Tom shares this latest report from Ryde Harriers. Ed
October was a busy month for Ryde Harriers as they opened their 2016/17 winter series with a five mile road race. The almost-flat course allowed tired limbs break from the hills after a weekend of fell running for most, but it was a marathon hill man that shone through to win.
Les Cupis was only 48 hours recovered from the Black Mountains marathon, but still managed an excellent showing of 32:43 to win by a clear minute with Nigel Eldridge in second in 33:36 and Trevor McAlister third. In the women’s race Julie King took the honours in 38:37 with Samantha Fancourt second in 39:41 and Rosie Eldridge third in 40:21.
60th Marathon
The second weekend of the month saw the 60th running of the IW Marathon, which Alan Whitewood reported on for OnTheWight.
Following the marathon, the Tuesday club night race was the 5km handicap.
There were some excellent performances from a range of runners and a large amount of new personal bests set. In the women’s race Jodie Woolston claimed first by over thirty seconds ahead of Kim Goodall in second, with third going to Karen Collett who ran superbly just two days after completing the Marathon.
In the men’s race, Mike Case took first by just under thirty seconds from Dave Furmidge in second, whilst John Randles was third, another thirty seconds or so distant.
Hampshire Cross-Country League
The next weekend saw the first fixture in the Hampshire Cross-Country League with IWAC and Ryde Harriers travelling over together to represent the Island at Farley Mount near Winchester. The senior races saw some good early-season performances from Island athletes.
In the women’s race Ryde unfortunately couldn’t field a full team due to injuries, but both their representatives crossed the line happy with their performances. Sarah Blackwell finished 43rd, thirty seconds faster than the previous year, whilst Elaine Parry was 100th and pleased to feel strong less than a week after the Marathon.
In the men’s, IWAC’s team showed very strongly with Daniel Eckersley an excellent 23rd, Sam Metcalf 46th on his step up into the senior distance and Steve Haggerty 101st on his return from injury.
Ryde Harriers managed improved performances from all returning athletes with Tom Blackwell over two minutes quicker than previous visits to Farley Mount as he finished 124th, just ahead of Les Cupis who was 150th. Next came super-vet Pete Young who just out-kicked club captain Trevor McAlister, they finished 189th and 190th respectively. Completing the Ryde squad were Andy Keehn in 223rd and Ken Beak in 231st.
Other club meets
Mid-October was all about nominated runs at the club meets with five mile and 10k distance events. The five mile points were claimed by Elaine Parry, who was only three seconds outside her stated time of 38:00 with Peter Jolliffe second, five seconds away from his time of 40:02 and Trevor McAlister third nine seconds inside of his time of 36:00. Fastest on the night was Adam Tuck in 31:09 for the men and Julie King in 36:05 for the women.
The 10k run nomination points went to Rosie Eldridge who was ten seconds inside her stated time of 50:35 with John Randles second, eleven seconds outside of his time of 56:00 and Bridget Lewis third, twenty seconds away from her time of 53:00. Fastest on the night was Nigel Eldridge who smashed his 10k personal best by over six minutes to cross the line in 41:51.
A group of eight Harriers made the trip to the beautiful Brecon Beacons on final Saturday of October for the Sugar Loaf Fell Race. Part of the South Wales Winter Hill Series, this race was nearly six miles of mountain running just outside Abergavenny, not to be confused with the summertime race of the same name on the same mountain! Unfortunately low cloud meant there were no fantastic views to be had but the route was well marked and all of the group made it up and down without getting lost in the fog.
First home for the club was Tom Blackwell, twentieth in 49:48, closely followed by Les Cupis 31st in 51:54. Next came first time fell runners Trevor McAlister and Dominic Jacobs who finished in 53:30 and 56:25 respectively. Sarah Blackwell came next as fourth female in 57:31 with Rosie Eldridge and Philippa Daley completing the contingent in 70:10 and 72:46.
