Race reports - Striders win in Gloucestershire AAA Road Race series
The Striders were out in force again on Sunday the 1st at the Guy Fawkes 5 and the Cirencester Half Marathon. Leading the charge in the five miler was Tom Burgess who finished in 11th place overall in a time of 28:09. Next home was Gavin Woods in 14th, crossing the line in 28:20. Both Burgess and Woods raced in the Cirencester cross country event the previous afternoon, and showed no sign of fatigue as they contested the final round of the Gloucester Road Race Series.
Next to finish was Peter Bellwood in a time of 30:48 for 39th overall.
Back from his Seirra Leone adventure, Arnie Delstanche showed that without heat, humidity and an inflatable dinosaur outfit that he’s pretty quick, finishing in 41st place and a time of 31:01. Next to finish was Matt Ashman in 57th and a time of 32:10, marking a notable personal best. Ellie Pudifoot was also doubling up on the weekend; following her cross country effort with a 33:04 effort for 11th female overall. Just behind Ellie was Kate Telford in 33:08 for 1st place in the ladies V40. Paul Northrup finished in 72nd overall in 33:40, just outside the V60 podium. Tim Brock finished in 34:39 for 92nd place. Jon Pearce came 106th with a time of 35:18 and Hollie Freeland finished 133rd in 37:10 for 5th in the ladies V45. Ed Collier came 171st in 39:16 and David James, a fourth Strider doing a cross country road race double, came 174th and 1st in the men’s V75 in a time of 39:24. Peter Mitchener finished in 218th in a time of 42:58.
The season long efforts of Pudifoot, Freeland and James were rewarded with silver in the ladies overall for Pudifoot and gold medals in their respective age-groups for Freeland and James.
In the Cirencester half marathon, Timothy Bridges and James Watt toed the line for the Striders. On a hilly course they finished in 1:30:48 and 1:30:50 for 99th and 100th places overall. For Watt it was the second half marathon in as many weeks, and he showed true resilience in being only just over a minute slower on a more testing course.
Left to right: Matt Ashman, Paul Northup, Tim Brock, Tom Burgess, Ellie Pudifoot, Jon Pearce, Hollie Freeland, Arnie Delstanche, Peter Bellwood, Gavin Woods, Kate Telford and David James
Left to right: Ellie Pudifoot, David James and Hollie Freeland