CoSarc keep league pressure on at Gosport half

Even without some of its top names, City of Salisbury athletes continued their strong challenge for Hampshire League team honours with more than fifty blue vests among the 1700 completing the Gosport half marathon along the Solent shore. writes JOHN RUSKIN

Ben Saunby (foreground) on his way to setting his personal best and first place for Salisbury, with club-mate Rob Drag ensuring further club representation high up the field - photo by Carol Chlebowski

Benedict Saunby was the club’s fastest on the day, with a good personal best (pb) of 77min 7sec.

Rob Drag was just ten seconds outside his best mark with 77.20, then came Richard Davidson 80.39 and Matt Sherfield 83.19 to complete the A quartet.

Salisbury's Kathy Dudman on her way to first CoSARC Lady - photo by Carol Chlebowski

The ladies’ bid was led by Kathy Dudman in 88.42, closely followed by Ruth Thom 88.48 for fourth and fifth in their age group, with Anna Patrickson’s 96.11pb also making the A team.

James Mills was first B team counter with 83.33 and then came Peter Callanan 83.56pb, Matthew Bosworth 84.35pb and James Hassan 86.29.

Steve Auton led the way for the C team, his 86.47 just ahead of coach Craig Weatherburn 87.25pb, Marc Hankins 89.32pb and Jonathan Croom 89.40.

The four point scorers for the men’s D team were Lindsay Kirk 89.46, Angus Paton 90.07, Nick Hudson 90.53 and Mike White 91.17, just edging out Chris Maple 91.37 and Richard Larcombe 92.09.

Charlotte Ingram was first for the ladies’ B team with 99.40, supported by Heather Hitchins 108.36 and Kara Rogers 109.53.

For the C team the points came from Rachel Bala 110.11, Katie Clements 110.17 and Linda Robson 110.32pb, and for the D team it was Mel Murphy 111.04, Hannah Keech 111.43 and Jane Whiteley 112.50 for fifth place in her age group.

Only just outside the team places were Annie Wills 112.57, Jackie Hassan 113.02pb and Zoe Lambard 113.41.

Other Salisbury finishers were Phil Perry 98.55, Craig Murphy 99.57, Jon Kershaw 104.27, Richard Williams 107.48, Derek Wood 108.57, Stuart Robertson 110.32, Andrew Makin 112.13pb, Barry Vincent 116.10, John Turley 116.24, Jon Greenhalgh 117.06, Helen Carlton 117.07pb and Louise Sloan 117.39.

Then came coach Mel Holloway 119.08, Colin Warrington 128.55, Lisa Milner 130.36, Jackie Cheblowski 130.43, Lynda Keech 138.03pb, Colin Martin 138.03 and completing another of the club’s excellent turnouts was Denise von Roretz in 143.46.

Full results can be found here

The next Hants league fixture is the always-quick Victory 5mile on Sunday 1st Dec.

Taking a break from league competition, Stuart Holloway took to the hilly off-road tracks of the Roundway Revenge 8 miler near Devizes and used his speed to win in 52min 28sec more than two minutes clear of the field, with Reece Ingram also well placed in 60.32.

Meanwhile at a 10k on Southampton Common Ali Theobald stopped the clock at 58.38.