Race Report from a wide variety of races across 12, 13 and 14 May 2023
The May weekend after the Coronation saw CLC Striders proving what a diverse, inclusive, committed and competitive club they are, with athletes involved in a wide range of different events and disciplines all over the country – from track to trail and from the road to triathlon.
ROAD
Bourton Mile, Friday 12 May
On a grey and gusty evening, seven CLC Striders athletes lined up among the field for the annual Bourton Mile. In the usual mad dash back into the village centre along the Rissington Road, Joel Freeland finished first for CLC in a blistering new MV40 club record time of 5:15. Hot on his heels was Rusty Hemsley, in a super-quick 5:17. Paul Lockyer was next to finish in a season’s best 5:26 and next home was Kate Telford, as first lady overall in the race, setting a new club and LV35 record in the process in a time of 5:37. Paul Northup clocked 5:41 and Rachel Vines was the third lady overall on the night in a time of 5:48. The final finisher for the club was Julia Rose in 7:01.
Full results are available on the RaceRoster website
Pictured at the Bourton Mile, from left to right: Paul Lockyer, Kate Telford, Joel Freeland, Rachel Vines, Paul Northup, Rusty Hemsley and Julia Rose
Bristol Half Marathon and 10k, Sunday 14 May
Down in Bristol, Joe Willgoss ran 1:15:26 for 16th place in the Bristol Half Marathon on a warm morning and the day after placing first at the Cheltenham parkrun! While Liza Bradshaw clocked 41:18 in the 10k, earning England Masters qualification in the process.
TRAILS
The Lap Clockwise, Windermere, Saturday 13 May
Helen Knight completed this gruelling trail ultra in a time of just 9 hours and 29 minutes to finish as the third lady and in ninth place overall. The course comprised 46.5 miles in a clockwise direction around Lake Windemere in the Lake District. Helen’s account makes it sound magical:
“Started at 6am in the mist on the western shore. Passed through Ambleside to see parkrun being set up then rose above the mist climbing Wansfell. From there on in it was hot sunshine all the way. I finished 3rd lady and 19th overall in 9 hours 29 minutes. A most enjoyable way to spend the weekend.”
Tempo Trail Marathon, Sunday 14 May
Gavin Jerman clocked 4 hours 55 minutes for the Tempo Trail Marathon, a Cotswolds trail route around Chipping Campden and Moreton in Marsh – a fine effort in what became a progressively hot day.
Sherborne 5-miler, Sunday 14 May
Amelia Mullins finished as 5th lady overall and 1st LV45 in a time 40:33 in the Sherborne 5-miler, a multi terrain race through fields and woodlands around the Sherborne National Trust estate.
South Downs Way Trail Marathon, Sunday 14 May
The club’s ultra, ultra-man Rob Bircher completed the South Downs Way Trail Marathon as a route recce for a longer event he has coming up. Comprising 28 miles and over 4,300 ft of ascent, he was characteristically enthusiastic about what a wonderful event and experience it was.
UTS (Snowden Trail Ultra), Saturday 13 May
Meanwhile, as an illustration of just how demanding such ultras are, club runner Oliver Watkins was forced to retire from his Snowden Ultra just shy of 40 miles in. Having enjoyed a great 30km start to the ultra, the heat started to get to Watkins and, having had no sleep the night before he found himself increasingly running on empty.
TRACK
Gloucestershire County Championships, Gloucester, Sunday 14 May
Three CLC Striders athletes competed in the 1500m over at Blackbridge Track in Gloucester in part two of the County Athletics Championships. In his first track race of the season, Sam Baylis clocked a very solid 40:40:7, while, in their third race at this distance this season, Paul Northup registered 5:23:3 and Rachel Vines finished in 5:27:1.
TRIATHLON
Dorney Lake Triathlon
And, in other news, Rob Green clocked 16:48 for the 5k run leg of his sprint triathlon at Dorney Lake, finishing as the first qualifier for Great Britain in his age group, and 2nd in his category by 7 seconds to Stuart Hayes, an international Olympic athlete.