Sunday was the 3rd running of the Cambridge Half Marathon and Newmarket Joggers were out in force with a team of 30 competing on a glorious Spring day which couldn’t have been more different to the conditions of last year which saw snow and sleet greet the runners. This year the sun shone and the team far from basked in the heat with 6 finishers in the top 100 out of over 3330 runners. A great set of results on the day for the whole club which saw Personal Bests (PB’s) recorded throughout and lots of club camaraderie pre and post race. First home for the club in 9th position overall and 1st Male Veteran 40+ was Paul Holley in 1:14:47, Martyn Taylor quickly followed and with his pre-race aim to complete in sub 1:20 he was elated to finish in 1:18:57 a new PB and 25th overall, Chris Gay was just seconds short of his PB as he was 3rd Jogger to finish in 50th position overall in a time of 1:22:15, Ben Blowes continues his great form to finish 56th overall in 1:22:47, Sam Sadler said the ‘wheels came off’ at 10 miles but held on for a sub 1:25 finish in 69th position overall 1:23:27.
Ben Jay smashed his PB to cross the line in 1:25:01 which was 90th position overall and 2nd Male under 20 a great result for the youngster who recently had his first ride for trainer Neil King and is set to run in this year’s London Marathon for the first time. Alex Cairns was another to destroy his PB finishing in 1:26:04, Joe Sadler was another to put his PB to bed finishing strongly in 1:27:28 then there was a flurry of finishers just over the 1:30 mark with first home Nik Chapman in 1:33:11 (PB), Kevin Connolly 1:33:28 (PB), Paul Francis was running his first half marathon and finished in a great time of 1:33:39 just in front of first lady for the club Ursula Ransom who was not to be outdone by the men as she also recorded a PB to finish in 1:33:41 and 29th lady overall, Justin Long 1:36:54 (PB), Marcus Hall 1:37:17 (PB), David Cheese 1:37:46, Nicky Chapman was 2nd lady for the club and recorded a new PB by over 5 minutes to finish in 1:39:33, Noel Benn 1:39:49, Joe Richer 1:45:09, Lisa Redman was 3rd lady for the club and also added to the PB’s for the ladies finishing in 1:45:41, Charles Shoolbred 1:48:38, Marcus Gynn 1:49:31, Wendy McLaughlin 1:49:51, Clive Purbrook 1:57:03, Mike Sales 1:58:07, Alan Adams 1:59:41, Miles Johnson 2:01:13, Lynda McCormack 2:03:58, Belinda Schofield 2:04:00, Mary Marsh 2:08:41, Ian Woodroffe 2:14:53, Isabel Vincente 2:42:43.
Junior Jogger Jamie Sales continues to excel over the Cross Country discipline this season and on Saturday he was second Cambridgeshire County finisher and 80th overall in the National CAU Inter Counties Cross Country at Birmingham, the race featured over 300 of the UK’s best runners from 41 counties in the U13 Boys age group. The qualifiers for the event were held in January where Jamie was awarded the bronze medal in the County Championships. His next race will be the English Schools Cross Country at Castle Donnington where he will no doubt continue his fabulous form in which he has improved his placings at each event.
Lisa Jennings travelled to Devon at the weekend to compete in the Axe Valley Runners Grizzly, the race is 20 miles of hills, bogs, steps, cliffs, shingle all run over multi terrain and very unforgiving. Lisa has taken on the Grizzly on 2 previous occasions and finished on both occasions however by finishing in 5:42:25 on Sunday she gained a massive PB and will no doubt be back again next year to take on the challenge!
Paul Dockerill contested the Cambridge Boundary Run Half Marathon and recorded a PB by finishing in 1:46:34 a great result for the Jogger especially over mixed terrain of roads and trail.