Distance Running News, 25-31 March 2019

01 April 2019

Doug Wight enjoyed a fine victory as the club hosted the annual Cleevewold Race over the challenging 14 mile course on Cleeve Hill. A close three way battle with the Worcester duo of Richard Walsh and Ben Jones saw the lead change hands several times in the opening nine miles, with Wight stronger on the uphill sections, but getting his lead taken back on the descents.

The Cheltenham athlete finally opened up a decisive gap on the climb up to Belas Knap and extended his lead over the final 5 miles. Stopping the clock at 1:36:57 Wight finished 1:11 clear of Walsh before Jones took third a further eleven seconds adrift. Simon Critchley in eight and Steve Linton in eleventh were the next two Harriers before Paul Barnes claimed a top half of the field finish in 59th place.

Caroline Cotterell and Nick Holliday enjoyed a successful trip to Poland as Torun hosted the World Masters Indoor Track Championship alongside outdoor road and cross country events. Cotterell was part of the GB gold medal winning team in the W45 8km cross countr, as well as posting 11:53.46 for eleventh in the 3000m and finishing seventh in her age category in 10km road race in 43:15.

Holliday claimed team silver medal in the M60 8km cross country, posted 10:57.72 for eleventh in the 3000m and earned ninth in the 10k with 40:58.

Tara Grosvenor continued her fine recent form by finishing as first lady and seventh overall at the nighttime Chepstow Woods 5 mile race as she finished the three race series unbeaten. 

At the Cardiff Bay 10k Charlie Jones ran well for 33:08 to finish 31st in a high quality event in which Roxanne Jones recorde 41:35. Chris Roxburgh meanwhile made his first appearance in a Harriers vest at the Yeovil Half Marathon where he finished fourth in a time of 76:41

The weekend’s parkruns saw two Harriers ladies claim outright first place finishes as they outran their male rivals. Naomi Eaton (18:58) achieved the feat for the first time at the Stonehouse event whilst Kaitlyn Sheppard (18:47) repeated the accomplishment in Tewkesbury. Sheppard’s time was also impressive as it lowered her own course record by 26 seconds as sister Chloe (21:22) again finished as second lady.Richard Dare (17:12) was first home in Cheltenham where George Hawthorne (18:03) placed third and Gareth Edwards (18:53) was the first V40 runner home in tenth position. Also enjoying the return to the Summer course were Steve Hall (19:02) and second lady finisher Georgia Palmer (20:45). Dave Aubrey (18:10) was first home on the testing course in Ludlow whilst Matt Lambourne (19:09) was second finisher at the Gloucester North event. Caroline Cotterell (21:31) was the second lady home in Cirencester, Ellis Woolley (22:31) sixth lady at the Severn Bridge event   and Milly Foster (21:54) the ninth lady in Stratford-upon-Avon.