10 October 2016 

ERRA Road Relays, Sutton Park, Birmingham, 8 October

It was a Welsh one-two in the men’s national road relay championships at the famous Sutton Park venue, with Aldershot Farnham & District continuing their dominance in the women’s race.

In the six stage men’s race the medallists were all to the fore throughout, eventual third placers Liverpool out front at halfway. Leg five was where it all happened though, Cardiff taking the lead from Swansea after Dewi Griffiths (coach: Kevin Evans) had put them in front on leg four with the second fastest run of the day. It was Andrew Butchart (Derek Easton) who produced the quickest lap though, some 20 seconds faster than anyone else to move Central AC from sixteenth to sixth.

Going into the final leg it couldn’t have been much closer between the top two and it remained a terrific battle all the way to the line, Tom Marshall (James Thie) outkicking Jonathan Hopkins (Ridley Griffiths) to clinch the title for Cardiff.

In the shorter four leg women’s race, AFD made a slower start than most are accustomed too, fifth at the halfway point, but strong runs from Emily Hosker Thornhill and Louise Small (both Mick Woods) saw them take the title. Small also posted the third quickest leg of the day, behind Kate Hulls (Christopher Frapwell) and Jess Judd (Mick Judd). Birchfield Harriers were second, with men’s winners Cardiff AC third.

The age-group races also took place on the same day, with six different winners across the six races, Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers and Aldershot taking victory in the under 17 men’s and women’s race respectively.

Results: http://www.englandathletics.org/

Chicago Marathon, USA, 9 October

Scott Overall finished in 13th place in 2.18.21 despite being in the lead group at the halfway mark in a race won by Abel Kirui in 2.11.23. Three places further back came Tom Anderson (Matt Roe) who ran 2.19.52 in his debut marathon.

In the women’s race Freya Ross finished twelfth in 2.37.50, two seconds faster than she ran at the London Marathon earlier this year.

Results: https://www.chicagomarathon.com/participant-information/race-results/

4 Miles of Groningen, Netherlands, 9 October

Jonny Mellor (Steve Vernon) led home the British finishers in this Dutch autumn road race, posting a time of 18.03 in fourth position. He finished behind a trio of Africans, 25 seconds down on the winner, with Andy Vernon (Nic Bideau) and Ross Millington (Steve Vernon) seventh and eighth.

In the women’s race Lauren Howarth (Vernon) was the best of the Brits, also in fourth, just six seconds and one place ahead of Elinor Kirk (Vernon). Viola Kibiwot spearheaded an all-African podium in 20.02, with Howarth clocking 20.37.

Results: http://www.4mijl.nl/editie-2016/uitslagen/

Yorkshire Marathon, York, 9 October

Paralympian Jade Jones (Ian Thompson / Tanni Grey-Thompson) returned to the roads in winning-ways over the 26.2 mile course. She clocked a time of 2:03:51to win the women’s wheelchair race. Her Fiancé Callum Hall won the men’s equivalent, recording 2:01:35.

Paul Martelletti (Nick Anderson) won the race in a time of 2:19:36 whilst Sheffield Running Club’s Sarah Lowery (David Oldfield) was the first female finisher in a time of 2:45:53.

http://www.chiptiming.co.uk/events/run-for-all-plusnet-yorkshire-marathon-2016/

Perkins Great Eastern Run, Peterborough, 9 October

Aaron Scott (Nick Anderson) was the first British runner home in his local half marathon with a decent 67.11 clocking behind four Africans, with Jack Parslow a further 25 seconds back.

Results: http://www.perkinsgreateasternrun.co.uk/half-marathon/index.php

German 50km Walk Championships, Andernach, October 8

Dominic King (George Nibre) was fourth in a PB and UK lead of 3:55:48 to go second on the British all-time list.