The very popular Perkins Great Eastern Half Marathon in Peterborough on Sunday attracted 20 Newmarket Joggers despite the pouring rain. Chris Gay was the leading male Jogger home in 72nd place from 3,451 runners overall in a time of 1:16:41, which was an all-time PB for him by over 2 minutes. Next came Danny Peeling in 1:21:14, a big PB for him too. Grainne Brennan was first female Jogger home in 1:25:00, 16th of 1,422 women and a PB by nearly 3 minutes. Emma Newman came next in 1:39:12, her first half marathon for the club. There were lots of PB and Year Best (YB) times for the other Joggers, the biggest by Richard Groom (1:47:55), some 14 minutes quicker than his previous PB. Other finishers were: Simon Harris (1:27:36YB), Neil Williamson (1:33:58YB), James Thomson (1:35:15YB), Clive Purbrook (1:46:41YB), Ellie Bithell (1:48:40PB), Giles Macrow (1:49:24YB), Jeremy Reader (1:50:35YB), Meera Mahadevan (1:56:19YB), Malcolm Osbourn (1:58:18PB), Chris Aylmer (1:58:50PB), Jan Holmes (2:05:56PB), Tracey Bolden (2:14:50PB), Rebecca Hannah (2:19:17PB), Sarah Kinston (2:19:18PB) and Rachel Allen (2:57:24PB). Well done to all.
Up at York, Neil Pollard (2:50:08) and Hannah Pollard (3:25:01) competed in the Yorkshire Marathon and set huge PBs, both by around 9 minutes. Neil was 48th of 4,229 overall and Hannah 37th of 1,489 female runners, so great running. In the Leicester Marathon, Paul Holley was in top form and came 14th of 642 runners overall and 1st of 81 in his MV50 age group, in a time of 2:55:36, his first marathon this year. Meanwhile, Adam Maltpress (1:45:37) put in a good effort in the Manchester Half Marathon.
Over at Lakenheath, it was the Wildlife 10K which follows a picturesque trail around the RSPB nature reserve. There were 5 Joggers taking part: Richard Jones (44:00), Brian Munns (45:03), Andrew Taylor (47:35), Jim Withers (56:23), and Carol McIntosh (1:10:13). Conditions were difficult over the wet, soggy paths, so good performances but no PBs here!
James Tweed was down at Hyde Park London for the Royal Parks Half Marathon, where there was a huge field of over 16,000 runners fundraising for a host of charities. He represented Prisoners’ Education Trust and did well to finish in 1:40:41, an all time PB.
Much nearer HQ in Newmarket, Henry Hamilton-Gould, fresh back from his successful exploits in the Chicago Marathon, clocked 35:17 and came second in the Godolphin 5 mile Challenge for stable and stud staff, over the training grounds between Moulton Road and Bury Road.