The Great South is a ten-mile road race held on the streets of Portsmouth with a field of 25,000. It’s usually well represented by the Romsey Road Runners and this year was no exception, with 19 members taking part. The weather Gods were smiling and the day dawned bright and fair- perfect conditions for running – so the club was hoping for good results and the runners did not disappoint.
Ryan Snell was the first RRR to finish in an impressive time of 56:36, swiftly followed by Matt Brown in 1:02. Sam Weston followed soon after in a very creditable 1:09, setting himself a new PB in the process, while his wife Hayley was just behind him in 1:11, also setting a new PB. Nigel Hemsted finished in 1:15; John Quayle 1:17; Em Gordon also 1:17; Liz Prinsep 1:19; James Byrne 1:25; Mark Judkins also 1:25 and setting himself a new PB into the bargain; Ray Webb 1:25; Nikkie Baptista 1:26; Lin Windsor, who was running in her first ten-mile event having taken up running the previous year, finished in a superb time of 1:30; Cliff Reeves 1:36; Lottie Budd 1:37; Lin Webb 1:44; Bridget Wells 1:46 and Gemma Ingason in 2:03, also setting a new PB.
The Studland Stampede, a 12k (7.5Mile) multi terrain trail run starting and finishing on the beautiful Studland beach, was also held on Sunday. The route offers stunning views of Old Harry Rocks, Brownsea Island and the Isle of Wight and is not for the faint-hearted. Sue Sleath finished in 1.00, 4th lady and 1st in age group; Julia Abab and Derek Kelly both finished in 1.31.
Also on Sunday was the Bath Half, another large city road race consisting of two laps and attracting a field of over 7000. Romsey’s Jonathan Stevens took part, netting himself a PB in a superb time of 1:37. Jonny said: “I set off too quickly but managed to hold on to get a PB. I believe it was a new, revised route this year…my first time. Would recommend the race to others, they’ve managed to find the only flat 13 miles in Bath, bar the last 400 meters!”
