Billingham leads way at Westonbirt event
A GOOD number of CLC Striders athletes travelled to compete in the Westonbirt 10k.
Set off in waves and observing all the Covid-safe protocols, the DB-MAX organised event provided a welcome chance for race-starved runners to test themselves over the 10k distance.
Proving to be more of a crosscountry race than a road and trail event, there was plenty of slipping and sliding which put pay to any PB times. First home for the club was Jacob Billingham, in 10th place overall and a time of 40:59.
Next home was the alwaysconsistent Helen Knight, first in her V40 category in a time of 42:51 and John (JJ) Willson turned in another fine performance to bag first in his V60 category in a time of 44:39.
Rachel Vines was next home in a time of 46:00, followed by the evergreen David James who (yet again) achieved first place in his rarefied V70 category in a time of 46:09.
Joel Freeland switched his coaching whistle for a run and clocked 47:09, while Fiona Brady Miller, returning from injury, registered 47:35, and club coach Amelia Mullins finished behind her in 47:47.
Helen Howes ran strongly for a time of 48:07, with Laura Daubney finishing in 49:15, Mike Speke in 50:38, and Billy Bradshaw in 50:51.
The remaining CLC finishers were Lena Deysner, Sarah Wilson and Nicola Smith.
There were also promising signs of things to come for CLC Striders as two younger runners with parents connected with club turned in fine performances – Jacob Howes coming in as first junior in 41.53 and Archie Johnston as second junior in 45:52.