CLC Striders Race report for Cleeve Cloud Cuckoo – Weds 31 May 2017

On a perfect end-of-spring evening, a group of CLC Striders headed up to Cleeve Hill for the annual Cleeve Cloud Cuckoo race. The views – and the hills! – were breath-taking. Starting out from Cleeve Common Golf Club, the five-mile route follows an entirely off-road, undulating course across grass and stony tracks, including hazardous descents and the legendary climb up from the ‘Wash-Pool’.

Club strong man and accomplished hill-runner Iain Porter showed his mastery of the terrain to lead the Striders home, finishing in a brilliant second place overall in a time of 31:53. With another sterling performance, Jon Howes finished in 13th place overall in a time 35:22, with the evergreen Charles Goodwin hot on his heels in 14th place, taking first MV50 spot. JJ Willson ran well to take 38th place in 38:28 and next across the line was Amelia Mullins, seeing off some strong competition to finish fourth lady overall and first LV45 in a time of 39:18.

There were also good performances from Neil Reynolds (50th in 39:54), Gary Smith (62nd in 40:55) and Helen Knight (65th overall and eighth lady in 41:10). Gavin Jerman finished 74th in 42:51, Emma Abbey 102nd (19th lady) in 46:20, Rebecca Reynolds 105th (21st lady) in 46:36, Charlie Harward 118th (28th lady) in 48:24 and Hill Hooper in 124th (30th lady) in 49:03.

The men’s team finished a superb second place and the ladies team finished in a strong fourth place. All-in-all, a great team performance in this iconic local event.

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Striders at the Cleeve Cloud Cuckoo Left to right: Jon Howes, Iain Porter, JJ Willson, Charles Goodwin, Amelia Mullins, Gavin Jerman, Charlie Haward, Neil Reynolds, Helen Knight, Emma Abbey, Hill Hooper, Rebecca Reynolds, and Gary Smith.

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