Brantham 5 mile- Friday 12th July
A number of blues were in action running the Brantham 5 miles. This is a particularly challenging route over mixed terrain and just to add some fun into the run several “small” hills are included!!
Well done everyone. Results are below:
Craig Slocombe- 30:07, Stephen Bullen- 32:08, Richard Moor- 36:16, Malcolm Statham- 36:25, Rick Robinson- 36:40 and Elena Moor- 41:59
Apologies I have no picture of you all!
Spitfire Scramble Saturday 13th July- Sunday 14th July “24 hour )
Sarah, Paul, Rob, Peter and Helen. (Aches and Pains!)
Team Aches and Pains, took on the incredible challenge at this year’s Spitfire Scramble. The team were made up of Paul and Sarah Davison, Peter Benton, Rob Dyer and Helen Carey.
This event is a 24 hour multi terrain relay race. It takes place in Hornchurch Country park, former home of RAF Hornchurch and a squadron of Spitfire fighter planes used during World War 2. The race itself will put your speed, endurance, teamwork and not to mention torch batteries to the absolute test and is the only event of its kind in the area. The event starts at midday when your “squadron leader”, Paul Davison began the first 5.75 mile lap and the team did not stop until midday the next day!
It was very exciting getting the updates from Paul via FB as the event was taking place although I have to confess too feeling total exhausted reading them especially when they were coming up to 18 hours and having completed 21 laps which equates to around 120 miles!!
The end result was this epic, hard core team finished 3rd out of 15 teams. An incredible achievement and huge congratulations to you all. This looks like a fantastic club challenge for 2025 don’t you think?
Along the Amber Trail Half Marathon Sunday 14th July – Koszalin Poland
Who else other than our lovely Magdalena Komorowska spends their week’s holiday competing in a number of events in Poland. First up she ran the Amber Trail Half Marathon in 1:41:43 and added another trophy to her collection for 3rd W40. This is a road race which consisted of 2 laps with some of the route going through a lovey quiet forest which was well needed due to the heat!
Another race saw her on the podium again, this time 1st place winning the Summer 1 mile race in Poland with a fabulous 1-mile PB of 6:39.
And just to finish off her holiday Mags took part in the 10K James Street run in Lebork (Poland). This race consisted of 4 laps running through the main market and streets of Lebork in 31 degrees (and that was in the shade!) She was placed 2nd in V40 category and after running 10k she then had to climb onto a big stage where she was presented with some prize money and the Race Director was attempting to pronounce the name of our running club which will now be known as “Greet Bintly”.
Congratulations Mags, I hope you are now putting your feet up and resting!
London 10K – Sunday 14th July
Congratulations to Paul Brazier who took on the London 10k and ran a superb PB in 42:03
The route is flat and described as fast and friendly (just like Paul!) with live bands and cheering fans. It takes you on closed roads passing Westminster Bridge, The London Eye, Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus and Big Ben.
Well done Paul a fantastic run.
Cornwall AC’s Turkey Trot
Our very own Ladies Vice Captain, Lisa Briggs was in action in Cornwall running a 4 mile road race called the Turkey Trot (what a fantastic name and apparently not a turkey in sight!) This race is part of the Cornish Road running Grand prix which is a very hilly route. Lisa finished in a very impressive time of 28:04 and won a bottle of wine for 2nd VW35. This race is worth doing just for the name of the bag (see below picture!!) Well done Lisa, I bet the wine didn’t make it home!!
Lisa Briggs and her “Turkey bag!”
Staying in Cornwall. Robin and Meera Oakley were at Penryn Campus Park run where Robin finished 14th and Meera finished 29th. And typical of the Cornish Summer weather it was tipping it down. Having read Meera’s description of this particular route I am not sure this park run will make many peoples “to do” list as it was basically up and down a hill 3 times!!
Robin and Meera
Saturday 27th July- Rendelsham Forest Park Run
A great turn out of blues were seen ticking off the R in our GBRC Parkrun tourism at Rendlesham Forest. For those who do not know Rendlesham Forest is famously known for a UFO occurrence back in 1980. The route is a mixed terrain one lap out and back that takes place within the Tangham areas of the Forest and passing the old airfield before returning back down to the finish. Since 1980 there have been no further sightings of any alien presence or UFO’s until this week end….
Well done everyone and Congratulations to Charlie Keitch who completed his 250th Park at this event.
In the evening the Men’s XC runner of the Year was announced at the Gurkha Restaurant in Colchester, where everyone enjoyed a curry and a few beers. Huge congratulations to Mark Jasper and Martin West who both received the highest votes. Looks like you boys all had a great time!
Boys night out!
Sat 27th July- Ziz Zag Running Great Barrow Challenge.
My fellow race reporter Tim Clifton was in action at the Great Barrow Challenge where he completed 2 laps of the Windmill route for a marathon in an amazing time of 5:14:20. There is absolutely no end to this man’s talents, not only a fantastic race reporter but also an incredible endurance runner too. Well done Tim.
Tim Clifton
Sunday 28th July- White Horse Harriers Trail Half Marathon.
Our Head Coach Caroline Searle completed the White Horse Harriers trail half marathon on an incredibly hot day. Carline used this race as a training run and was very glad, she went off easy as the first 1km downhill meant that it would be uphill in the last part of the race. Caroline finished in 2:47:25 with over 1100ft of elevation. On completion you do not receive a medal but apparently a rather nice piece of flapjack! Well done Caroline, fantastic run.
Great Bentley Running Club 