Rob and Kathy take firsts on 54321 trail

City of Salisbury athlete Rob Drag produced one of the club’s best performances of the day when he won the 33k race at the Salisbury ‘54321’ series of trail races that take in the area’s five rivers, four hills, three country estates, two castles and the cathedral.

Rob Drag powers his way to victory in the 33k distance at the Salisbury 54321 trail race

The events raise funds for the firefighters’ charity based in Ashley Road.

Drag’s time of 2hours 27min 30sec gave him a comfortable margin of victory and led home good performances by Mike White with 3.04.11, Pete Harris 3.14.48, Jonathan Kershaw 3.20.18, Alison Scott 3.49.12, John Roberts 3.49.38, Rebecca Lockwood 3.52.44 for second in her age group, and Carole Wiltshire 6.55.09.

At the 42k full marathon distance Peter Callanan was the club’s quickest in 3.58.56 and he was followed by Phil Perry 4:15:01, Charlotte Boardman 4.46.02 (second in age group), Richard Davidson 4.46.03, Pete Bott 4.48.16, Grace Cousins 4.56.27 (age group win), Di Cross 6.20.50, and Mel and Craig Murphy winning their age groups too with 7.48.55 apiece.

In the 21k, Benedict Saunby clocked 1.30.46 for second in his age group, then came Jonathan Croom 1.38.08 (age group win), Al Moutray 1.45.10 (age group win), top performer

Kathy Dudman setting a pace on her way to first lady in the 21k distance at the Salisbury 54321 trail race

Kathy Dudman who took first female award with 1.46.16, Craig Weatherburn 1.49.06, Yvette Emerson 2.09.32, Kevin O’Leary 2.12.23, David Osment 2.12.57, Katie Mahoney 2.26.56, Helen Carlton 2.29.57, Fi Thatcher 2.37.33, Natalie Milsted 2.59.22, Anne Norman 2.59.22 and Hannah Reeves 4.23.46.

The 50k saw Matt Bosworth clock 4.33.25, Richard Larcombe 4.50.30, Phil Smith 5.08.23, Ian Lever 5.35.58, James Ballard 5.52.34 and John Sowray 6.00.14.

City of Salisbury's John Sowray eating up the miles on his way to completing the 50k distance in the Salisbury 54321 trail race

Over the same 50k distance but in a demanding trail race based on the Cornwall coastal path James Mills placed eighth in 5hours 36min.

Verity a winner

Salisbury’s Verity Ockenden continued her excellent spell of form at an elite British Milers’ Club 1500m in Manchester, where she notched a notable win in the women’s A race. She set a speedy new personal best of 4min 12.3sec to further enhance her claim on international honours.

Best ever season for Salisbury road runners

City of Salisbury athletes knew they had performed well against more than thirty other clubs from across the South contesting the dozen tough events of Hampshire Road Race League. From the official results just published it becomes clear they have enjoyed their best ever season.

Stuart Holloway is confirmed as the men’s individual champion for 2018-19 and Ruth Thom also secured a podium place with third place in the ladies’ individual series. Richard Davidson took tenth in the men’s table.

These solo honours apart, it was in the team results that the Salisbury club truly showed strength in depth, a reflection of the big surge in recently-joined members who have taken to racing.

Leading the way, the ladies A team came top of their table and will now be promoted into the Hampshire League’s top flight next season.

The men’s A team are already in division one following their promotion last year, and they did well to take fifth spot against the higher standards of competition.

In the men’s B table, Salisbury men finished fourth and the C team were top of their table, while the ladies’ B and C teams both claimed good third places.

During the league season overall, the Salisbury club averaged 45 finishers in every race – 26 male, 19 female – far more than most of its rivals and numbers that would have been unthinkable just three seasons ago.

Jason Bennett was however the club’s sole representative at the hilly Sturminster Newton half marathon (4 August 2019) where he was timed at 102min 16sec.

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