06:56). Virginia Pawlyn won the FV75 age category in 2:22:31, another national level performance in her age category.

Completing their first half marathon in style were Graeme Stopp (1:50:34); Craig Jackson (1:51:57); Gee Roohan (2:11:37); Chloe Chattington (2:14:51); Kate Nichol (2:15:08); Kerry Knowles (2:26:05) and Corinne Cooper (2:41:43 in her first ever race).

Recording an outright half marathon PB or course PB were: Matthew Hickman (1:26:36); Ben Stone (1:28:14); Matt Proome (1:28:44); Duncan Mounsor (1:36:11); Mark Wreford-Bush (1:38:39); Richard Knightley (1:40:11); Issy Ravenhill (1:42:51); David Woolnough (1:46:51); Julie Scourfield (1:52:00); Sam Wizard (1:54:42); Ela Antosiewicz (1:55:50); Marty Ward (1:58:35); Felicity Read (2:03:34); Hannah Brown (2:06:27); Wan Hartley (2:08:22); Natalie Wizard (2:15:43) and, obliterating her previous PB from 2006, Jane Russell (2:16:27).

Special mentions for Rob Hume, who celebrated his 60th birthday on race day and recorded a helium balloon aided 1:52:49 and Christopher Benjamin, who notched up his 93rd half in memory of his mum and auntie (2:04:14).

Other notable half marathon finishers included: Jean-Philippe Villain-Chastre (1:29:06); Steve Axford (1:31:50); Dale Midwinter (1:35:58); Robert Foord (1:36:24); Matt Mutton (1:39:18); Henrietta Marsh-Smith (1:39:40); Alan Mullen (1:51:11); Olly Bell (1:51:54); Nick Goddard (1:52:30); Ivana Wilson (1:53:41); Simon Morgan (1:54:39); Danny Carroll (1:54:59); Joe Harrison (1:55:45); Ben Kirby (1:56:01); Dave Davey (1:58:18); Chris McMahon (2:01:41); Kim Mansell (2:03:06); Kim Lewington (2:08:46); Lorraine Taylor (2:09:11); Brian Todd (2:12:05); Amy Broomhall (2:12:08); Tony Heap (2:12:20); Nat Stow (2:13:54); Debs Lacey (2:14:48); Simon Whitford (2:15:38); Hayley Woolnough (2:15:59); John Galpin (2:21:59); Dominic Lyes (2:22:00); Pinky Shetty (2:22:27); Bob Spawton (2:22:38); Charlotte Jamieson (2:25:44); Forrest Wheeler (2:26:40); Andy Akerman (2:30:05); Iris Mayo (2:42:15); Sarah Carr (2:46:57); Josh Rimell (2:51:33) and Mark Stojanov (2:53:10).

A number of Almosts took part in the Cheltenham 10k. Shaun Carr finished in 42:15 (8th overall, 2nd in category). Next home was Dan Magovern in 51:42. Jason Hulance (54:15) and new member Tony Storr (56:56, PB) were 7th and 8th in their age category. Completing the contingent of Almosts were Clare Bone (1:00:15) and Kerry White (1:13:02).

Far away from the Cheltenham hullaballoo, Fi and Matt Barnes and Jack Helliar quietly went about their running business at the ABP Southampton marathon and half marathon. Matt completed the marathon in 3:05:33 (8th in category and 31st overall) while Fi came home in 4:26:17. Jack recorded 3:12:34 for the half marathon distance.

Kevin Dryburgh completed the peaceful and picturesque yet challenging and hilly eight-mile Woodchester Park trail race in 1:11:52, Helen Pardoe following in 1:24:06.

At the Lake 32 triathlon Jamie Courtenay recorded 1:15:20 for 8th in category in the Sprint distance. Steve Yarnold finished in 1:47:55 and Helen Yarnold came home in 1:59:18 for 5th in category. In the Supersprint option Adrian Courtenay was first in category in 1:15:17.

Sheila Chatterley was the club’s sole competitor at the Chippenham Tri midweek duathlon at Castle Combe race circuit, where she completed the traffic-free two-mile run, ten-mile bike and final two -mile run in 1:14:11.

Finally, congratulations from all at the club to our newest Runners of the Month: Ivana Wilson and Graeme Stopp.

