A RIGHT LONDON ROASTING !!! 1/5/18
A Right London Roasting
This week was one of the highlights of the running year, when the end of April heralds winter finishing and the prospect of better weather for the club's marathon runners. The club had an unprecedented 11 runners entered in the field but unfortunately two had to withdraw due to injuries leading up to the race.
A fearless 9 were left, but had no idea what was to lie in wait for them with air temperatures hitting 23 degrees and warmer in places on the course, it was in no way a perfect day for running. Energy sapping temperatures combined with little breeze meant runners began to tire towards the end of the race, it became extremely difficult to keep going with cramp, sickness and dehydration a constant battle. It was no mean feat to get round the 26.2 miles, but to finish it was a massive achievement in itself. The runners who although may not have achieved the times they wanted, some were just happy to have been there were and the club members were Steve Middleton, Donna Riddler, Lee Davies, David Hack, Kimberley Reeve, Kiska Wilson, Sarah Gregory, Ian Hepworth and Richie Smith.
Kyle Rabjohn was invited to take part in the mini marathon, the precursor to the real thing. Another superb performance gave Kyle 22nd overall and the 3rd Yorkshire U15. Dan Francis was 4th overall (17:05) at the Stockton summer trail 5k and the 1st youth and Emily Francis in 55th overall (23:06) and the 9th female and the 2nd youth female. Joe Reeve was 17th in Newsham Grange 5km (19:26). Steve Sadler was 25th at the Blackpool 10km (41:41) and the 1st V55. At the Stockton Sprint Duathlon, Harry Robson was 9th, Ronnie Corbett was 23rd overall and the 3rd V40, Carl Jones took on the longer distance and was 3rd overall and Mike Jefferies also went for the standard race and was 44th overall in his first ever race and Tony Lambert was the 25th vet.
Nick Mason ran the Redcar coast spring 5km finishing in a good time (19:19). Daniel Francis was also 1st at the Darlington 5km trail run with Joe Reeve in 3rd. Steve Sadler ran the Wray Scarecrow 10km and finished in 7th (41:42) and the 1st V50. Liam Rabjohn was 7th overall in the British Universities Championship 10,000m (30:48, pb). Kim Reeve ran Wainstones Trail marathon and finished as one of the top 10 ladies (5:55:28, pb). Nicki Buckett was in Newport for the 10km and was 324th and set a new pb in the process (55:01). Richmond was the setting for the sprint triathlon and Jake Stephenson was 3rd, brother Charlie 4th and Sam Kettlewell in 9th.
Kevin Bond was 20th at Penrith parkrun (20:48). Reece Dalton was 1st at Catterick parkrun (15:49), Carl Jones was 2nd (15:49), David Hack in 4th (17:58), Lewis Moore in 9th (19:52, pb), Holly McCowie in 12th (20:55) and the 2nd lady, George McCowie in 23rd (21:25), Pauline Whittaker in 52nd (23:16, pb), Ryan Greer in 54th (23:30, pb) and Karen Greer in 109th (26:57, pb). Rob Scott was 1st (17:25), Steve Middleton was 2nd (20:06) and Tom O’Mahoney 3rd (20:38) at Northallerton park run, Anthony Jefford was 4th, Garry Malton was 14th (23:03) and Nicki Buckett in 40th (27:26).
At Sedgefield parkrun Diane Adkins was 156th (29:51). Garry Malton ran Penrith parkrun and finished in 38th (23:12). Ronnie Corbett was at Merthyr Tydfil parkrun in 3rd (19:14). Ken Harker was 9th at Albert park (18:34), Kevin Bond was 21st and set a new pb breaking 20 minutes for the 1st time (19:50, pb) and Lucy Verrill was 44th (22:12). At Darlington Daniel Francis was 1st (17:11), Tom O’Mahoney was 5th (18:46, pb) and Joe Reeve was 6th (19:07, pb). Michelle Sprent-Broadwith was 112th at Fountains Abbey parkrun (24:50) and Nicki Buckett was 59th at the Forrest of Dean (27:43). Mike Jefferies did the Tees barrage parkrun finishing in 28th (22:37).
Further information on the club and training nights can be found on the website www.richmondzetlandharriers.co.uk
Image: Steve Middleton after the London marathon.