After 9 weeks since the last event at Lordshill 10km, the HRRL was back with a bang with two races in two weeks at Gosport Half Marathon and Victory 5 mile writes Craig Weatherburn
A bumper turn out from CoSARC saw 58 (Gosport) and 53 (Victory) athletes burst through the proverbial finishing tape to ensure the club’s Ladies and Men’s teams remain right in the thick of the top places in the leagues.
Gosport Half Marathon saw the Ladies A team – which comprises of the first four CoSARC ladies to cross the line (Anne-Marie Bayliss, Kathy Dudman, Charlotte Ingram, Sam Hibdige) win the race and continue to keep the pressure on the top two (Winchester, Lordshill). Anne-Marie Bayliss put in a brilliant performance to win the race outright on her HRRL debut. A terrific performance two weeks later at Victory 5 mile saw Ladies A team (Anne-Marie Bayliss, Charlotte Ingram, Samantha Noyce, Anna Patrickson) finish second which was enough to power them past Lordshill in to second spot in the top league, keeping Winchester looking over their shoulder. With six races left to go, a tilt at the first division title is very much on!
In the Men’s League, Gosport Half Marathon saw the Men’s A team (first four Men to cross the line) of Rob Drag, Richard Davidson, Matt Bosworth and James Mills finish a respectable sixth after strong showings from local power-house Southampton AC and Winchester, Lordshill, Fareham and Overton. A stirring performance two weeks later at Victory 5 mile saw Men’s A team (Ben Saunby, Aaron Wilson, Anton Weatherhead, Richard Davidson) finish third which sees them lying second in the league, firmly in the hunt for the title behind rivals Winchester. A superb achievement considering this is only their second season in the top flight.
Meanwhile, CoSARC’s Ladies B, C and D teams (B team is the next four CoSARC Ladies to cross the line, C team is the subsequent four and D Team is the four after that – the first 16 Ladies finishing make up the A, B, C, & D teams) continue to tear up all before them.
Gosport Half Marathon saw Ladies B team (Catherine Morgan-Smith, Samantha Noyce, Sarah Brewster, Zoe Lambard) win the race and follow that up by winning again at Victory 5 mile (Catherine Morgan-Smith, Sarah Brewster, Katie Clements, Zoe Lambard). It sees them sitting out of sight at the top of the league, way ahead of local rivals Winchester and on course to grab the title.
Ladies C followed suit at Gosport Half Marathon (Heather Hitchins, Katie Clements, Catherine Steele, Di Mattingly) and Victory 5 mile (Heather Hitchins, Charlie Boardman, Di Mattingly, Helen Carlton) by superbly winning both races to sit well clear at the top of the pile and firmly on course to gain promotion to join their B team counterparts in the top B league.
Incredibly for Ladies D, at Gosport Half Marathon (Mel Murphy, Elena Ruiz, Jane Martin, Kate Buttimer) and at Victory 5 mile (Jane Martin, Jacky Chlebowski, Lynda Keech, Anne Norman) only Ryde’s Ladies B team stopped CoSARC’s Ladies D from making it a CoSARC one-two across both races (Ladies D team finishing 3rd in each behind Ryde’s B team – amazing running). Only two points sperate Ladies D from second place and they will be hoping to surmount that. Nevertheless, in their maiden season, they are on course to gain promotion to the top league along with their Ladies C counterparts.
The Men’s B, C, D teams continue to scrap it out and consolidate in their respective leagues.
Gosport Half Marathon saw Men’s B team (Angus Paton, Michael Brewster, Andy Hollands, Richard Larcombe) finish seventh but power back at Victory 5 mile (Rob Drag, Peter Callanan, Anus Paton, Reece Ingram) to finish second. This allowed them to haul in Stubbington B off top spot whilst Winchester B leapfrogged from third place to first, meaning Mens B remain in second spot, fighting it out with Winchester B and Stubbington B for the league title.
Men’s C find themselves holding their own and leading the way behind the B teams in the top B division. Strong performances at Gosport Half Marathon (Marc Hankins, David Gervais, Reece Ingram, Mike White) and Victory 5 mile (Olllie Stone, Michael Brewster, Craig Weatherburn, Mike White) sees them ahead of Lordshill C and tantalisingly close to fourth placed Lordshill B team. Sterling stuff.
Amazingly, Mens D find themselves sitting in second spot only behind Alton B team and ahead of Stubbington C team following a super showing at Gosport Half Marathon (Chris Maple, Andrew Mathieson, Jason Bennet, Phil Perry) and Victory 5 mile (Jason Bennet, Andrew Mathieson, Phil Perry, John Duffy). Much like their Ladies counter parts, CoSARC’s Men’s D are in their maiden season and on course to gain promotion to the top B league at the first time of asking.
In the individual leagues, Anne-Marie Bayliss’ performances are enough to see her sitting in 9th place. Crucially, she has completed two races whilst those above have only completed one (thus maintaining a better average). 6 races are required to feature in the final tables and only the 6 best scores count (should more than 6 be raced). With a win on her debut at Gosport Half Marathon and a seventh-place finish at Victory 5 mile when up against international runners, she will be looking to build upon her terrific start and be in the mix at the business end of the season.
Ben Saunby continues his assault on the individual tables, also occupying 9th spot. He has crucially raced more than those above him, and much as his female counterpart, will be looking to stay in the hunt after winning the season opener and placing well in his two subsequent races.
The season takes a beak until we rock up for HRRL Race #5 at Stubbington 10k - a sell out race of which CoSARC have 61 entrants last count.
Full tables and information on the Hampshire Road Race League (HRRL) can be found HERE
Well done CoSARC, take care, enjoy the festive break and here's to lots of racing in 2022.