Cross country running became the main focus for City of Salisbury athletes whose spirits remained undampened by the weekend’s rain and the soft going it created.
Bea Wood maintained her excellent form to notch another win at the 4.5k British Cross Challenge in Cardiff, clocking a fine 15min 58sec some twenty seconds ahead of the field.
At the first of the new season’s Hampshire League fixtures in Bournemouth, Olivia Glover led home a good group of under 13’s, and Charlie Coles was first home for the boys in twelfth spot.
Sophie Nicholls led the under 15’s race all the way to record her first win and Lukas Bailey showed well for sixth.
The seniors turned out in force, Sian Thomas leading the 26 Salisbury ladies and Michael Beckett the first of the 23 men.
Finishing touch to the club’s great start to the new campaign was the award to club stalwart Dave Amey of the league’s special trophy for outstanding contribution to cross country running over the years.
On the roads of the Chicago marathon where the women’s world record was broken, Nick Hudson took ten minutes off his previous best with an even-paced run of 3hours 17min 14sec and Natalie Milsted clocked 5.53.20.
On the hillier tarmac of the Burton Bradstock marathon, first time at the distance Helen Carlton ran 4:36:13 and coach Craig Weatherburn finishing just behind in 4.36:15
In the final event of the six-race Purbeck Trail, Al Moutray claimed a top three spot in his age group by completing the 12k Studland Stampede in 55.37.
By John Ruskin