Athletics

It was the last opportunity for the club’s runners to move up the age-related competition rankings and, being a flat two-lap course, had the potential to provide personal best times.

The race attracted a competitive field, since it is an Oxfordshire County Championships and Grand Prix event.

Mike Smith was first home for Bourton (35 minutes 41 seconds), followed by Ian Shoemark (39.05) and Lucy Walmsley (39.23).

Ewen Smith was testing out his hamstring injury, and having discovered that all was well, hooked up with Andy Peaston and paced him to his first sub-40 minute finish (39.40 and 39.48 respectively).

Steph Lane finished in 40.12 and Niamh Shoemark realised her PB dream of a sub-42 minute 10k, with a time of 41.49.9.

John Gibson ran 44:12 and Ali Lane was top veteran 55 with 44.43.

Next was Brian Hulcup (45.50), Liz Hulcup (46.43) and Chris Dry (46.45).

David Hanson managed to stay ahead of Susan Hunt, with both recording times of 46.41.

Catherine Wheeler’s 47.05 was an excellent result for her first 10k race, followed in by David Pyne (48.57), Graham Lane (49.45), David Turnbull (50.01), Shirley Creed (51.28), Lynn Hudson (54.00) and Gary Holton 1.00.01.

Meanwhile, Steve Edwards celebrated his 51st birthday by running another back-toback marathon.

The Saxon Shore Double Marathon involves four out and back loops along the coastline from North Deal.

Although fairly flat, nearly half the route is run on shingle making it quite challenging in parts.

Day one proved to be even more challenging though as Edwards had to contend with a strong headwind on the out section meaning 13 miles of extra hard effort for not a lot of reward.

In the end he was glad to finish in 3.20.38 for third place and hoping that day two would be a little calmer.

Thankfully, the wind had dropped almost completely for the second race.

This resulted in a much better run and Edwards finished in 3.13.13 for second place on the day and runnerup for the event as a whole.

The marathon was also his 500th under 3.28.