Romsey Advertiser's Articles

 

9,500 women came together on Southampton Common on 12th July to take part in the Race for Life in aid of Cancer Research UK. The Southampton event is one of the largest Race for Life’s across the country and always attracts participants and support from Romsey Road Runners. Taking part in this year’s Race were the Wellow Weirdos – a group of mum’s from Wellow School including Romsey Road Runner’s Tamatha Ryan, Linda Brown and Angie Stuckey – who were inspired to raise money for Cancer Research UK in support of a local couple both diagnosed with cancer within months of each other. The group of ladies were shocked to hear of their friends’ diagnosis and felt this was something they could do to help make a difference and show their support.

Dressed as Turkish belly dancers, the group whose ages ranged from 7 to 45, certainly stood out from the crowd, choosing blue to match the colours of Cancer Research UK. Together they raised over £2500 for the charity and felt a great sense of achievement at having all run the 5km, some for the first time, and in doing so together. Also taking part from the club were Heidi Williams and Ruth Page who both achieved excellent times and have raised over £300 towards the cause. Ruth’s husband David also supported the event by marshalling on the course and helping to cheer the thousands of women on.

There was a strong threat of rain but it didn’t deter around 300 runners to congregate by Winchester Guildhall ready for the Winchester 5km race on Thursday the 16th July. The course, which takes in 3 laps of the lower end of the high street and grounds of the cathedral, is known for being flat and fast but with a few tight turns and bollards to negotiate en route making it a good PB potential.

Five members of Romsey Road Runners were competing in the field, setting off on a warm up lap to suss out the course and the other competitors before lining up by King Alfred’s statue in The Broadway. The rain held off long enough for the start but then soon began in earnest, making the smooth flagstones of the cathedral grounds a little slippery to say the least! Nevertheless, the club’s runners all achieved personal best times, with Jimmy Hunt leading them home, in 17:04 placing him 16th senior and Ali Longworth soon after in 18:17, placing him 30th senior. Paul Slaughter, Liz Slade and Hannah White all ran at a similar pace, staying together for most of the race, but with Paul pulling ahead to finish in 23:15, followed by Liz in 23:42, and taking 3rd place in her age group, and Hannah close behind in 23:45. With the rain now hammering down a quick discussion of their achievements was followed by a dash to the car park to dry off and head home.

Competing at the Swanage half marathon on 18th July, Steve Reed achieved a 3 minute improvement on his time from 2008. Thought to be the oldest half marathon in the country, the testing course starts at Swanage Bay and runs through the beautiful but undulating Purbeck Hills. Despite the hills, more than 360 runners turned out for the event with Reed finishing in 1 hour 37:10.

Romsey’s turn to host an RR10 jointly with Wessex Road Runners came round last Wednesday with runners congregating in the New Forest at Janesmoor Pond. Possibly the toughest course of the series, and a good one to marshal rather than run, numbers were a little lower than recently seen. Despite the tough course and muddy and steep last stint to the finish, Team Southampton took the first three men’s placings and also first lady. The series continues on 5th August with the penultimate race at Fleming Park.