A very busy bank holiday weekend for the Almosts, with a late summer glut of results including two top race placings at Winchcombe Hill Climb 10k, two age category wins at Pershore 10k and two new club records, with many members choosing to double up across shorter distances over the weekend as autumn (half) marathon preparations are fine-tuned.

At the Alderton 5k Peter Morris led home a dozen Almosts in 20:08, shaving four seconds off Ed Munro’s MV60 age category record from 2013. He was followed by Sam Wizard (23:32) and Ela Antosiewicz (24:45), both of whom snared 5k PB’s. Next home was Natalie Wizard, who missed her 5k PB by a mere five seconds (25:56); Karen Hilton (27:03); Dave Mayo (27:04); Phil Jeyes (28:39); Josh Rimell (30:34); Janine Bennett (31:06); Iris Mayo (31:59); Clare Bone (33:12) and Kerry White (35:56).

Kerry White was also in action alongside Penny Lewis at the Witney Colour Run the following day. Sarah Carr negotiated the family friendly course with her two daughters, all ending up plastered in multicoloured paint by the finish of this fun event.

Martyn Fisher was, as usual, the first Almost across the line at the inaugural Little Gransden Airshow charity 10k in rural Bedfordshire. This race starts on the runway and takes runners around beautiful countryside before finishing back on the runway, where participants have the opportunity to take a finisher photo next to one of the many classic planes on display.

Helen and Steve Yarnold enjoyed strong runs at Dorney Lake. Helen finished first in category in the 10k (1:16:59) and Steve placed fifth in category in the half marathon (1:50:39).

A select band ran for sausages at the Winchcombe Hill Climb 10k, a race of two halves if ever there was one. A steep climb to the top of Belas Knap Long Barrow from Sudeley Castle followed by a knee and quad bashing descent back into Winchcombe. Josh Hand was second overall in 42:37 and Patricia Dendy was second lady in 46:58, scything two minutes off her course PB in the process. Other finishers were Shaun Carr (48:33); Neil Tring (51:22); Lizzie Renn (56:23, 3rd lady); Ela Antosiewicz (1:04:04); Lorraine Taylor (1:07:07); Mike Line (1:08:53) and Adrian Courtenay (1:16:23).

There were Vet 55 age category victories for Dave McGrath and Lesley Cottle at the Pershore Plum 10k, Lesley also bettering a club age category record from 2014 in the process (51:28). Dave was 12th home out of a field of 203 finishers in a strong 41:41. He was followed by Steve Wallbridge (48:06); Richard Bennett (48:53) and Rob Hume (49:27). First lady home for the club was Ivana Wilson in 49:42, a time which also secured her a new PB and top ten gender finish. Third lady home for the club was Alison Hume, whose 52:26 secured her third in category. Just half a minute behind was Sarah Wallbridge, who recorded 52:59 for fourth in category. Steve Taylor (54:20) and Steve Phelps (54:54) ran a deliberately measured race, followed home by Debbie Lacey (55:14); Sheila Chatterley (55:15, 2nd in category); Russell Jones (56:59); Bob Spawton (57:24); Sue Monaghan (59:50); Debbie Masding (1:02:17); Josh Rimell (1:10:17); Iris Mayo (1:10:26) and Mark Stojanov, who was running in his sixth ‘Plum’ (1:13:13).

It was a weekend of curious mathematical coincidences. At parkrun Olly Bell recorded his 100th run at the scene of his first in 2013 – Cheltenham – also finishing in 100th position (23:49). Jo Foster was second in gender at Bedworth (23:47). Ben Stone snatched a course PB at Gloucester North (19:18, 7th overall). Glenda Gill recorded her first ever buggy run with granddaughter Millie in tow (33:00), her verdict being that pushing a buggy is quite hard work! There were a number of notable achievements at King George V Playing Field parkrun. Duncan Mounsor finished third overall and first in category (20:55), followed by Mark Wreford-Bush in fifth (21:13, PB) and Hamish Adamson in ninth (22:30). A trio of Almost ladies took the top three gender positions. A first-timer on this course, Rosemary Hubbard was first lady home in 22:48, followed by Sharon Hadad (25:04) and Lesley Cottle (25:12). There were course PBs for Rob Hume (23:35); Dan Magovern (24:59); Alison Hume (26:35) and Jeff Tibbles (28:55). Virginia Pawlyn was the highest ranked finisher by age-grade, her time of 33:28 putting her at a national standard of 81.52% despite stopping for a chat with one of the marshals!