Thanks to Tom for this latest report from the Ryde Harriers. Ed
The annual closer to the Ryde Harriers winter series is the club 10km road championship and pleasant conditions met the twenty two runners who lined up for this year’s race.
The course takes in a loop past Smallbrook Stadium and then finishes with a gallop up Beaper Shute before descending to finish outside Ryde Rowing Club.
Closely fought contest
The men’s contest was one of the closest fought in recent years with Justin Fitzgerald managing to kick for home successfully to take the trophy and break the forty minutes barrier finishing in a time of 39:39.
Second place went to Sam Cleare who held off Les Cupis in the final stages, finishing in 40:27 ahead of Les who crossed in 40:44 to take the Vet 50 title. Graham Maitland took the Vet 60 crown in 45:28 and marathon-bound Jonathon Norton claimed the Vet 70 title in 49:44.
Clear-cut contest
The women’s race was a far more clear-cut contest with Tracey Dillon finishing in 42:59 which was two and a half minutes ahead of second placed Elaine Parry (45:31) with Samantha Fancourt third in 46:03.
MK Marathon
As mentioned, Jonathon Norton travelled to Milton Keynes on Bank Holiday Monday for the MK Marathon.
In blustery conditions and on a twisty, turn-ridden course he managed a superb time of 3:54:53 to be first Vet 70 and place himself in the top twenty Vet 70s in the country.
