Distance Running News, 14-15 April

25 May 2018

Cheltenham Harriers ladies team enjoyed their highest ever finish at the National Six Stage Road Relay Championships in Sutton Coldfield with a fine fourteenth place. The highly competitive opening stage saw Beth Hawling take on the undulating 5.4 mile long leg and bring the team home in thirteenth place with a time of 31:34. The shorter 3.2 mile short leg then saw Hilary Mott gain two places with an impressive time of 18:23 before Vickie Wilkinson both gained and lost a place to hold position with a pleasing 19:55. Alice Taylor then took on the final long leg and recorded 33:32 as the team again found themselves in thirteenth, before Naomi Eaton improved on her Midland Relay time at the same venue with 19:46 to maintain position. The final leg then saw new signing Roxanne Jones make her team debut and her 20:54 brought the Harriers home in an excellent fourteenth position. Having claimed the bronze medal at last month’s Midland Championships the team were again pleased to be the third placed Midland team.

The men’s twelve stage event was held over the same course, with runners alternating between the long and short legs. Phil Wylie gave the team a good start on leg one as he came home in 19th place with a time of 27:14 before Eliot Taylor’s 16:46 left the team in 21st position. Making their first appearances at the iconic venue, Luke Pollard posted a pleasing 28:06 to hand over in 22nd and George Watson held position with 16:52. Oli Mott’s 28:03 then took the Harriers into 23rd before Charlie Jones clawed back three places with 16:42 as the race reached the half way stage. Dan Owen then posted 29:44 to hand over in 24th place to Dan King who gained two places back with 16:51 and then Alex Lee took the team back into 20th with 28:35. Edd Charlton-Weedy then completed his preparations for the London Marathon with a 16:51 clocking as the positions remained unchanged before Marcus England both lost and gained a place with 28:59. The final leg then saw Dave Aubrey run well to gain a place as his 16:54 brought the Cheltenham team home in nineteenth position as the fifth Midland team home.

The weekend also saw Ian Glles finish sixteenth in the Boston Marathon with his time of 2:58:54 earning him first place in the MV50 category at the Liincolnshire race. At the Cheltenham parkrun Ben Price moved up to fifth place on the Cheltenham parkrun all-time ranking lists with a win in 16:0. Further Harriers representation saw Doug Wight (18:12) placed fourth, Matt Lambourne (18:30) finished sixth and Gareth Edwards (18:36) take eighth whilst Katerina Horrocks (22:37)and Isabel Ovens (22:51) also enjoyed a run out at the Pittville Park event . Marc Fallows meanwhile contested the Cirencester parkrun where he took first place in 17:43.