Thanks to Tom for this latest report from the Ryde Harriers. Ed
The Island cross-country season closed with the final race of Ryde Harriers’ series – The Arthur Biggs Handicap. Open to anyone who had run in either of the previous races, fifty runners took on the mud-strewn paths around Smallbrook and Ashey.
The competitors run off a time worked out on their previous races with the slowest first and the fastest last in the hope of a close finish between all the field.
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The women’s winner was Coral Leach from IWRR who took the cup and prize money by over four minutes in a superb performance on the boggy ground. Second place went to a previous winner Abigail Sollar with fellow unattached runner Rachel Mayhew in third.
Wight Tri’s Roy Young just managed to overhaul Simon Levrier in the final quarter of a mile having made up over twelve minutes on Levrier. Third place went to a very happy Sam Cleare from Ryde Harriers.
Running in just his third cross-country Cleare was a changed man from the broken figure of two weeks ago at the IW Championship and this cheeriness was matched by most runners who enjoyed the warm sunshine, lack of wind and slightly firmer going in some parts of the course.
There were three further trophies to be awarded at the end of the race with only Ryde Harriers club members applicable for the male, female and Vet series cups. Sarah Blackwell retained the women’s trophy whilst Steve Brougham doubled-up taking both the men’s and Vet cups.
Salisbury 10 mile race
Ryde Harriers sent a contingent of five men over to complete in the Salisbury 10 mile race on Sunday. This popular race winds through beautiful and quiet country lanes to the east of the city, which looked all the prettier in the lovely sunshine.
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The perfect conditions led to some pleasing times with Tom Blackwell first home for the club and the Island in 01:02:48 followed closely by an ever-improving Andrew McEwen in 01:03:12.
Sam Cleare and Trevor McAlister worked very well together as a team for all but the final 300metres of the course when Cleare kicked hard to sneak ahead of his teammate in 01:09:41 with McAlister finishing in 01:09:52 as they both broke seventy minutes for the first time and claimed excellent personal bests. Final team member John Randles also smashed his pb taking off nearly eight minutes from his previous Salisbury time as he crossed in 01:28:46.
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Larmer Tree half-marathon
Nearby, Ryde Harriers’ women were also enjoying the Wiltshire countryside at the Larmer Tree half-marathon.
Tracey Dillon, Sarah Blackwell and Julie King crossed together in 2:12:25 whilst Samantha Fancourt and Elaine Parry also finished jointly in 2:19:35 as did Rosie Eldridge and Charlotte Pacy in 2:29:27.
In the twenty mile course Judy Mccabe finishing third overall and first Vet 35 with a time of 3:00:54 whilst lone male Harrier Stuart Backhouse finishing third Vet 40 with a time of 3:00:58
Eastleigh 10k challenge
The following weekend six Harriers took on the Eastleigh 10k challenge (pictured at top). First home was Andrew McEwan who continued to find excellent form as he finished in 38:23.
Next up came Sam Cleare (40:57) and Trevor McAlister (42:08) who both managed a second weekend of pbs after their excellent Salisbury 10 perfomances. Andy Lewis (43:05), Peter Jolliffe (46:18) and Bridget Lewis (49:22) completed the group with Jolliffe claiming third in the Vet 70 category.
Meanwhile Brian Warren continued his Brighton Marathon preparations with a pleasing 1:49:52 at the Fleet Half-marathon.
Club events
The latest club night events included two nominated runs of five mile and 10km and it was very much a Graham contest for a couple of weeks.
The five mile run was won by Graham Skelley who was just five seconds inside his time of forty minutes, with Jake Brougham second and Rosie Eldridge third whilst new member Stuart Backhouse was fastest on the night in 34:15.
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The 10km run was won by Graham Maitland, just one second outside his stated time of 47:10, with Graham Gardner second and Simon Joy third whilst Jake Brougham and Tom Blackwell were first home together in 39:06.
With the winter series drawing to a close the final five mile race and 10k nominated run took place recently. The five mile race was won by Jake Brougham in 30:37 who showed his strength to power away from Tom Blackwell (31:35) in second place. First woman was Sarah Blackwell in 34:10.
The 10k nominated run was won by Peter Jolliffe who was six seconds inside his stated time of 39:36 whilst Sarah Blackwell was second (and first woman) seven seconds outside of her time of 48 minutes. Fastest on the night was Tom Blackwell in 40:33 with Simon Spencer second in 40:38.
The final five km handicap of the winter series saw thirty runners taking on the fast blast race. The women’s points went to new members Carole Rowe and Karen Lynch who crossed the line together with new women’s captain Rosie Eldridge in third. In the men’s race Brian Warren showed excellent form to take the points ahead of Simon Spencer in second and Peter Jolliffe in third.
The following week it was the annual Easter Egg race with the closest to their nominated time for the course around Seaview getting the first pick of the eggs.
Pete White got the top chocolate choice as he finished only four seconds away from his stated time of 40:40. Second place went to Tom Hill and third was Jake Brougham with new men’s captain Trevor McAlister the fastest on the night.
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