King of the Castle Nick leads the Almosts home at Eastnor event
ALARGE contingent of Almost Athletes took on the Magnificent Eastnor Castle 7, a trail race organised by Ledbury and District Harriers and the third race in the club’s off-road race series.
Fifth overall and first in MV40 category was Nick Lewis in 49:46, and also placing top three in their age categories were John Johnson (57:24, third MV40); Joanne Johnson (62:34, third FV40) and Charlotte Jamieson (86:57, third FV60), while Neil Tring was third MV60 (63:24), a day after picking up a first in age category finish at Chadderton Hall parkrun.
Also running: Jamie Baron (58:02); Jonathan Shuman (58:52); Peter Mitchener (61:27); Tim Perkins (64:28); Graeme Stopp (65:42); David Garnett (73:34); Hollie Galvin (79:05), Adrian Courtenay (81:21); Adele Steptoe (82:43); Rich Smith (85:27); Catherine Mason (86:03) and Bob Spawton (86:33).
Similarly muddy and slippery offroad conditions were encountered at the Pendock Spring Chicken 10k, where Ingrid Harris missed out by seconds on winning her age category (55:08).
Julie Averiss (82:23) and Coralie Pearson (83:07) also completed the course, while Ray Pearson took on the 5k race (44:05).
Natalie Greening tackled 15 miles of mud and floodwater over 2,000 feet of ascent at The Big Cheese offroad fell race in Cheddar, Somerset (3:58:33) and Lesley Cottle conquered in excess of 3,000 feet of ascent at the fabled 20-mile Grizzly – The Good, The Bad and The Grizzly - in Seaton, Devon (5:09:58).
Not content with mud, Glenda Gill, Claire Hawes, Steve and Helen Yarnold added water to the mix at the second race in the Tewkesbury Winter aquathlon series, Hawes placing second in her age category and Steve Yarnold placing third in his.
With marathon training in full swing, Mike Johnstone shone at the Milton Keynes Festival of Running 20-mile race, crossing the line 36th in 2:09:32, a personal best and an MV45 club record, knocking five minutes off the previous record held by Rich Birch, which had stood for five years to the day.
Also in Milton Keynes, Allan Green completed day three of the Enigma Week at the Knees seven marathons in seven days challenge – nine laps of Willen Lakeside Park – in 5:12:27 and followed it up at the Great Welsh marathon in Carmarthenshire (4:45:44).
A quartet of Almosts represented the club at Bath half marathon: Nathan Newton (1:37:09), Steve Phelps (1:49:42), Catherine Williams (1:50:11) and David Chittock (1:54:57), while Sue Sturgeon flew the flag at the Liverpool half marathon - her first - and she battled through to complete it in 3:02:30.
Rose Hubbard (1:44:02); Neil Taylor (1:45:40) and Janine Bennett (2:21:04) raced the Carlisle half marathon, the latter two the day after taking part in Jesmond Dene parkrun.
Overseas, at the Rock and Roll Washington DC event, Ian Poole put in a strong performance to finish in 1:41:16.
Karla Cleverley completed the EDP Lisbon half marathon, the opening race in the 2024 Superhalfs season, in hot conditions (3:32:58).
At parkrun, Elliot Jordan was third across the line at Evesham and Chris Mcmahon clocked his fastest time of the year at Gloucester City.
Sue Low and Brian Maggs visited
Cannon Hill, Birmingham, Kate Bestwick took on a hilly course in Barnsley and Leah Maddiss broke off from her Hadrian’s Wall walk to take in Jesmond Dene, in Newcastle.
Piotr Michalski visited Victoria Dock, which leaves him with two letters left to complete his alphabet challenge.
Members also ran at: Ashton Court, Bolberry Down, Cheltenham, Cirencester, Clevedon Salthouse Fields, Didcot, Gladstone, Harcourt Hill, Marlborough Common, Newent, Oak Hill, Oaklands, Peel, Pontypool, Sandhurst Memorial, Stratford upon Avon, Tawd Valley, Tetbury Goods Shed, Thornbury and Wolverhampton.