Podiums, PB’s and postponements!

A busy weekend for BRC with runners from The Cotswolds and Dorset up to Sunderland and a few in-between, with 100k’s, Marathons, ½ Marathons, 10 miles and 10k. Results ranging from disappointing injuries, PBs and trophies so this may be a long report!

Closest to home was the Rochford 10k where we had a top 3 finisher in Damien Harvey who came in 3^rd in a time of 38.23 plus Ange Hall with a no.1 in her age category collecting her 1^st individual trophy finishing in 49.11 & the 5^th lady home. Also running for Benfleet was Steve Wise who finished in 47.03 & position 43 out of 258 runners and Dan Lyons in his 1^st race back in 49.50 & position 71.

Furthest afield was the Maverick race in Dorset where Lee Bayton continued his winning form with a 3^rd place finish in the 23km trail race with over 2000ft of elevation finishing in an impressive 1.40.19 only just under 6 minutes behind the leader. He was joined by Jack Hodges who after his hard work in club night hill training this week battled the hills in 1.56.51 and position 22 out of 170 runners.

Ann and Paul Reed took on the daunting 100 mile Cotswold challenge in their biggest race to date from Bath to Cheltenham over 4 days. After completing the 1^st 3 stages of 72 grueling miles of trails and hills they had to retire due to Ann’s injured toe. Whilst bitterly disappointed, not to be beaten they will be returning in September to complete the final 34 miles.

Dan Carter took a rest from marathons this week and competed at the apparently not so scenic Sunderland half! Dan finished 17^th out of nearly 1200 runners in 1.22.03.

Our biggest turnout was at the Great Baddow 10mile where we had 16 runners. Our men were on top form with positions 2 James Caldon in 57.34 followed 4 seconds later by Chris Wayman in 3^rd then by Andy Low with a 54 second PB in 4^th in 58.10 earning a him a 1^st Master trophy for age category and the men a 1^st team prize.

Next for the men was Ben Green finishing 12^th out of 530 runners in 1.01.04 followed by Keiron McGill (24^th) in 1. 06.09 then Doug Stephens (54th) 1.12.02, then apparently planning to take in easy! Steve Burton (89^th) 1.14.41 , Graham Douglass (114^th) in 1.16.21 Michael Waters (142^nd)  1.18.22, Stewart Morley (240^th) 1.25.37 and then with a massive 3 minute 01 second PB Ian Caldwell in (371) in 1.35.27.

1^st lady home for Benfleet was Sarah Grabowski just back to racing in 1.15.01 & the 9^th female over the line followed by Isla Sinclair with a 2.24 PB the 11^th female in 1.15.52 then Nikki Leigh in 1.19.14.  Next was Melanie Anthony 30^th female out of 194 in 1.23.45 followed by Susanne Barton 36^th female in 1.25.37. The BRC ladies were the 2^nd team just beaten by LOSS!

Last but not least was the Halstead Marathon where we had 4 runners. 1^st home from BRC was club captain Graham Booty in 3.09.42 in an impressive 28^th out of 374 runners. Next in 72nd was Steve Churchyard putting his London Marathon training to good use and managing a 14 minute PB running in slightly more favorable weather condition finish in 3.33.32, he was followed by Steve Kjar in 109th & 3.47.13, Tom Byrne in 3.48.07 in 112th & then Tommi Gillingwater in position 201 & 4.14.48.

Well done to everybody, I appreciate with this many races this is a bit of a long read so I will think about a better format next time!