Race Three of the Glos Cross Country League – Pittville Park, 17.2.18
On a pleasantly mild February day, Cheltenham Harriers welcomed clubs in the Gloucestershire Cross Country League to race in the third fixture of the season across the undulating parkland of Pittville Park in Cheltenham.
</a>Pictured: Karlien Heyrman and Liza Barry cross the stream
</p>
Continuing to blaze a trail for the club, the CLC Ladies had another strong team performance. Once again led home by their lead lady this season Karlien Heyrman, 17th overall and 6th senior lady in a time of 28:59, the race saw a welcome return to competition from cross country specialist Liza Barry, out so far this winter with a foot injury. Liza Barry finished in 20th place overall as the 7th senior lady in a time 29:13. Third and fourth ladies home for CLC on the day were Helen Knight, 23rd overall and 4th LV35 in 29:24, and Patricia Surgess, 27th overall and 6th LV35 in 30:02.
The next group of lady Striders home were Nicola Weager, 51st overall and 14th senior lady in 33:06, Laura Fletcher, 58th overall and 16th senior lady in 33:46, and Natalie Burfitt, 60th overall and 4th LV45 in 33:48.
David James, competing as the club’s only male vet 65 finished 70th overall as 3rd in his rarefied category in 35:05. Emma Abbey was 77th overall and 13th LV40 in 35:42, and Jill Harsent was 94th overall as 6th LV55 in a time of 37:59.
On the day, the ladies finished in 5th place in both the Senior and Masters races.
Next it was the turn of the men. With many runners unavailable, it was some of the club’s newer members who were able to shine.
Pictured: Tom Fletcher, the club’s leading male runner on the day.
Maintaining his trailblazing form, Thomas Fletcher was 45th overall as the 25th senior man in 39:01. He was followed home by neck-and-neck finishers Mark Fuller in 71st place overall as the 37th SM in a time of 40:41 and Paul Lockyer, 86th overall and 18th MV40 in 41:42. Evergreen Charles Goodwin was 90th overall, and 8th MV50 in 41:55. Ben Akif 94th overall, 48th SM 42:19. And the sixth A-Team finisher was Joel Freeland, in 101st place overall as the 49th SM in 43:01.
The B-Team scorers on the day were: Andrew Paterson, 104th overall and 17th MV45 in 43:27; John Willson, 113th overall and 9th MV55 in 43:59; Edward Collier, 136th overall and 3rd MV60 in 47:53; Andrew Gage, 139th overall and 17th MV55 in 47:58; Bradley Coates, 143rd overall and 27th MV40 in 48:56; and Martin Bick, 144th overall and 16th MV50 in 48:56.
The other two CLC male Strider finishers were Gary Smith, 150th overall and 29th MV40 in 49:39, Chris Thomas, 157th overall as 56th SM in 53:06, and Mike Speke, 164th overall and 21st MV55 in 57:13.
The men’s A Team finished in 9th place (with the B Team in 14th) while the Masters teams registered 10th and 14th places.