Beer Race

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Large group of runners running across a field at the start of the 2022 Beer Race

News Round Up – June 2022

The Covid pandemic had put paid to Romsey Road Runners’ annual Beer Race in 2020 and again in 2021, so the club was thrilled to be able to return to hosting the popular 5-mile road race in Braishfield village on Sunday 5th June. Over 250 runners turned out to support the event which, despite a dire forecast, thankfully remained dry.

Every participant gets a pint at the end of the race (kindly provided by Flack Manor brewery), and a piece of homemade cake (courtesy of the talented bakers at the running club), so there is every incentive to finish!

Large group of runners running across a field at the start of the 2022 Beer Race
Beer Race. Photo credit: Derek Jennings

Alex Prinsep, fresh from setting a new PB of 2:12 hours at the Dorney Standard Triathlon, was lead bike, responsible for guiding the front runners round the course, and Ray and Lin Webb were the tail runners, making sure everyone got to the finish safely.

The men’s race was won by Southampton Athletics Club’s Matt Coffey in a time of 28:29, and the women’s race by Alice Birch of Totton Running Club in a time of 32:23. RRR Club Chair Mark Stileman presented the prizes.

The children’s 1km fun run was held immediately after the adult race, with the boy’s winner Alex Wade finishing in an impressive time of 3:46 and the girl’s winner, Abi Hammerton in a speedy 4:23. All the participants took home a medal for their hard work.

Other RRR achievements this month include Lottie Budd, who travelled to Sweden to take part in the Gothenburg half marathon. Lottie said it was “an amazing event with a party atmosphere in the beautiful harbour city of Gothenburg. My daughter Emily ran the race twice: first in an earlier start group and later with me. I’m sure she helped me achieve a new PB of 2.08 hours.” 

Sue Sleath travelled to Wales to take part in the Trail Event Company’s “long half” (16 miles) in the Brecon Beacons. Sue was 3rd lady and 1st vet in a time of 2:33 hours on a route that covered 900m of climbing.

Debby Ferre completed the Cotswold 113 Middle Distance Tri in an impressive time of 6:20 hours. Debby said “I was really pleased with how it went despite the bad weather. Torrential rain was forecast for most of the race though thankfully the worst was over by the time I started the bike course. The swim (1900metres) is one large loop of Lake 32 in Ashton Keynes; the bike section (93kms) is two laps of beautiful Cotswold villages & the run (21kms) is three laps of trails around the lake. The support was fantastic & the medal was massive! I was very pleased to come 6th in my age group.”

Finally, proving that running isn’t just about racing, Alice Lane fulfilled a long-held ambition to circumnavigate the Isle of Wight on foot. Alice said: “as a committed trail runner, I have always felt anything with a footpath sign deserves exploring, so I decided to dedicate a few days to running the Isle of Wight coastal path. I felt if I ran a little over half marathon distance a day (with one day of just under 20 miles), it would leave me enough time to have a sea swim, a pub lunch and explore the Island.

My start point was Ventnor, where we rented a cottage for the week. With the help of the ordnance survey map app (I am hopeless with directions!) I set off from the coastal path sign on the seafront.  My husband planned the route for me and collected me at the end of each section, dropping me back the following day so I could complete the next one. 

The coastal path is relatively straightforward to follow, however, much of the island is on clay and therefore victim to coastal erosion, and in places the coastal path was a casualty of this. There were some interesting diversions, the most memorable being the Devil’s chimney, a rather snug rock cleft between Bonchurch and Luccombe, where the surrounding forest is like a tropical jungle.

The weather was perfect for running, with some island breezes and light drizzle. The final two days I was joined by a friend who offered wonderful moral support. On paper, covering 72 miles in five days sounds quite ‘doable’, but by the end I was feeling rather weary and cheerful company was much appreciated. 

It was a truly invigorating experience to see all the wonders the Isle of Wight has to offer: quiet beaches with golden sand and clear water; forest tracks where I didn’t see a soul for miles; open fields with wooden bridges built across the marshlands; skylarks happily greeting the day and the impressive sight of the Needles reaching out from the west side of the island from Tennyson Down. This is the joy of running and walking: it gives us a chance to really take in what we have locally; places that are still waiting to be discovered and enjoyed.”

Alice Lane on her Isle of Wight adventure  standing on the coast with a view of the sea
Alice Lane on her Isle of Wight adventure.

Beer Race has sold out!

Due to popular demand, the Beer Race has sold out a record 7 weeks in advance of the race! More details to follow about race number collection on the day. The new 1km fun run for children will be open for registration on the day, and is open to 4-14 year olds.

Romsey 5 Mile Beer Race 2017

The Romsey 5 Mile Beer Race, organised by Romsey Road Runners, is back for 2017 and entries are now open! Our much-loved local road race has been a sell out for the last two years – the friendly marshals, thirst-quenching beer and homemade cake are enough to motivate anyone to get their trainers on!

We are delighted to announce support from local brewery Flack Manor who will be providing the beer, and are very grateful to Hildon Water and Up and Running Southampton, as well as Braishfield Parish Council, the Newport Inn Cricket Club and residents of the village for their continuing support.

This year, the Romsey 5 Mile Beer Race will be held on Sunday 4 June 2017 at the earlier start time of 10.00am, with a new 1km fun run for 4-14 year olds.

Further information and how to enter can be found on the Beer Race page.

Beer Race Results

Beer Race startWow! What a fantastic day for the Beer Race! Thank you to everyone who took part or supported the race today, we hope you enjoyed it! The results are now available on the Beer Race page. We look forward to the Beer Race returning in 2017 and will post the date as soon as possible.

