Cirencester Athletics and Triathlon Club member Henry Sheffield took centre stage again this week to receive the Bob Hussey Memorial Trophy at the 2019 Gloucestershire AAA Awards ceremony on Friday. This award, which has been given to many very successful athletes in the past, honours the best track performance by a county runner and has never been given to one so young before.

July 2019 saw Henry, then aged 12, competing in the Open Track Championships in Cheltenham to secure 4th (200m), 5th (800m), 6th (100m) and 8th (1 mile) places against a field of all comers. He then capped this by coming first in the U13 1500m Inter Counties Championships at Exeter with a time of 4.34.99. We have long been in awe of Henry’s precocious talent so this recognition at county level is very welcome. Also honoured at the County AAA event was Ruth Fulford who won the Ladies V70 Road Running Championships after a strong year of running a series of local races.

The Linda Franks ‘5’ is always a popular way to start the New Year’s road running and this year did not disappoint. Karen Higuera marked a return to competition by romping round in 36.54 closely followed by Kate Sackett whose 36.09 set another club record despite being piped into 2nd place in her FV60 age group. She was followed in by Tony Shelbourn who was thrilled to be back racing and to be setting an inaugural V75 club record. Barbara Thomas also ran well.

Linda Franks '5', Cheltenham, 5 miles road

1 James Bellward (RAF) 24.10 (chip 24.10)

74 Karen Higuera 36.54 (chip 36.48)

79 Kate Sackett (Cirencester AC) 36.09 (36.06) – club FV60 record

102 Tony Shelbourn 37.42 (37.35) – 1st V70 / inaugural club V75 record

181 Barbara Thomas 44.05 (43.49) 272 finished.

David Musgrove ran strongly in a high quality field to finish 78th with a time of 1.18.53 in the Four Villages Half Marathon in Cheshire.

Four Villages ½ Marathon, Cheshire, 13.1 miles road

1 Mohammad Abu-Rezeq (unattached) 1.06.14 (chip 1.06.14)

78 David Musgrove (Cirencester AC) 1.19.02 (1.18.53) 1710 finished.

Meanwhile Keith Firkin went to Slough to come 36th in a 10km road race

Slough New Year 10km, road

1 Thomas Dell (Milton Keynes AC) 35.47

36 Keith Firkin (Cirencester AC) 47.17 231 finished.

 

Nearer home Ian Barrett ran the loops of Quedgeley to complete his first marathon for 8 years – with an improved time of 2.57.22 which earned him a V45 1st and 14th place overall. He reported running the first 20 or so miles in a large group before having to battle the last few miles on his own but was happy with this test of his running as he contemplates taking on a long distance triathlon. Next in was club newcomer Brian Harris inspired by his daughter to return to marathon running after a break of some 30 years. His time of 3.26 was 4 minutes under a recently set and more ambitious target. Finally, no doubt after chatting all the way round, came Martin Croucher and Jill Hadland again minutes ahead of their target and taking it super steady as they prepare to run the 50+miles of Comrades together in June.

Gloucester Marathon, Quedgeley, 26.2 miles road

1 Damian Holmwood (Finch Coasters) 2.44.07 (chip 2.44.06)

14 Ian Barrett (Cirencester AC) 2.57.23 (2.57.22) – 1st V45

65 Brian Harris 3.26.22 (3.26.20)

141 Martin Croucher 3.52.13 (3.52.00)

142 Jill Hadland 3.52.14 (3.52.01) 272 finished.

Holly Willis ran strongly to complete the half marathon in 1.31 and the ever improving Jos Randell completed her 2nd half marathon in a PB of 1.56.

Gloucester ½ Marathon, Quedgeley, 13.1 miles road

1 Will Munday (Swansea Harriers) 1.09.57 (chip 1.09.57)

94 Holly Willis (Cirencester AC) 1.31.51 (1.31.42)

418 Jocelyn Randall 1.57.41 (1.56.50) 636 finished.

parkruns, 5km trail

Cirencester parkrun celebrated its 100th happening in fine style with balloons, cakes and a win by Club Captain James Thomas. Fitting too that a bit further back came Ladies Captain, Liz Thomas pushing young Sylvester in a buggie. PB’s for Brecht Grieten, Dorian Matts, Helen Manners and Donna Eaton made it a great day for the Thomas family and the runners of Cirencester.

Cirencester AC finishers:

Cirencester: 1 James Thomas 18.19, 8 Brecht Grieten 20.44, 28 Dorian Matts 23.11, 73 Rachel Ranger 26.40, 96 Brendan McCarthy 28.38, 107 Neil Broadley 29.45, 108 Pam Wheeler 29.48, 139 Liz Thomas 32.31, 140 Helen Manners 32.33, 148 Donna Eaton 33.25, 216 Ali Norris 45.00, 227 Jocelyn Randall (sweeper) 54.15, 227 finished.

Swindon, Lydiard: 211 Barbara Thomas 28.07, 543 finished.

Tetbury: 3 Jacob McAdam 19.37, 19 Nea Sneddon-Jenkins 23.02, 29 Alan McAdam 24.36,37 Rachel McAdam 26.11, 130 finished.

Cheltenham, Pittville: 19 Ross Swain 20.31, 634 finished.

Gloucester City: 109 Rupert Chesmore 27.45, 192 Liza Darroch 32.18, 332 finished