Cirencester Athletics Club race reports

Gloucestershire XC League (4 of 4), Pittville Park, Cheltenham

Bill Leggate finished a superb cross country season with another fine run in the last of the Cross Country meets of the year clinching his place as County V40 Cross Country and Club Champion and (an unconfirmed ) fifth overall in the County.

The club has not seen such a strong performance for many years. Bill was closely followed by James Thomas and there was a tight contest for third man home between Oliver Pritchard and Charles Woodd with Oli just edging ahead on the last lap. Aaron Willis, Simon Campbell, David Wright (1st V60 overall) and Dorian Matts followed to make up the men’s contingent.

Full results for the season are not yet available but the men’s team were 4th and 2nd in the Masters with four rather than six to score. The ladies core team turned out with strong performances from all and were well supported by the men although they missed Kate Sackett who looks set to complete the season as 1st FV55 in the County. While our indefatigable club chair, Pam Wheeler is tipped to win the women’s Club XC Championships The Juniors also did their bit with another fine win by Henry Sheffield confirming his place as 1st U13 overall. There was cake and camaraderie aplenty at Pitville Park in celebration of a great cross country season and thanks to our two great captains Liz and James Thomas for their enthusiastic support.

U11 Girls (2.2km) 32 Eleanor Sheffield (Cirencester AC) 10.53

U13 Girls (2.7km)18 Isobel Watt (Cirencester AC) 12.17

U13 Boys (2.7km) 1 Henry Sheffield (Cirencester AC) 9.23 – 1st U13 overall

18 Zac Humphries 11.07. 27 Henry Broadley 11.29. 35 Andrew Woods 12.03

Team (3 to score): 1 Worcester AC 22pts, 3 Cirencester AC 46pts

U15 Boys (4.8km) 10 Archie Sheffield (Cirencester AC) 19.18, 15 Sam Cook 20.03

Ladies (6.4km)

1 Jessica Gibbon (Bath University) 23.26

67 Jo Roberts (Cirencester AC) 33.08, 110 Liz Thomas 37.22, 118 Pam Wheeler 38.19

128 Helen Manners 40.55, 139 finished

In addition K Sackett finished 1st FV55 overall although not racing today (best 3 from 4)

Ladies teams (3 to score):

1 Cheltenham & County Harriers 15pts, 28 Cirencester AC 295pts, 32 closed in

Ladies Masters teams (3 to score):

1 CLC Striders 55pts, 18 Cirencester AC 313pts, 22 closed in

Overall team results still to be published

Men (9.3km)

1 Dominic James (Cheltenham & County Harriers) 31.34

8 Bill Leggate (Cirencester AC) 33.35 – 1st V40, 5th overall, 1st V40 overall

23 James Thomas 34.43, 26 Oliver Pritchard 35.01, 28 Charles Woodd 35.22 – 1st V45

50 Aaron Willis 37.56, 64 Simon Campbell 39.00, 78 David Wright 39.52 – 1st V60, 1st V60 overall, 171 Dorian Matts 47.59, 193 finished

Teams (6 to score):

1 Cheltenham & County Harriers 37pts, 4 Cirencester AC 199pts, 20 closed in

Masters teams (4 to score):

1 Cheltenham & County Harriers 138pts, 2 Cirencester AC 178pts, 19 closed in

Overall team results still to be published

Bramley ‘20’, nr Reading, 20 miles road

James Widdowson returned to the Bramley 20 to knock a cool 10 minutes off an eight year old club V45 record to be followed by Tim Ingham struggling with a recurring foot injury. Rupert Chesmore and Liza Darroch (with Liza setting a Club FV70 record) also finished strongly despite their recent foray into ultra running.

1 Matthew Richards (Reading Roadrunners) 1.52.59 (chip time 1.52.59)

288 James Widdowson (Cirencester AC) 2.46.03 (2.45.45) Club V45 Record

320 Tim Ingham 2.48.53 (2.48.36)

414 Rupert Chesmore 2.59.09 (2.57.56)

521 Liza Darroch 3.16.45 (3.15.32) – inaugural club FV70 record 633 finished.

Castle Combe Chilly 10km, road

The Castle Combe Chilly 10k also saw age group triumphs with Olli Cmpbell finishing at 1st Junior and an impressive 8th overall and Tony Shelbourn, back to competing at last, taking the 1st V70 spot but just failing to catch Joyce Mathews. Not so far behind was an equally triumphant Peter Rowland.

1 Jack Hutchens (North Devon AC) 34.00

8 Ollie Campbell (Cirencester AC) 36.01 – 1st Junior

108 Joyce Matthews 45.01

122 Tony Shelbourn 45.49 – 1st V70

244 Peter Rowland 51.44 610 finished.

Winter Railway Ultra, Ironbridge, 28 miles multi-terrain

Martin Croucher had to travel up to Telford to find the flat miles he wanted in his long and meticulous preparation for this year’s Comrades Race in May. Laps up and down an old railway line enabled him to run 28 miles in 3.52 finishing in 3rd place.

1 Richard Heath (unattached) 3.14.49

3 Martin Croucher (Cirencester AC) 3.52.09 38 finished.

parkruns, 5km trail

A relatively quiet parkrun week saw Ollie Campbell starting off a successful weekend with a second at Chippenham, Mark Sysum finishing in 4th place in Cirencester and Ian Barrett fifth near Bury. Chris Prevett showed he can run short as well as marathons and Ruth Fulford made a cautious return from injury.

Cirencester AC finishers:

Cirencester: 4 Mark Sysum 20.35, 20 Kate Sackett 22.49, 65 Gary Wood 26.07,

221 Pam Wheeler (sweeper) 1.00.48, 221 finished

Swindon: 19 Jacob McAdam 20.16, 133 Alan McAdam 24.19, 186 Chris Prevett 26.00,

189 Rachel McAdam 26.04, 228 Barbara Thomas 27.35, 543 finished

Chippenham: 2 Ollie Campbell (J) 19.30, 183 finished

Chipping Sodbury: 249 Ruth Fulford 31.06, 425 finished

Colby, Pembrokeshire: 79 Louise Abbott 32.44, 108 finished

Brandon Country Park, Bury: 5 Ian Barrett 18.37, 152 finished