Beer Race Entry List

The entry list for the Beer Race on Sunday 5 June has now been published for race entrants to look up their race number ahead of collecting their number on the day.

We are also delighted that the Braishfield Pantry will be open at the village hall, 9am – 12pm, selling teas, coffees, ice creams and treats!

Beer Race 2013

Braishfield Beer Race 2016

RRR Beer RaceThe Braishfield 5 Mile Beer Race is organised by Romsey Road Runners and supported by sponsors Fuller’s, Hildon Water and Up and Running. It is a popular local event which attracts over 300 runners each year. Run through the picturesque lanes of Braishfield village, the thought of a thirst-quenching pint* and a slice of cake at the finish is enough to motivate any runner around the course!

*Beer for over 18’s only, soft drink option available.

2016 will see the 30th running of the Beer Race, which will be held on Sunday 5 June 2016 at 10.30am, and for the first time will include chip timing.

Further information can be found on the Beer Race page.

 

 

Beer Race – Results

Beer and Cake - 2015
Beer and Cake – 2015

Well done to the nearly 300 runners who ran today’s Beer Race and in particular to Paul Pallister (27:31) of Hardley Runners and Anna Smith-James (33:43) of Hedge End who won the male and female races respectively. The results and a link to today’s photos have now been uploaded to the Beer Race page.

Thank you to all the people who have taken time to send in feedback, be it through Facebook, Twitter or email. We’re glad you enjoyed it.

We look forward to welcoming you all back next year!

Beer Race FULL

We are delighted to announce that the Beer Race has sold out! There will be no entries available on the day. Race packs will be sent out ahead of the race, and we look forward to seeing all those who have entered next Sunday.

Beer Race Update

Entries for the Beer Race are selling fast – just 50 places left! Postal entries close today, but you can still enter online via Run Britain or Runners World until 29 May, unless race capacity is reached beforehand.

Beer Race Prize Winners 2014

Beer Race Results 2014

Many congratulations to the 303 runners who completed today’s Beer Race. We have had some fantastic feedback from many of you. We are glad you enjoyed it.

A big thanks once again to our sponsors:  Fuller’sHildon Water and Up and Running.

Beer Race 2014 Photos


Here are the Braishfield Beer Race 2014 Results.

Our prize winners were as follows:

1st Male Overall Andrew Griggs 27:04 Lordshill Road Runners
2nd Male Overall Ben Pitman 28:55 Lordshill Road Runners
3rd Male Overall Max Costley 29:06 Southampton AC
1st Male Senior Andrew Griggs 27:04 Lordshill Road Runners
1st Male V40 Nick Salwey 30:41 Winchester AC
1st Male V50 Greg England 31:21 Overton Harriers
1st Male V60 Paul Kirkpatrick 34:59 Royal Navy AC
1st Female Overall Karen Rushton 32:22 Southampton AC
2nd Female Overall Anna Giles 35:27 Eastleigh RC
3rd Female Overall Anna Smith-James 35:50 Hedge End RC
1st Female Senior Anna Giles 35:27 Eastleigh RC
1st Female V40 Karen Rushton 32:22 Southampton AC
1st Female V50 Tracy Wyeth 38:18 Chineham Park AC
1st Female V60 Tessa Lock 51:18 Unattached

Beer Race Car Park

We look forward to welcoming all our Beer Race participants to Braishfield tomorrow morning. Due to recent wet weather, our usual car parking field in Dummers Road is out of bounds, however we are very grateful to be given permission to use another field in the village on Braishfield Road, just along from the village hall. Please look out for signage and our marshals who will help you to park.

If you need to collect your race number, please park in the car park field and then walk back to the village hall. Please note that the village hall is a 10 minute walk to the start. If you already have your race number, please park in the car park field and walk round to the start on Dummers Road, approximately 5 minutes away.

5 Mile Beer Race – Results

Beer Race 2013_1Romsey Road Runners were delighted to hold the 5 Mile Beer Race yesterday in glorious sunshine and with a record 315 entrants! The club’s members turned out in force to support the event, ensuring the safety and enjoyment of the runners around the roads of Braishfield, and making sure that the beer was flowing and the cake was in ample supply.

Check out the results 5 Mile Beer Race Results 2 June 2013 and photos taken by Paul Hammond of Easteligh Running Club.

Beer Race 2013_2Three runners made an early break away from the field, with James Baker of Chichester Runners finishing first in 25:59, swiftly followed by Andy Morgan-Lee of Thames Hare and Hounds in 26:28 and Stuart Holloway of Salisbury Athletics Club in 26:53. Hannah Bliss of Overton Runners was first lady home in 32:42, followed by Anna Smith-James of Hedge End Runners in 34:21 and  Anna Giles of Eastleigh Running Club in 34:58.

Whilst the race attracts lots of runners from local (and distant) running clubs, over half of yesterday’s finishers were not attached to a running club, proving the race to be a great event that attracts all runners.

Our thanks to our sponsors Fullers, Up and Running and Hildon Water, and to The Old House at Home, Braishfield Parish Council and the residents of Braishfield for their support of this race.

 

5 Mile Beer Race – Roadworks

Romsey Road Runners will be hosting the 5 Mile Beer Race in Braishfield tomorrow morning, Sunday 2 June 2013 at 10.30am. Please be aware of the temporary traffic lights on Winchester Hill and a possible road closure and diversion at the bottom of the hill which may overrun from night works tonight. Please allow extra time for your journey.

Entries are still welcome on the day. See you there!