18 October 2010

The weekend’s athletics action was primarily focused on the roads with the domestic highlight the English National Road Relays in Sutton Park and internationally, the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in China.

Cabbage Patch 10, Twickenham, October 17

Emily Pidgeon (coach: Andrew Hobdell) made a superb 10 miles debut to win a quality women’s race. Her time of 55:44 puts her second in the UK rankings while Becky Penty (56:10), Susie Bush (56:58) , Nicole Clifford (57:11) and Faye Fullerton (coach: Warren Roe- 57:39) all moved into the UK top 8 for 2010. The men’s race was won by Kenyan Gordon Mugi in 47:47.

Results: http://www.sportsystems.co.uk/ss/results/Main%20Event/406

Men’s National 6 Stage Relays, Sutton Park, Birmingham, October 16

Bedford and County won an exciting men’s race in 1:45:42 from Shettleston on 1:46:16 and Tipton clocking 1:46:19.

Having been only 16th at the end of leg one, Bedford gradually moved through with Mark Draper’s 17:04 (coach: Andrew Hobdell) moving them from sixth to second on leg four. But it wasn’t until the final leg, thanks to Matthew Janes’ 17:42, that they went ahead.

It was even closer for fastest leg with Ryan McLeod (coach: John Nuttall) of Tipton the quickest by just a second with 17:03 edging both Draper and Tom Humphries of Cannock and Staffs. Blackheath’s Scott Overall was only a further second back on 17:05.

Results here http://www.thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=34510

Women’s National 4 stage Relays, Sutton Park, Birmingham, October 16

Aldershot Farnham and District (AFD) ran out comfortable winners as Charlotte Purdue (coach: Mick Woods) returned from her two tough Commonwealth Games races to lead them to their fourth four-stage championship in a row. Purdue arrived from Delhi just two days earlier and timed 13:55 on leg three to move Aldershot to the front and her team-mate Emma Pallant (coach: Woods) brought them home with a 36 second winning margin. Aldershot timed 58:14, Charnwood 58:50 and Bristol and West 60:05

Gemma Steel of Charnwood was the second fastest women with 14:08, with Pallant third best on 14:20.

Results: http://www.thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=34511

IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, October 16

See report at: http://uka.org.uk/media/news/october-2010/16-10-10-world-half-hallissey/

Bank of America Chicago Marathon, October 10

Double Olympian Liz Yelling completed her first marathon since the birth of her first child and finished 18th in 2:37:14 after passing halfway in 76:03. That moves her up to fifth in the Power of Ten rankings.

Results: http://results.public.chicagomarathon.com/2010/index.php?pid=list