10 mile Archives - Romsey Road Runners

New Forest Stinger 2023

This Sunday saw a great turnout of Romsey Road Runners at the New Forest Stinger, as well as a win! The 10 Mile event has been organised by Totton Running Club for a number of years and has always been popular with the club. However this year must have been a record turnout with thirteen entries and some very strong performances!

Matt Hammerton took the overall win in 1:00:37; almost 7 minutes ahead of the second place finisher! Matt has recently qualified for the notoriously tough Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, having spent the last few years eating Ultra Marathons for breakfast. He holds the fastest known time for Clarendon Way as well as the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path and won the Test Way Ultra in 2022.

Hannah Shutt was 3rd woman in 1:11:40 and Sue Sleath saw a return to form and with 1st V60 woman in 1:17:16. Neil Jennings finished in 4th place in 1:07:47.

Despite the challenging wet and slippery conditions there were some great times across the board; Ian Ralph 1:11:27, Steven Melligan-Hart 1:13:06, Lorna Crouch 1:17:46, Duncan MacDonald 1:19:30, Nigel Hemsted 1:22:46, Susie Parker 1:27:28, Em Gordon 1:28:51, Penny Jennings 1:34:42 and Penny Overy 1:38:44.

Ronners in blue Great South Run finishers t-shirts

RRR in action at the Great South Run

Results

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!”

10 mile

Results Roundup

Results

A pair of Romsey Road Runners braved mud and high winds to complete The Stickler – aka the Dorset 3 Peaks Challenge on Sunday 27th October. Overnight rain cleared giving runners a sunny but breezy start. The wonderfully scenic 10-mile route, which starts at Shillingstone near Blandford Forum, takes in some glorious countryside, a hill fort, and three steep climbs. The highest, less than a mile from the start, involved a 800ft climb, and is followed by Hod Hill at about 500ft and Hambledon at just over 600ft.

With a cut-off time of 21/2 hours, the field was pursued by the terrifying spectacle of the Grim Sweeper, who turned back those who didn’t reach the halfway point in 75 minutes. Mark Adams and Di Cross avoided his attentions, finishing in 1hr 31mins and 1hr 45mins respectively. This was the second time Di has completed the course, shaving 13mins off her 2010 time.

Just under 30,000 people took to the streets of Portsmouth and Southsea to participate in the Bupa Great South Run, on Sunday 27th October. There was a strong contingent of RRR, 9 in total. They battled against the strong winds, especially throughout the last 2 miles of the course which took runners alongside the sea front. Thankfully, the weather remained dry.

First home was Christopher Stocks in a time of 1:16:13 and first Romsey lady was Becky Tovey, finishing in 1:22:00. They were followed by Andrew Archibald 1:22:48, Stuart Mullen 1:21:17, Sarah White 1:23:00, Colin Wood 1:30:46, Alison Solomon 1:46:09, Lindsey Dunford 1:47:38 and Wayne Windebank, in just under the 2 hour mark (1:59:25).

And finally, the duo of Paul Burnage and Frank Ourique completed the Lordshill 10 mile road race last Sunday. A flat course set in southern Test Valley is now well established, attracting 500 or so local runners. The route is pleasant and well organised, consisting of distinct parts, taking in part of the Broadlands Estate but also includes a lap around the Nursling Industrial Estate. Runners finish on muddy grass of 5 Acres, Redbridge Lane, cheered on by family and friends. Paul Burnage finished in 1:15:13 and Frank Ourique in 1.28.26.

Results Roundup

Results

Sunday 14th July saw the New Forest 10 Mile Road and Forest Track Race take place, organised by New Forest Runners. The race started and finished from New Park Farm, Brockenhurst. The route is very nearly all off-road, using gravel tracks and paths within the National Park. It is essentially flat, but can get warm within the shelter of the enclosures, little breeze getting through to cool the runners. There were 4 events, 3 children’s races and the main 10 miler.

Five Romsey Road Runners participated in the 10 mile route. First man home was Neil Jennings in 1:16:08 and Penny Jennings made it a family affair, finishing as first Romsey lady to finish in a time of 1:23:10.

Christopher Stocks finished in 1:21:11, followed by Anna Duignan in 1:58:59 and Alison Soloman in 1.58.59.

There were a total of 775 finishers, enjoying the fine sunny weather, a sharp contrast to last year’s event which was cancelled due to the heavy rains and flooding of parts of the route. What a difference a year makes!

Results Roundup

Results

Gill Callus and Wendy Couper recently took part in the Great Western 10K in Sherborne, Dorset. Gill and Wendy described it as “one of the most scenic runs we have ever done but it was a bitterly cold morning with lots and lots of mud and one or two hills – the perfect way to spend Mothering Sunday!” Gill finished second in her category in a time of 84 minutes 48, whilst Wendy was first in her category with a time of 85 minutes 12.

On the same day, a group of RRRs completed the ‘Mad March’ – a single 10 mile lap or double lap 20 mile event organised by Zoom Tri Club on the outskirts of Christchurch. The event takes place on the rural country lanes around the Burton area and is popular with those training for a spring marathon. According to those taking part it was “very cold and extremely windy, and the lanes were rather wet & muddy in places”. The conditions, however, didn’t deter the runners; in fact a number managed personal bests for the distance. Continue reading →

Results Roundup

Results

The Bramley 10/20 mile road race took place on Sunday 17 February, organised by Reading Road Runners. The route is entirely on road, mostly flat, with a couple of undulating sections, using Bramley Primary School as the start and finish point.

This is a key event for all those preparing for a spring marathon and is used to indicate how training is progressing. The conditions were perfect for the longer distances; cool and sunny. There is a choice of a single 10 mile lap, or two laps making 20 miles.

Max Dawson completed 10 miles in 1:48:21. Tackling the 20 miles were: Jimmy Hunt, finishing in 103rd position in 2:15:27, Tam Ryan 2:28:51 (PB), Lynda Brown 2:38:17 (PB) and Sarah Thorn who completed her first run at this distance in 3:02:38. Continue reading →

Results Roundup

Results

Tidworth 10K in which Romsey Runners Gill Callus and Wendy Couper took part, was a muddy slippery affair. The run took place over a challenging course on varied terrain through the Army camp at Tidworth, including Salisbury Plain and Sidbury Hill. The event was a sponsored run to raise funds for the Salisbury District Hospital Stars Appeal. It did, however, stop raining by the time the runners started. Gill Callus finished in 77 minutes with Wendy just behind her in 79 minutes. Continue reading →