Tom shares this latest report from Ryde Harriers. Ed
November saw a relentless run of races for Island athletes. First up it was the second Hants XC league fixture in Bournemouth, which took place in very sad circumstances, just a few days after the sad loss of two Aldershot runners, who would have been running, in a road accident.
The senior races saw a large contingent of Island runners from IWAC and Ryde Harriers competing in better conditions weather-wise, but deteriorating conditions underfoot as the weight of previous races saw the grass cutting up.
In the women’s race Ryde managed more than a full team, after the previous fixture’s low attendance, with Julie King the first across the line in 77th followed by Elaine Parry (98th) and Rosie Eldridge (102nd). Katie Lewis from IWAC followed the Ryde trio in 118th with debutante cross-country Harriers Jo Beak (148th) and Angela Thornton (153rd) completing the Island group.
In the men’s race Daniel Eckersley celebrated his birthday in style as he broke into the top twenty for the first time with a superb performance to cross in 19th place. His IWAC team mates Sam Metcalf and Steve Haggerty provided good support in 46th and 108th places respectively to maintain the club’s clear lead at the top of Division 3.
Their local league rivals didn’t fare quite as well in what is a very competitive division this season. After missing out on promotion last season by the narrowest of margins Ryde Harriers slipped to sixth place overall. Their team was made up of Tom Blackwell (140th), Les Cupis (167th), Trevor McAlister (194th), Ken Beak (220th), Sam Cleare (222nd) and Brian Warren (240th).
Club night events
November’s club night events for Ryde Harriers opened with five mile race taking in a rain-blown loop of West Hill Road, Monkton Street and the Esplanade.
Adam Tuck took the honours as he neared his best form again with a winning time of 30:44. He was followed by Les Cupis, second in 33:30, who just squeezed across the line before Justin Fitzgerald who was a second behind.
Julie King won the women’s race in 37:21 with Elaine Parry second in 38:55 and Rosie Eldridge third in 40:45. The following week saw a 10km or four mile loop used for a nominated race. The nearest to their stated times and therefore the winners, were Les Cupis and Peter Jolliffe.
In a rare feat of running to his nomination, Cupis took full points as he crossed just four seconds behind his time of 42:20, whilst Jolliffe matched the time difference but was ahead of his own time of 49:30.
Gosport Half Marathon
The Gosport Half Marathon can often offer some challenging weather conditions that contrasts the personal best potential of the flat course. This year’s race was one such weather-blown event with the remains of Storm Angus battering the large, sell-out field.
There was a large contingent of Island runners included full teams from Ryde Harriers for whom Andrew McEwen laid down the best time of 01:24:40 to be second Vet 55 whilst Peter Young built on his excellent cross-country performance from earlier in the month with a superb time of 01:30:15 to be first Vet 65.
Men’s captain Trevor McAlister grabbed a PB of over five minutes with his time of 01:36:01. He was followed by Andy Lewis in 01:39:39, before a clutch of PB runners in Graham Gardner whose 01:41:36 was a massive PB by 9:40, Ken Beak whose 01:43:49 was a PB by 7:45 and Elaine Parry 01:44:06 who sneaked a PB by 0:14. The Harriers group was completed by Karen Collett (01:48:25), women’s captain Rosie Eldridge (01:51:11), Michael Dignan (01:52:19), David Lawn (01:53:13) and Brian Warren (01:58:32).
Five km handicap race
This was followed by a club night five km handicap race. The men’s race was won by new Harrier Eric Diamond who was nearly a minute ahead of second placed Simon Graham with Mike Dignan third.
The women’s race was won by Hellen Smith who was a full minute and a half ahead of second placed Pippa Sharp with Julie Ferguson third.
Hayling Island 10 mile race
The Hayling Island 10 mile race made a one-off appearance in the Hampshire Road Race League calendar on the final November weekend with many Island athletes making the crossing for the fixture.
Replacing the cancelled Lordshill 10, this race also offered a flat fast course. Ryde Harriers had five runners taking part with captain Trevor McAlister first home in 1:10:58. Andrew Lewis was next in 1:13:45 with Sam Cleare not far behind in 1:15:26. Karen Collett (1:21:36) and Bridget Lewis (1:25:14) completed the quintet.
Five mile nominated race
The final club night event of the month was a five mile nominated race. Women’s captain Rosie Eldridge took the first place points as she finished only a second ahead of her nomination time of forty minutes.
Graham Maitland was second only three seconds away from his time of 36:50 whilst fastest on the night was Dominic Jacobs in 32:59.
