4 years it’s taken for this race to live up to its tag line “wet, muddy, step and cold”, but this year it delivered on all fronts in abundance.
This week’s storms and heavy downpours conjured up some phenomenal mud from start to finish. The wet was provided by some natural obstacles on the course… one in particular was sponsored by our favourite officially unofficial club.
“There’s no running around it this year” said off road king and founder of GHM Michael Coultrup
Steep… well it’s always been steep… geography takes care of that…
And cold…. although not as frosty as only a few days previously, a bitter wind was prevalent, cooling the sodden Runners.
A choice of 2 distances didn’t give the runners an easy option as both were plagued with copious elevation.
The 10 Mile Runners set out first, over 150 of them, further churning up the course underfoot ready for the 10k entrants who set out an hour later.
In the 10 mile, Harry Rann showed no sign of Christmas excess as he stormed home in a phenomenal 4th place also bagging himself 3rd spot in the senior men’s age category. Andy MacArthur was the next Roadrunner home in 14th overall, overcoming a recent foot injury to finish 5th in the V40 category. Peter Wilmott was next over the line in 18th to take 7th V40
The girls were next to start coming in with Holly Newton continuing her recent good form to finish 3rd Female, 29th overall and 2nd senior female. Jodie Wilmott also ran a cracker to finish 4th female and grab 3rd spot on the podium for the senior ladies. Jenny Dewing was the third one of ours girls back also grabbing a podium spot for being the 3rd V40 and 5th overall.
The rest of the hardy Roadrunners came in having given that last “hill” their all. Declaring that despite the courses difficulty that it had indeed been a lot of fun.
“Honestly that was so much fun” said Lisa Upstell on Facebook the next day.
The Roadrunners fared rather well in the 10k race too. Super speedster Michael Douglas took on a bit of family rivalry as his brother Ben was also on the startline. Michael gave his brother a run for his money, but eventually had to settle for 2nd place as his brother pulled ahead.
Simon Pilcher also ran a blinder to finish in 4th overall with second claim member Sean Williams crossing the line in 5th and the 1st placed V40. Also placing well were Dean Pike, Simon Riley and Darren Andrew in 6th, 8th and 11th respectively.
First home for the ladies was Lizzie Pilcher, in a fantastic 30th overall, 5th lady and 4th senior female.
Again the rest of the team came in, laughing their heads off at the sheer ridiculousness of the course. None more so than the very best of friends Matt Fletcher and Nick Scott-Denness. This cheeky pair have taken to running this race every year in fancy dress and this year’s costumes certainly turned a few heads.
A great way to blow out those Christmas cobwebs and a fantastic end to the Roadrunners year of sport.
10 miles
Harry Rann – 1.20.52
Andy MacArthur – 1.29.47
Peter Wilmott – 1.32.01
Holly Newton – 1.40.45
Gordon Mucklow – 1.42.21
Jodie Wilmott – 1.43.50
Richard Bezer – 1.45.01
Ian Russell – 1.45.29
Michael Coultrup – 1.46.11
Jenny Dewing – 1.52.37
Steve Webb – 2.01.40
Calvin Wright – 2.01.42
Sara Truckel – 2.07.34
Keith Ruth -2.09.33
Lisa Upstell – 2.12.59
Zoe Sherwin – 2.15.08
Elaine Harris – 2.15.42
Julie Rasmussen – 2.16.35
Steve Hickman – 2.17.24
Karen Phillips – 2.21.04
Dave Wilcock – 2.23.57
Sue Hunter – 2.23.59
Laura Holme – 2.27.57
Emma Ford – 2.27.57
Julie Salter – 2.36.53
Alison Butcher- 2.36.53
Ian Williams – 2.41.22
10k
Michael Douglas – 54.03
Simon Pilcher – 59.25
Sean Williams – 1.01.09
Dean Pike – 1.03.54
Simon Riley – 1.04.57
Darren Andrew – 1.13.07
Kevin Rann – 1.18.52
Lizzie Pilcher – 1.20.06
Mike Kimber – 1.25.13
Katie Mackenzie – 1.32.02
Julia Parker – 1.35.12
Fay Tosdevin – 1.35.43
Claire Howard – 1.36.53
Jane Andrew – 1.36.53
Matt Fletcher – 1.38.58
Nick Scott-Denness – 1.38.58
Jess Hill – 1.40.28
Charlotte Williams – 1.41.52
Sarah Sharp – 1.41.54
Karen Buck – 1.47.55
Peter Dixon – 1.53.08
Tanya Clifford – 2.06.19
Claire Jasper – 2.07.25
Rachel Dempsey – 2.10.09
Lynn Snow – 2.23.51
Shannon Brennen – 2.28.02
