Race 3 Bearwood – Weds July 1 2026
Report by Guy Whitmarsh.
A tail end view of Bearwood cross country: we are assembled behind the start/ finish arch, when runners start clapping. At the back we can’t hear anything, so I’m reluctant to join in. Are they clapping an England goal, Trump’s resignation or maybe just thanking the volunteers? Heads turn to the right, so I guess we’re being told how we cross the line to finish.
Then there’s movement and we start moving forward. Round the first bend (a farm building) then suddenly there’s a barrier in the way and I swerve left (sorry, Nick, that was right into your path). Then down a rutted track alongside the rape field, and already there’s a line of runners way ahead, throwing up dust we lesser mortals at the back have to swallow. A slight bottleneck, where we thank the marshal as we pass through the hedge (one wit suggests we have slowed in order to show our appreciation). More hard, rutted field margins and then into the first wood, with a strong smell of fungi in the damper environment. A few runners are beginning to go past. Should I have started slower? Am I struggling, unsuccessfully, to maintain my ‘speed’?
Meanwhile Mark L, who started late having watched the football, speeds past, on his way to overtaking some 200 lesser runners before the finish. There are encouraging shouts from marshals, some even seem to know my name (until I realise they’re urging on ‘you guys’).
Lap 2 and it’s a case of hanging in there, but first Lisa goes by, and I can’t keep up, then Hayley (no chance!) and finally Sue P, just before the slight climb up to the track leading to the finish.
I make some ground, but she hangs in there, and I end up a second behind her. Well, once again I got round, but that was about the sum of it. At least my hamstring wasn’t aggravated, but toes and knees will feel tender for a few days. Old age!
Edit to add results by Sam H:
Croft were the first team and are currently the series leaders. The Croft second team were in fourth place, pretty impressive when there are at least 8 different clubs taking place with 6 Croft teams altogether – fantastic effort team Croft!
Full Results on the Readysetgo website.
Croft individual results:
Sam Juson, 27:23 1st overall and 1st SM
Sam Mayglothling, 29:02 3rd overall and 1st MV40
Andrew Davies, 30:04 3rd SM
Mark Lamonby, 30:50 2nd MV35
Steve Partridge, 33:18 3rd MV45
Max George, 33:33
Mia Davies, 34:57 3rd Female
Nigel Taylor, 35:02 1st MV60
Nina Walmsley, 36:43 1st FV50
Dave George, 36:47 2nd MV55
Kelly Bowen, 37:05 2nd FV40
Ian Chubb, 37:32
Irina Whitfield, 37:41 3rd FV35
Jo Tilby 37:43
Sam Harper, 38:42 2nd FV50
Miles Davis, 38:46
Mike Bending, 39:27
Natalie Covill, 39:38 3rd FV50
Craig Price, 39:41
Jamie Symonds, 39:42 1st MU18
Richard Coltart, 40:41
Paul Lewis, 41:45
Steph King, 42:57 3rd FV60
Tom Powell, 43:12
Liza Austin, 43:21
Oli Cameron-Swan, 43:58
Roland Preeece, 45:06
Tori Dickinson, 45:25
Sonia George, 45:33
Ian Price, 45:43
Hayley Colebatch, 47:36
Lisa Gray, 47:39
Suzanne Powell, 48:00
Guy Whitmarsh, 48:01 1st MV80
Vanessa Bowers, 49:01
Nick Paviour, 49:59
Gary Gunner, 50:30 2nd V80
Peter High, 51:25 2nd MV75
Huw Williams, 52:09
Reachel Kenny, 52:35
Anna Bromley, 53:03
Sarah Norman, 59:44
Alice Norman, 1:00:01 (injured mid race) 1st FU18
Christina La Monica 1:00:36
