Cirencester Athletics and Triathlon Club

Adrian Williams’ competitive time of 1.20.75 gave him 16th place in the popular Milton Keynes Half-Marathon.

Choosing a relatively flat and fast course, Adrian took a well-earned break from European level triathlons to return to the distance after a two-year break. He was joined by a steadily improving Tom Renton-Rose who achieved a personal best of 1.37.54.

Milton Keynes Winter half-marathon, 13.1 miles road

1 Seyfu Jamaal (London Heathside) 1.06.07 (chip 1.06.05)

16 Adrian Williams (Cirencester AC) 1.20.57 (1.20.55)

215 Tom Renton-Rose 1.37.41 (1.37.24) 2,087 finished.

In contrast, Martin Croucher joined a tiny group running round the race circuit at Goodwood. Knowing that the strong wind was only going to get stronger, Martin had to use his consummate pacing skills and start uncharacteristically fast to achieve a time of 2.26.24. In the process, he accomplished his mission to take the club record in fine style by knocking some 14 minutes from the V45 record set by Ionel Iancu at Gloucester earlier this year. But all V45ers might take a peak at the club V50 record, held by Dave Wright, which is over 20 minutes (a cool one minute per mile) quicker.

Goodwood Motor Circuit ‘20’, Sussex, 20 miles road

1 Gianni Shipp (Portsmouth TC) 2.14.09

4 Martin Croucher (Cirencester AC) 2.26.24 – club V45 record. 28 finished.

Meanwhile a few fun seekers donned fancy dress to raise funds for the RDA by running round the Equestrian course at Wickstead. Kerry Smith negotiated the horse jumps in a time of 54.22 while Barbara Thomas and Helen Manners struggled slightly more in the long grass but a good time was had by all.

Wickstead Wander, Highworth, five miles m/terrain

1 Courtenay Chessell (Swindon Shin Splints) 37.04

38 Kerry Smith (Cirencester AC) 54.22

65 Barbara Thomas 1.09.17

69 Helen Manners 1.12.24 109 finished

Parkruns, 5km trail

Our club was represented in six parkruns this week to score two 1st's, one 2nd, one 3rd and one 7th place finishers – and Ross Swain’s 13th out of a field of 424 in Cheltenham was only slightly less impressive. Fastest run of the week was Tom Purnell (18.30) 1st on the new Swindon Seven Fields course, next Ian Barrett (18.43) 7th at Swindon Lydiard and also sub 19 was Mark Sysum (18.57)1st and with a PB at Cirencester. Ollie Campbell (JM15-17) was 3rd at Chippenham with 19.53 and Kate Sackett (22.47) was 2nd overall and 1st lady in a shrinking Stonehouse field.

Cirencester AC finishers:

Cirencester: 1 Mark Sysum 18.57, 2 David Musgrove 19.15, 6 Brecht Grieten 21.12, 20 Dorian Matts 23.28, 31 Paul Timms 24.45, 61 Rachel Barrow 28.22, 72 Pam Wheeler 29.28, 75 Rachel Ranger 29.55, 76 Samantha Timms 29.56, 104 Paul Barrow 33.41, 135 finished.

Swindon, Lydiard: 7 Ian Barrett 18.43, 99 Alan McAdam 24.25, 125 Rachel McAdam 25.57,176 Barbara Thomas 28.13, 353 finished.

Swindon, Seven Fields: 1 Tom Purnell 18.30, 107 finished.

Cheltenham, Pittville Park: 13 Ross Swain 20.25, 424 finished.

Chippenham: 3 Ollie Campbell (J) 19.59, 183 finished.

Stonehouse: 2 Kate Sackett 22.47 (1st lady), 38 finished.