Salisbury athletes make it a bright sea of blue at Stubbington

City of Salisbury athletes continued their successful campaign in the Hampshire road race league’s Stubbington Green 10k by flooding the event with more athletes than any of the other 30 clubs contesting individual and team honours this season, writes John Ruskin.

With a generally helpful breeze coming in from the Solent and unbroken sunshine drying overnight rain, the circular course and its mainly closed roads were in ideal condition for racing.

Among the full field of 2,000 Rich Ayling led the men’s A team for the first time, clocking a speedy 33min 15sec for seventh place overall.

Salisbury's Rich Ayling - photo credit James Ballard

He was followed by Stuart Holloway in tenth spot with 33.53, Rob Drag 35.07 for a personal best(PB) and Benedict Saunby 35.46(PB).

Poppy Landon-Down first of Salisbury Ladies - photo credit Lee Syrett

Poppy Landon-Down was first points scorer for the ladies’ team with a notable 40.35, supported by Ruth Holloway 40.44 for fourth in her age group and Sarah Brewster 44.55 for fifth in hers.

Next in the men’s line-up came Richard Davidson in 36.09, James Mills 37.00(PB), Matt Sherfield 37.17 (PB) and Mike Brewster 37.19 for fifth in his age group.

Then came Peter Callanan 38.02(PB), Matt Bosworth 38.13(PB), Iain Weber 39.25 and club coach Craig Weatherburn 39.28(PB).

For the D quartet, James Hassan led the way with 39.30 then came Steve Auton 39.37, Nick Hudson 40.15(PB) and Lindsay Kirk 40.27.

Vicki Robinson was first of the closely-packed ladies’ B team in 47.21, then came Joanne Bailey 47.23 for second in her age group and Ali Holloway 47.31(PB).

Similarly well-matched were Paige Holvey 47.44, Victoria Thomas 48.04 and Katie Clements 48.26(PB) and also the ladies’ D team of Alison Scott 48.44(PB), Kate Mortimer 49.02 and Zoe Lambard 49.26.

Sian Thomas - photo credit James Ballard

Among a raft of other fine performances, good PB’s were achieved by Marc Hankins 40.30, Linda Robson 50.03 for third in her age group, Lisa Milner 51.50, Andy Webb 52.19 and veteran Mary Clements 66.52 for fifth in her age group.

At the Hampshire league cross country in Reading, Sian Thomas was top of the club’s female finishers in a well-earned 15th, Ruth Holloway 34th, Katie Clements 82nd, Jill Coles 83rd and Aly Sloane 94th.

For the men, Sean Byrne was 30th, Eddie O’Gorman 54th, Andy Holme 56th, William Ewens 70th and Richard Davidson 83rd.