Romsey Advertiser's Articles

'The 15th running of the 13 Mile multi-terrain 'Beast' took place last Sunday over the Purbeck Hills in Dorset, starting and ending at Corfe Castle. Eleven Romsey Road Runners took part, all finishing this very difficult race in good times. Two ladies did exceptionally well; Lynne Whitaker was 2nd lady overall in 1:48:38 and came 1st in the W45 age category while Wendy Couper (2:35:32) finished 1st in the W65 age group. Paul Burnage (1:48:30) and Julia Abab (2:14:17) achieved personal best times for the event. Other Results: Jim Wright 1:50:34, Tamatha Ryan 1:56:58, David Page 2:02:52, Janet Eager 2:06:39, Derek Kelly 2:22:02, Hazel Smith 2:32:01, Janet Steer 2:34:58, Ruth Page 2:37:40.

The Test Way Relay took place last Saturday, and the Romsey Road Runners' Ladies Team completed all 44 miles from Inkpen Beacon to Eling Quay without getting lost. The race is run in nine legs and there was plenty of support at the changeovers. Romsey Road Runners' ladies team of Liz Slade (Inkpen to Linkenholt), Wendy Couper (to Stoke Hill), Jane Field (to Middleton Farm), Charlotte Maslen (to Wherwell), Wendy George (to Stockbridge), Jo Slade (to Mottisfont), Emma Hammerton (to Romsey), Heidi Williams (to Lee) and Irisha Cross (to Eling Quay) endured mud, deep puddles, fields of cows and even a lost shoe before finishing a very enjoyable day's racing.

Derek Kelly was in action the previous weekend when, along with Chris Lane, he took part in the Southampton Fast Twitch Triathlon held at Applemore Recreation Centre, near Hythe. The event, consisting a 400m pool swim, 18 mile bike ride and a 3.5 mile run, was held in very wet conditions, which made the bike ride very interesting, especially over the cattle grids! Results: Chris Lane; swim 10:21, bike 1:05:24, run 24:44, total 1:40:29: Derek Kelly; swim 8:52, bike 1:10:58, run 26:50, total 1:46:40.

The RR10 Summer Cross Country Series came to a close at IBM Hursley recently with Jane Field having an excellent race to finish 14th, her best position of the series. Other Results: Ladies; Penny Jennings 27, Julia Abab 42, Heidi Williams 43, Mary Corbett 52, Andrea Markham 53, Karen Keane 61, Anna Duignan 89, Ruth Page 90, Wendy Couper 93. Men; Jim Wright 54, Steve Reed 79, Ian Ralph 84, Paul Bradley 102, Steve Edwards 107, David Page 128, Derek Kelly 136, Neil Payne 164, Chris Brown 166. Of those finishing at least six of the ten races, Romsey Road Runners' Matt Hammerton came 2nd overall, one of the best results in the club's history. Other Series Results: Ladies; Jane Field 17, Tamatha Ryan 20, Penny Jennings 21=, Julia Abab 34, Emma Hammerton 51, Andrea Markham 55, Karen Keane 56, Ruth Page 70, Wendy Couper 75. Men: Jim Wright 47, Ian Ralph 77, Steve Reed 82, Chris Brown 88, Alistair Longworth 90, Steve Edwards 96, Paul Bradley 97, David Page 110, Andrew Archibald 116, Greg Roulston 128=, Derek Kelly 134, Paul Slaughter 144=.