Race Report 11 - 12 May: Run Prestwood 10k, Buckingham Half, steeplechase history, cross-country triathlon and more

Good Evening, Race Report fans. It has been a really busy weekend for events and - as ever - Harriers have done us proud! Kicking things off yesterday, Amit Dixit completed the Xterra Triathlon in Weston Park, Staffordshire. That’s a cross-country triathlon, featuring a lake swim of 1.5k, a mountain bike course of 27k and a trail run of 11k. Amit did brilliantly to complete the whole thing in 3.22.44.

Meanwhile, in parkrun events there were first placed finishes and all-time parkrun PBs for Alex Hughes and Frankie Baxter at Rickmansworth (15.32 and 18.49, respectively). Lauren Mayot, James Malin and Richard Moss all came away with course PBs (27.08 at Worden, 22.30 at Church Mead and 21.07 at Whitstable). Ali Young was first woman at Sizewell (21.47), while Seb Lawrence  got himself an all-time PB at Heslington (19.49).

Moving on to today’s action, Sylvia Moss once again did well on a hilly, hot half - this time in Buckingham - with a time of 1.49.17. Glen Martin was down in sunny Bognor for the Bognor Prom 10k, clocking 46.06. Kingsley Nanton was the only current Harrier at the Marlow 5, which he completed in 34.07. On the trails Grant Whitaker ran the Marsworth 10k Fun Run in 47.31 (strava time).
Jennifer Webb, Steve Emery and Kate Paxton all took part in the popular Oxford Town & Gown 10k, organised by Muscular Dystrophy UK. Steve came home first in 41.03, joined by Jenn (1.02.30) and Kate (1.03.03).

And finally, there was a great turnout by Chiltern Harriers AC at the Run Prestwood 10k. Adam Shute not only led the Club home, he came away with the first place overall, in a time of 35.40. He was followed by: Frank Gaymond (44.31, with wife Rachel not far behind in 51.38); Ben Hannen (44.48); Jenny Bizley (48.17); Allan Cairns (49.29); Lee Corrigan (49.44); Beth Lang (53.03); Jamie Reeve (53.23) and Julia Aliaj (54.26 - strava time).

A late entry from Frankie Baxter (not because Frankie was late, but because I nearly forgot to include it): Frankie did awesomely to clock a time of 5.47.11 in a torrential downpour at the world’s first ever female 1-mile steeplechase, held at Iffley Road track on the occasion of the anniversary of Roger Bannister’s 4-minute mile on 6 May. So I guess that makes Frankie World Number 4, right?! You Go Girl!

Save the Chiltern Cross Country League

The Chiltern Cross Country League, which we know and love is going to fold and only we can save it. The current committee of thirty years’ service is stepping down. The Club hopes to pull together a small sub-committee of volunteers to fulfil one of those crucial roles, thus reducing burden on any one individual. Please email [email protected] to help rescue the League from extinction!

COMING UP LOCALLY: graded open track meets at Watford and Oxford, Compton Downland Challenge, the Green Belt Relay, kick off of the Southern Athletics League, Blenheim 7k, Youth Development League, the Ridge Off-roader, Last Friday of the Month 5k, BMC PB Classic and the Coombe Hill Fell Race. ​

More events, and details of training on the Club Calendar (click on a calendar entry to find full details of the event, including location and relevant links).