Romsey Advertiser's Articles
Dear Sports Editor
'Despite very warm temperatures, four Romsey Road Runners completed this year’s London Marathon, all of them raising lots of money for charity along the way. Carol Brunner, running in her first marathon, ran in aid of Macmillan and finished in a time of 4:47:23. She was cheered round the course by family and friends almost all dressed in matching green Macmillan T-shirts. Andrew Archibald was pleased to finish this year in 4:09:32 as two years ago he’d had to pull out at 25 miles. Although he had a club place, Andrew carried out his promise to raise money for Leonard Cheshire. Ken West was working and training in Singapore until the Friday before race day which, he said, was excellent preparation for the heat on Sunday as the temperature in Singapore was 30º. Ken was hoping to go under four hours and was just off the pace finishing in 4:01:33. He ran for a family bereaved just two weeks ago to breast cancer. Graham Smith had many set-backs during his training, including a recent bout of bronchitis, but was determined to complete the course in aid of the British Heart Foundation as both his father and uncle have had open heart surgery in the last two years. He finished in 5:54:02. Three of the runners were welcomed home and congratulated by fellow club members at Monday evening’s training session. They were happy to relive the experience, compare notes and show off their very well deserved medals.
The week before saw the start of the summer RR10 cross-country series at the Royal Victoria Country Park, Netley. Over 20 Romsey Road Runners turned out and Iain Cross was the first man home in a very impressive 4th place; with David Barrett 19th, Jim Wright 27th and Chris Brown 40th the men’s team finished 6th. The first lady home was Jane Field in 17th and with Penny Jennings 20th and Heidi Williams 30th, the ladies team finished 8th. Other Results: Men; Nick Berryman 48th, Neil Adams 70th, Peter Cork 114th, Paul Bradley 120th, Steve Edwards 137th, David Nixon 155th, Paul Cross 165th, Derek Kelly 175th, Derek Jennings 186th. Ladies; Julia Abab 42nd, Tamantha Ryan 55th, Mary Adams 65th, Sarah Thorn 82nd, Kate Clements 102nd. The men’s ‘B’ team finished 25th and the ladies ‘B’ team; 17th.
If you'd like to train for a marathon or just run to keep fit, Romsey Road
Runners welcome new members. Please go to www.romseyroadrunners.co.uk for
further details. You can also find an entry form for this year's 5 mile Braishfield
Beer Race on Sunday 10 June. There's a free pint of beer or soft drink for
all competitors at the finish.'
Many thanks.
Liz Slade
Dear Sports Editor
'In the second of the summer's RR10 Cross Country Series, 26 Romsey Road Runners
took part in the 4.7 mile race at Deerleap in the New Forest. Conditions were
cooler than of late, encouraging a very large field of 226 men and 134 ladies.
Following his best ever position of 4th place in the previous race, Iain Cross
was the first Romsey runner home in 10th. Other Results: Men; Jim Wright 45,
Chris Brown 53, Nick Berryman 62, Neil Adams, 96, Andrew Archibald 139, Paul
Cutbill 149, Paul Bradley 152, Steve Davies 168, Steve Edwards 180, Paul Cross
193, David Nixon 201, Derek Kelly 204, Martin Keane 221. Ladies; Jane Field
21, Penny Jennings 30, Tamantha Ryan 36, Heidi Williams 39, Julia Abab 48,
Liz Slade 78, Mary Adams 79, Sarah Thorn 96, Charlotte Maslen 105, Anna Duignan
111, Wendy Couper 113, Gill Callus 128. The men's team came 10th and men's
'B' team 32nd while the ladies managed to field four teams with the 'A' team
finishing 10th, 'B' team 17th, 'C' team 30th and 'D' team 40th.
In a rather more gruelling cross country race, Alistair Longworth ran the hilly, rural Combe Gibbet to Overton 16 mile race in a very impressive 2 hours 22 mins.'
Many thanks.
Liz Slade
Dear Sports Editor
'The Marwell Zoo 10K is an undulating course starting and finishing inside
the zoo with special rates for all competitors and their families to enjoy
a day inside the park afterwards. Twelve Romsey Road Runners took part in
the race with Jane Field first home in 46:24 followed by Paul Cutbill in 46:37.
Jane was part of the ladies team who, along with Penny Jennings (47:11) and
Heidi Williams (49:17) came 5th. Other Results: Ladies; Michelle Shaw 63:41,
Kate Clements 66:28, Gill Callus 66:54. Men; Philip Jones 47:56, Steve Davies
50:49, Neil Payne 57:17, Mark Hutchings 62:43, Andy O'Keeffe 71:03.
Ten Romsey Road Runners, Wendy Couper, Chris Lane, Irisha Cross, Nick Berryman,
Carol Brunner, Tom Brunner, Anna Duignan, Matt Hurst, Tony Peelo and Iain
Cross took part in the annual Houghton Village Run in aid of All Saints Church,
Houghton. The course is a challenging and beautiful 11K, taking in Broughton,
Bossington and Horsebridge before returning to Houghton via the Test Way and
Clarendon Way footpaths. Such was the nature of the event, the finishing positions
and times were debatable as some runners got lost and others delayed in handing
their numbers in at the end! Most runners asked for more signs next year but
despite this, enjoyed the event and would be willing to return again next
year.
If you like to enter the unique Braishfield Beer Race on Sunday 10 June, please
download an application form at www.romseyroadrunners.co.uk. There's a free
pint of beer or soft drink for all competitors at the finish.'
Many thanks.
Liz Slade