Report by Sam Harper
A fantastic sky blue turnout for the first of the winter league races, not too far from home at Bearwood farm close to Pembridge. 38 seniors, 2 U17 and
I find this quite a tough run around field margins and farm tracks with a couple of technical stretches through some wooded areas. Only a couple of steady uphill climbs each lap but no steep downhills for a chance to get your breath back.
This is now a familiar route for a lot of Croft runners having taken part in previous league races and the summer series, but it was first time donning a Croft vest for some of our runners and a welcome return to Andy and Irina who last ran for Croft quite a few years ago.
Oliver Marsh and Jamie Symonds ran one lap for the U17 race with the rest of the seniors running two laps.
It was a great result for captain Sam Juson, finishing the race with a clear lead of over two minutes at the finish – an eye watering 36.19. Making up the male Croft first team was Gareth in fifth place (3rd senior male) in 39.39, Andy in 42.11 (12) and Simon in 43.27 (23) – well positioned everyone to secure the Croft team first place in a total time of 2:41.37,94. Final positions are all on time again this season and this puts the Men in the lead by 1min 50s if my maths is correct. A great position to be starting in the league.
Bella was the first Croft lady to cross the line in 52.47 to lead the ladies team of Irina 53.07, Kelly 54.14, and Jo M 55.41. This takes the ladies into 6th place on the leader board, but all to run for in the following races as it is times that count!
It’s not just about the leading runners though, everyone there is running for the team and makes a difference – we had 5 male teams and 4 female teams – an amazing acheivement.
I want to give a shout out to the Croft runners who were running in my part of the race. I find this a particularly tough race – I prefer to creep ahead on steep uphills and trying to stop people catching me back up again on the levels and downhills and there are just not enough hills for me to get ahead on this one. Quite a few marshalls and supporters were shouting – ‘well done Croft’ and not just Sam as I went past so I was trying to work out who it was who was behind me. Well run to Anna and Lisa who kept the pressure up the whole way round – not ever letting me rest as they were on my heals, right to the finish.
I did not manage to do the same with Oli and Ashley. I always like to give Oli a shout as I catch up to him because it seems to give him a second wind, but he didn’t hear me the first time, so I did manage to get infront of him at one point, but it wasn’t to last – a little push and he was gone again. It was great to have Ashley running again and it was a rare thing for me to get past him, but again this was very short lived and he became a dot in the distance!
Croft results:
U17 Race:
Oliver Marsh – 25:46 – 2nd MU17
Jamie Symonds – 29:09 – 3rd MU17
Senior Race:
Sam Juson – 36:19 – 1st Overall
Gareth Leek – 39:39 – 3rd Senior Male
Andy Davies – 42:11
Simon Norwood – 43:27 – 3rd MV50
Jasper Robinson – 43:33
Grant Womack – 43:56
Steve Partridge – 48:07
Henry Eastman – 48:41
Jim Bowers – 49:01
Stuart Austin – 51:06
Oliver Tomlinson – 51:22
Bella Evans – 52:47 – 3rd Senior Female
Irina Whitfield – 53:07 – 3rd FV35
Kelly Bowen – 54:14
Toby Spicer – 54:26
Jo Marriott – 55:41
Christina Pinto-Pearson – 55:56
Howard Verran – 56:12
Jo Tilby – 57:02
Liza Austin – 57:10 – 2nd FV60
Neil Taylor – 57:44
Flora Gunner – 59:06
Bronwyn Preece – 01:00:56
Roland Preece – 01:01:12
Oliver Cameron-Swan – 01:01:23
Ashley Robinson – 01:01:28 – 2nd MV70
Sam Harper – 01:01:44
Lisa Gray – 01:01:45
Anna Bromley -01:01:46
Guy Whitmarsh – 01:02:57 – 1st MV80
Gary Gunner – 01:04:23 – 2nd MV75
Ian Price – 01:06:07 – 3rd MV75
Steph King – 01:06:28
Molly Bashford – 01:08:00
Sue Wood – 01:08:00
Theresa Jones – 01:10:30
Clare Preece – 01:11:56
Reachel Kenny – 01:17:49
Before the main event there are the junior races and it is great to see these youngsters just getting into the sport and enjoying themselves and putting some great running in.
Saffi ran in the U13 race, finishing 5th overall and 2nd female. Her time was 14:38.
Taite and Elsie were running in the U11 race. Taite finished 6th in 10:58, and Elsie in 16th with a time of 12:33. Owen M also took part but unfortunately had to pull out due to injury, I hope you are fully recovered now Owen!
A great day for Croft and it was great that we had so many supporters out along the course – shouting us along and encouraging us every step of the way. This meant that there were lots of photos to be found on facebook after. Thanks to all who took them and below are a selection.
