Remember, remember the fifth of November. There were certainly fireworks in a number of races this weekend. James Rhodes brings you the highlights from at home and further afield, including success for the Great Britain team in Hyderabad.

50k Successes

There was plenty to celebrate at the IAU World 50km Championship in Hyderabad. The team may have had to partially self-fund its trip to India, but it came home with both individual and team success.

The highlight came from Carla Molinaro, who won the world title in 3:18:22. She finished 43 seconds ahead of American Andrea Pomaranski, with a second British medal coming from Sarah Webster with bronze. It was a commanding team victory for the British quartet, with Anna Bracegirdle (3:20:37) and Rachel Hodgkinson (3:20:47) finishing fourth and fifth respectively. The duo were contesting the distance for the first time – not a bad way to kick things off!

 

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As Alyson Dixon won the last edition in 2019 in Romania it means the world 50k title remains in British hands.

Will Mycroft was the best of the men’s team, finishing ninth (2:55:58). The podium comprised exclusively Spanish athletes. Behind were Andrew Davies (2:57:14) and Andy Heyes (2:58:51) and Ollie Garrod (3:12:52). The trio finished 13th, 19th and 34th respectively. The performances secured team bronze.

Muddy in Mansfield

Proper cross-country weather paid a visit to Berry Hill Park in Mansfield for the National Cross Country Relays. Some of the country’s best athletes braved the wind, rain and mud to represent their clubs.

The senior men’s race came down to a sprint finish between World Road Running Championships silver medallist Callum Elson and European U23 medallist Will Barnicoat to secure victory. Cambridge & Coleridge’s Elson provided the club with their first ever senior men’s title, finishing the 4x5k course in 62:04.4. Just two seconds behind were Aldershot, Farnham & District, led home by Barnicoat.

Photo: Mark Hookway

Callum was joined by Tom Keen, Jonathan Escalante-Phillips and Jack Gray on the C&C team. The AFD quartet comprised Joe Blacknell, Callum Charleston and Ellis Cross alongside Will. Taking bronze were Highgate (62:36.3), thanks to Terry Fawden, Jacob Allen, Alex Lepretre and Roger Poolman).

Less than a second behind were Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers (Thomas Butler, Jeremy Dempsey, Kieran Clements and Dylan Evans) with Bristol & West (Jack Millar, Ben Robinson, William Battershill and Kurt Taylor) fifth.

It was a commanding victory for Belgrave Harriers in the senior women’s race. The trio of Kate Axford, Gemma Astin and sister Sarah Astin finished the 3k course in 30:11.5, 40 seconds clear of Aldershot, Farnham & District (30:51.2). An AFD ‘b’ team completed the podium (31:23.7). The two teams comprised Lauren Hall, Louisa Small and Amy Gfiffiths, followed by Kate Estlea, Niamh Brown and Millie Jordan-Lee.

Photo: Mark Hookway

Leeds City (Heather Townsend, Eleanor Curran and Georgia Malir) were fourth, and Cambridge & Coleridge (Louise Shanahan, Katie Lowery and Ellen Leggate) fifth.

Aldershot, Farnham & District and the University of Birmingham won the junior men and women races respectively. Their teams comprised Tom Chandler, Joseph O’Connell and James Dargan, and Abbie Ives, Rose Chesterfield and Alice Bates.

On the Roads

Plenty was happening on the roads this weekend too. One of the oldest road races in Wales, the Richard Burton 10k continued its tradition of catering for fast times. Fastest of all was Dewi Griffiths (30:09). He finished almost a minute ahead of Michael Ward (31:01) and Jonathan Hopkins (31:40). In the women’s field, Caryl Edwards (35:46) was a clear winner from Olivia Tsim (36:57) and Hannah Williams (38:15).

North of the border, there were victories for James Wilson (31:44) and Jenny Bannerman (36:48) at the Brodie Castle 10k and Keith Mcintyre (33:03) and Robyn Pinder (37:54) at the Peterhead 10k. Staying in Scotland, the Strathaven Striders’ Run with the Wind 10k went to Jamie Bannister (35:10) and Alison Berwick (42:57). Sam O’Neill (38:30) and Catherine Barclay (47:55) were quickest at the Bridge of Orchy 10k.

