Romsey Advertiser's Articles

'It was business as usual last weekend as 24 Romsey Road Runners participated in three different events in windy but mainly dry conditions.

13 Club members took part in the unique Stockbridge Fun Run in aid of the George Skeats Benevolent Fund. The mainly off-road undulating course was more muddy than in recent years but conditions didn't prevent some excellent performances. Although times and positions aren't as important as in other races, Jane Field was the first lady home in the 8 mile run in 1:01:26 and Penny Jennings finished third in 1:06:20. Julia Abab ran a personal best time for the event in 1:09:57 as did Hannah White in 1:23:00 and Michelle Shaw in 1:24:00. Despite recovering from a stress fracture, Matt Hurst romped round in just over 57 minutes. For the first time in 20 years, Lesley Stone ran in the 3 mile race in 33 minutes and it was lovely to see June Lees taking part after recovering from a hip problem. Other members competing were Paul Bradley, Liz Slade, Keith Stone, Paul Cutbill, Peter Ide, Anna Duignan, Sarah Thorn, Michelle Shaw and David Bibby. This is always an enjoyable event with welcome oranges and selection of homemade cakes available at the end.

In the Stubbington 10K, three out of the five members who took part finished in personal best times over the flat one-lap course; Iain Cross finished in 34:49, Paul Cross in 46:26 and Irisha Cross in 49:46. Bruce Maddick completed the race in 44:30 and Heidi Williams was very pleased with her time of 46:43.

The most difficult of all the weekend's events was the aptly named 'Rough and Tumble' near Marlborough where much of the race was spent clinging to hills and slipping in mud! Despite the conditions, Steve Davies finished in 1 hour 52 mins, Andrea Markham in 2:03, Wendy Couper in 2:16 and Gill Callus in 2:45.