Stephanie collects a cup after fun run victory at Eynsham (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Stephanie collects a cup after fun run victory at Eynsham

THE Eynsham 10k in Oxfordshire was the venue for the final race in Bourton Roadrunners' six-from-ten road race series and it attracted a good turn-out.

But several club members faced disappointment as they were unable to get entry into this popular event, held on November 28, as the race limit of 600 was reached well before the closing date.

Although usually a fast course, times were down this year due to the cold weather. Nonetheless, Stephanie Lane kicked off proceedings for the Bourton contingent as the first girl home in the fun run.

Having also won it back in 2001, this time she picked up a big cup for her efforts. Her time of 6min 4sec was some 24 seconds ahead of her nearest rival.

The main event, organised by Eynsham Roadrunners, consisted of a two-lap course around the village.

And Bourton's Mike Smith was the first to complete the course in 33min 57sec and was up in the top three for the first few kilometres.

But the fast pace proved to punishing for Smith, not yet 100 percent fit, and he finished a disappointed eighth.

Nonetheless, he was delighted to score maximum points to secure the club's road race series for the first time.

However, the performance of the day was from Shona Crombie-Hicks who continued her winning streak by clinching the ladies' race in 35.44 and an impressive 23rd overall,

Shona led the race the whole way and finished just six seconds ahead of a fast-closing Alison Hirst from Headington Roadrunners.

Rob Edwards raced away to another personal best in 36.30 for 33rd place.

Despite a brilliant season and leading the club series for much of the year, he finally ended up as runner-up to Smith with just one point separating them.

There was, though, some consolation for Edwards as he finish as the Vet40 champion. Alistair Lockey, in his first competitive run since August due to injury, made a great comeback to finish 37th in a respectable time of 36.52.

A trio of Bourton men were battling it out with Graham Hicks leading them across the finishing line in 38.26 and 64th.

Despite suffering in the cold conditions, he still managed to hold off John Raper who claimed the Vet50 club championship trophy yet again.

He was 67th in 38.40 and ahead of Tony Goodwill with the latter finishing in 75th and 38.54. There was also a battle between Norm Lane and Jim Lunney, but on this occasion Lane managed to hold on to his 169th place in 43.17 with Lunney in 180th with 43.39.

But Lunney did manage to beat his partner, Sarah Clemo, who has also had a great year in setting personal best in all distances to secure the ladies' series trophy as well as the Vet35 category. She was 188th in 43.48.

Martin Jewell, who was 197th, knocked a massive six minutes off his personal best to finish next in 44.14.

This relative newcomer to running is a great prospect for the future. Lyn Spedding, who was 289th in 47.31, was ahead of Ed Rozier who enjoyed the challenging conditions to finish in 295th in 47.46.

Next in was Johnathon Wilson in 303rd and 47.55 while Lyn Hudson ended the day as the club's Vet45 six-from-ten champion with her time of 48.08 and 311th spot.

Pete Scarrott, who decided to run at the last minute, paced his partner Shirley Creed to another PB by one-and-a-half minutes to break the 50-minute barrier.

Both of them finished in 49.57, but chivalry also evaded Pete as he just edged one place ahead of Shirley to finish 359th.

Gill Carrick had a steady run of 53.52 and 432nd to finish one second faster than she did last year.

And another new member of the club, Thea Powell-Jones, couldn't quite get under the hour but, in a solid performance nonetheless, clocked 1.00.59 for 523rd position out of a total of 560 finishers.