In London, wins at Mornington Chasers’ Regent’s Park Winter 10k went to Michael McCarthy (34:15) and Jemima Renfer (39:00). Elias Ahmed (32:15) and Nicola Perty-Alvarez (42:52) ran well to win the Sidmouth 10k whilst Joanna Carritt (44:24) and Joel Seward (37:29) recorded wins at the Northolt 10k.

Samuel Stevens (33:15) and Jo Andrews (40:11) won the Adnams Southwold 10k. Lindsay Skinner (37:11) and Oliver Donkin (34:02) did the same at the Deepdale Dash 10k, as did David Pastor (39:02) and Laura Bell (48:46) at the Delamere Forest 10k.

There were promises of more 5 November references. How about the Gunpowder Plot 10k! It was won by Matt Diment (40:14) and April Stewart (44:35). A similar theme and the Frankenstein 10k. It provided victories to Rebecca Reed (43:57) and Fred Newton (39:58).

In Great Yarmouth, Rosanna Andrews (38:37) and James Reed (33:05) won the East Coast 10k. Stephen Gibson (39:41) and Charlotte Stidolph (47:35) finished first at the Tommy Run 10k.

Longer Distances

Paul Hathaway (74:15) and Jenny Evans-Hill (93:54) were victorious at the Great Lancaster Half Marathon. Alison Campbell (82:18) and Ifan Dafydd (71:43) crossed the line first at the Anglesey Island Trail Half Marathon. Lloyd Williams (33:59) and Michelle Taylor (43:38) won the associated 10k.


The Course Record was broken by Richard Price (74:29) at the Marlow Half Marathon, with Sasha Birkin (92:29) the fastest female. Shane Keenan (74:04) and Caitlin Bradley (86:23) won the Hertfordshire Half Marathon, with the associated 10k going to Lisa Newing (44:49) and Fergal Campbell (35:10).

There were wins for Matthew Cooper (1:23:05) and Jennifer Badger (1:40:47) at the Thirteen Arches Half Marathon, and Alexandra Stainthorpe (85:58) and Paul Piper (76:50) at the Richmond Half Marathon in London. The Rother Valley Half Marathon went to Keith Swainson (75:29) and Emma Wilkinson (98:40).

Back Down

A second member of the Heyes family was racing this weekend. A bit closer to home, though, at the Derenwater 10. Lauren Heyes (56:12) crossed the finishing line over eight minutes ahead of the second placed Caroline Lambert (64:27). Jason Hall (52:55) was fastest overall.

Just two seconds separated Nicholas Barry (52:44) and Thomas Charles (52:46) at the front of the field of the Flying Fox 10 in Standon. Emma Taylor (60:20) conversely had a clear gap on Anna Hollingworth (62:58).

The Bideford 10 went to steeplechase specialist Phil Norman (50:29) and Rebecca Ezra-Ham (58:39). It follows Phil’s win in the Bideford 10k back in May. Richard Waldron (55:10) and Emma Jolley (63:47) were victorious at the Hayling 10 on the south coast.

Moving to Ripley in North Yorkshire, Jemima Elgood (64:08) and James Eaton (56:10) won the Guy Fawkes 10. Wins at the unrelated Guy Fawkes 5 organised by Tewkesbury Running Club went to Katie Coleman (32:07) and Richard Boseley (31:47).

In Kent, the Deal Castle 5 witnessed winning performances from David Ervine (26:15), by almost three minutes from the rest of the field, and Kate Natkiel (30:11). The latter’s margin of victory was even greater at over four and a half minutes.

Theresa Woolley (34:45) and Jesse Bradley (28:09) were quickest at the Centurion Grand Prix 5. Matt Crehan (29:53) and Claire Andrew (36:15) won the Striders Trail 5 in St Helens.

Two races over the less frequent seven miles to end. Findlay Dyer (38:45) and Nicola Taylor (47:40) won the Marlow 7 and Chris Coulson (42:47) and Catriona Macdonald (49:42) the Gibside Fruitbowl 7. Maybe the best race name to end on!