City of Salisbury athletes continued their tussle at the top of the Hampshire road league tables when they clashed with rivals Winchester AC at the challenging Ryde 10mile race on the Isle of Wight, writes John Ruskin.
Starting a sea level, the tough course features a long climb inland from the first mile, and a further four ascents – including a heartbreaker just before the promenade finish – make this probably the most testing event on the league fixture list.
Back on form, Stuart Holloway gave Salisbury a strong lead-out by finishing second with a 57min 38sec run in the men’s race behind Joe Wade from Ryde AC.
Ben Saunby did equally well to take first junior award and eighth overall in 60.32 setting a new junior male course record by over 40 seconds, then came Richard Davidson 63.04 and Matt Sherfield 64.57 to complete the A team.
Peter Callanan’s 66.10 notched third spot in his age group and Mike Brewster’s 66.18 was second in his, with James Mills at 66.40 and Jonathan Croom 67.53 for B team honours.
Club coach Craig Weatherburn led the C team in with 67.57 and he was followed by Steve Mitchell 70.43, Marc Hankins 70.56 and Richard Larcombe 72.34 and the D quartet comprised Derek Wood 74.27 for one of the day’s few personal bests, Jonathan Kershaw 74.55, Jason Bennett 75.41 and Craig Murphy 77.11.
In the ladies’ race Sarah Brewster matched husband Mike’s fine running when she clocked 78.59 to lead the A team and take second place in her age group, and close behind were Ali Holloway 81.15 and Vicky Robinson 81.37.
Also placing second in their respective age groups were the B team’s Heather Hitchins at 84.30 and Linda Robson 85.14, with Alison Scott between them on 85.12.
The C team ladies were led by Rachel Bala 85.43, followed by Mel Murphy 86.34 and Jane Whiteley 89.01, and the D trio comprised Jane Knight with 91.56, Helen Carlton 93.38 and Lisa Milner 93.45.
Full results can be found on the Ryde AC website (link at bottom of article). Next league road race is the keenly-anticipated Salisbury 10mile on Sunday 29th March.
After a good run of 73min 42sec in the Farnborough half marathon, Aaron Wilson is hoping for an England Athletics vest for next month’s fixture against the Celtic nations in a 40 year-olds’ masters event.
Meanwhile at Longleat, Neve Cousins and Art Mitchell won their 2mile races in 14min 46sec and 13.55.