AVRs racing far and wide
It was a bumper racing weekend for AVR members with road and trail, competitive and friendly events across the country, many in preparation for marathons while others targeting national honours.
British champs success for the Newtons
Graham and Diane Newton ran the Forest of Dean Spring Trails Half Marathon. The course undulates along a course of forest trails through the heart of the Forest of Dean. More than 1,000 runners took part and were lulled into a false sense of ease on the long downhill start, only to work their way back up the 750 feet of elevation to get back to the finish line. Graham had a brilliant run, coming in second M75 in 1:54:33 to take the British Trail Running Championship silver medal. Diane was very pleased to finish third F75 in 3:09:09.
Flat Fens prove a challenge
With England Masters places at stake it was a stacked field at the Keith Hall Memorial 10k in Thorney with former international, Gemma Steel taking second place in the female race. Angela Kerr and Carol Austin travelled up to the flat, Fenland race which left the village on an out and back route on closed country roads. After the turn at 5k runners faced a wicked headwind back into the village.
Carol finished in 47:54, 46th female and seventh F60, with Angela, 80th female and sixth F65 in 55:10. The race was celebrating the 40th anniversary of Thorney Running Club and also celebrated the life of its chairman, Keith Hall. There were 333 competitors.
A right royal half
A trio of AVRs took part in the Green Park Reading Half Marathon, a popular pre-London marathon race. The fast scenic course finishes in the Reading FC stadium, home to the Royals, where a big crowd awaited the runners; including AVR’s very own Reading fan, Tony Smith!
Andy Charrington finished in 1:42.53, 1217th, seventh M65. Haydn Boeham and Suzi Blackett finished in 1:58.28 in 2872nd and 2873rd.
Feighan Fury
South West Road Runners organise this ten mile event in memory of Mike Feighan, a much loved former winner of the Grizzly who tragically passed away in 2021. The ten-mile event is a challenging, multi terrain race across the rolling hills of mid-Devon including hills, woods, trails and rivers. AVR’s Eleanor Wood was first F60 in 1:37.55; Jeremy Larcombe finished in 1:30.36 with Alan Morbey coming home in 1:53.54.
Birthday celebration in Eastleigh
Ryan Snell celebrated both his birthday and a return to racing following injury at the Valencia marathon in December by taking part in the fast, flat Eastleigh 10k in Hampshire. He finished first M45 and 55 in an excellent 35:38 in a race which attracted 2500 runners.
Oakley 20 revives Grizzly memories
Diana Burn completed the Oakley 20 mile undulating road race in 4:09 in preparation for her London marathon next month. She was second F70. She describes it as a very friendly race organised by Bedford Harriers, many of whom had run the Grizzly earlier this month. She received lots of shouts of ‘the home of the Grizzly’; ‘we love Seaton’ and ‘we were there two weeks ago’ as she ran in her AVR top!. She used this as a good excuse to stop and chat at water stations! This year 50 Bedford Harriers came down for the Grizzly weekend.
Thames Trail
The Windsor Trail half Marathon is a guided tour of a race beginning at the foot of Windsor Castle and meandering along the River Thames passing the Royal Windsor racecourse and Dorney Lake, the summer Olympic venue for rowing and kayaking, and the spires of Eton College before heading back to finish just before the gates of Windsor Castle. AVR’s Ian Kinnersley finished an impressive seventh in 1:43.11 and first M60, a great pre-London Marathon work out. There were 126 finishers.
Seaton parkrun and beyond
There was a special guest at Seaton parkrun on Saturday with AVR’s James Ashforth running as a robin in preparation for his Guinness World Record attempt taking place at the London Marathon next month where he hopes to become the fastest ever marathon runner dressed as a bird. He is running for Tommy’s following personal experiences of baby loss this is a charity close to his heart and many others at AVR. Details and donations can be made here
First finisher on Saturday was Ritchie Durrant in 17:26 with Ann-Louise Childe bagged another PB in 28:14.
Out on the road Kevin Feeney and Sarah Shepley enjoyed the sunshine in Vienna at Donaupark parkrun; Tony Smith took part in Richmond parkrun; Tim and Amie Sibley bagged a D for their parkrun alphabet in at Dudley parkrun; Carolyn Nation ran the flat, fast Walsall Arboretum parkrun; Jon Day and Paul Johns completed Barnstable parkrun; and Shirley and Andy Goy took on the new Greendale Farm Shop parkrun. Prior to their races on Sunday, Diana Burn completed Milton Keynes parkrun and carol Austin and Angela and Martin Kerr ran March parkrun.
And finally …
Spare a thought for Simon Davey who travelled back from Vietnam for the Hastings half marathon only to find it cancelled due to a police incident.
