Payn main man at top Bourton race (From Evesham Journal)

Payn main man at top Bourton race

3:10pm Sunday 7th March 2010

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SOME of the country’s top distance runners took to the streets of Bourton-on-the-Water for the annual Bourton 10K.

Fortunately the predicted torrential rain and strong winds held off for the race, however the 450-strong field, marshalls and spectators had to contend with cold and rain.

Tom Payn, from Winchester and District, was the run-away leader, having opened up a considerable gap after the first two small loops of the village. He extended this throughout the race and stormed home in 30 minutes 33 seconds.

He finished almost two-and-a-half minutes ahead of the second-placed John Parker, who sprinted for the finish against Will Fergusson, both from CLC Striders, recording 32.58.

Just off the first three were Julian Wilkie and Darren Jordan, of Cheltenham & Co Harriers, in fourth and fifth, recording 33.03 and 33.13. Dennis Walmsley, of Bourton Roadrunners, had an exceptionally good run and, although a veteran 45, he beat all the vet 40s to record 34.08. Brian O’Connor, of Woodstock Harriers (35.35) and Jon Mansfield, of Tewkesbury AC (36.01) finished second and third vet 40s.

Lewis Gray, of Bourton, showed fantastic form, knocking a full minute off his previous best time to record 36.05 and win the Under-18s category.

In the senior ladies’ race it was a similar story, with Gemma Turtle, of Gloucester AC, finishing ninth in the race overall and first lady in 33.46, more than three minutes ahead of second-placed Jude Craft, of Headington, in 36.46. Third was Kate Jacobs, of Swindon Harriers, in 37.02, followed by Laura Kent, of CLC, first vet 35 with a personal best of 37.34.

Steph Lane, of Bourton Roadrunners, finished fourth senior lady in 37.47.

Jane Wassell, of Cirencester, had a good race for second V35 in 38.13, as did Michelle Parsons, of Evesham Vale Club, in 39.33, first LV40.

Cheltenham Harriers won the men’s team with 39 points, while CLC Striders took the ladies’ team prize.

What a weekend it was for Bourton member Conor Shoemark. After travelling to Truro on Saturday to compete in the South West Cross-Country Schools Championship, running for Gloucestershire on Saturday and finishing seventh scorer for his County in the Inter Boys race, he returned to run in the Bourton 10K, where the pressure was on to perform in front of his home crowd. His performance there exceeded even his own expectations, finishing 42nd overall in a massive personal best time of 37.02 and second Under-18.

He was only beaten by his team- mate Lewis Gray, who notched up 36.05, by far the fastest 10K time achieved by him to date.

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