Cirencester runners tackle London Marathon (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester runners tackle London Marathon

3:11pm Monday 8th May 2006 in Sport

THE London Marathon produced fine runs from Cirencester Athletics Club's 11-strong contingent, with personal bests for most and great experiences for the newcomers on a perfect day for long-distance running.

Club captain, Pancho Gonzalez-Diaz, led the red and blacks home with an incredibly even-paced run to finish 158th in 2:37:38.

His four 10k splits to 40k were 37.03, 37.44, 37.12 and 37.28.

Paul Barlow, like Pancho, suffered leg injuries during the build-up to the race.

He also ran even-paced in achieving his aimed-for sub-three-hours in 2:55:25.

Kim Withycombe and debutante, Corinne Clark, ran the first half together before Kim pulled away to finish not far behind Terry Ranger and Steve Elverd.

The three of them finished within 2.54 and 616 positions of each other.

The indefatigable Fred Robson filed his best time for a few years and it represents the inaugural club V75 record at 4.46.54.

Despite wild and windy conditions, Cirencester Athletics Club's major race of the year, The Chedworth Roman Trail '10', was again a great success, with 341 finishers.

David Edelsten's magnificent multi-terrain course takes in the Stowell Estate, Coln Valley and Chedworth Roman Villa.

As in 2005, Vito Graffagnino dominated the race from the gun.

For the second year in a row, Lee Rankin of Stroud was an isolated second.

The ladies race was much closer, with just half a minute separating the top three of Laura Kent of Cheltenham, Nicola Denning of Chippenham and Angie Sadler of Tewkesbury.

Few Cirencester club runners ran but Bill Leggate had his best run since pulling a calf muscle last summer to finish a strong 21st.

As ever, David Edelsten produced a fantastic race and was ably assisted this year by Rupert Chesmore.

In the Gloucestershire short course Cross Country Championships, Jane Wassell gained another county medal when finishing second lady.

Her son, Lewis, competed in the U11 boys race, finishing an impressive sixth.

He was the first Year Five to finish and youngest in the race by far.

RESULTS April 23, London Marathon: 1 Felix Limo (Kenya) 2.06.39, 158 Pancho Gonzalez-Diaz (Cirencester) 2.37.38, 803 Paul Barlow 2.55.24, 6823 Terry Ranger 3.41.19, 7037 Steve Elverd 3.42.21, 7439 Kim Withycombe 3.44.13, 8697 Corinne Clark 3.49.34, 10067 Tony Kingston 3.54.48, 13276 Chris Goldie 4.07.07, 15338 Carolyn Pearson 4.15.28, 18348 Yvonne Binks 4.26.58, 23010 Fred Robson 4.46.54 - club V75 record. In addition second claimer Pete Holmes ran 3.07.16. 32,974 finished on the day. April 2, Chedworth Roman Trail 10: 1 Vito Graffagnino (u/a) 1.01.59, 2 Lee Rankin (Stroud) 1.03.51, 21 Bill Leggate (Cirencester) 1.11.35, 29 Marc Fallows (u/a) 1.13.28, 38 Martin Pitts (Cirencester) 1.15.44, 43 Laura Kent (Cheltenham, 1st lady) 1.16.21, 46 Nicola Denning (Chippenham, 2nd lady) 1.16.42, 49 Angie Sadler (Tewkesbury, 3rd lady) 1.16.52, 59 Mark Gluning (Cirencester) 1.18.05, 157 Trudy Compton (Cirencester) 1.29.25), 263 Jim Fallon (Cirencester) 1.41.42. 341 finished. April 1, Gloucestershire short course Cross Country Champs, Plock Court, Gloucester. U11s Boys: 6 Lewis Wassell (first Year 5 to finish and youngest in the race by far). Senior 4km: 1 Tom Russell (Stroud) 12.39, 9 Sian Lewis (Severn, 1st lady) 15.03, 11 Jane Wassell (Cirencester, 2nd lady, 1st FV35) 15.10. 23 finished.