Neil Pollard’s six months of dedicated preparation over the undulating Godolphin training grounds in Newmarket paid big dividends in the Yorkshire Marathon, held in York on Sunday. He came home in 2:38:38, taking over 6 minutes off his previous best time in the London Marathon last April. His Yorkshire effort put him 40th of 4,310 runners overall and 13th of 500 in his MV40 age category.
Also on a marathon mission on Sunday was birthday boy Mark Hayward, who clocked 2:47:28 and finished an impressive 5th of 614 overall in the hilly Chelmsford Marathon, earning himself a PB by just over 2 minutes in his 4th attempt at the distance. What better birthday present?
Meanwhile, Henry Hamilton-Gould (1:28:10) was in top form in the Chiswick Half Marathon, ducking under 1h:30m for the first time in 3 years and finishing 50th of 708 overall.
Above left: Henry Hamilton-Gould with his medal at the Chiswick Half Marathon. Above right: Close up of the medal. Photos: Thanks to Henry Hamilton-Gould.
Down at the Great South Run (10 miles) in Portsmouth, Iain Perry (1:28:05) showed just how much he has progressed this year, finishing 381st of 977 in his MV50 age group out of a huge field of 15,974 participants.
Also on Sunday, the hilly Thurlow 5 & 10 mile races took place, organised by Haverhill Running Club. In the 10 mile race, Neville Clarke (1:13:13) was outstanding and finished 1st of 8 in MV60+ to take home another trophy, followed by Clive Purbrook (1:21:12) and Miles Johnson (1:28:45). Belinda Schofield was first female home for the Joggers in 1:35:54, followed by Lynda McCormack (1:36:34), Sianie Painter (1:38:40) and Mary Marsh (1:43:15), all posting good age grade performances. In the 5 mile race, Danielle Jones (40:25) was first Jogger to finish and 6th of 62 female runners overall, followed by Svitlana Zinchenko (47:16), 3rd of 9 in FV40.
The Cambridge Town & Gown 10K on Sunday, a favourite annual race for the Joggers, attracted 21 club members this year among a large field of 2,303 participants. This event raises funds to support the Muscular Dystrophy UK charity. The course was flat and fast over roads and cycle paths, in cool, sunny conditions, ideal for PBs. First home for the female Joggers was Hannah Parsons (44:20, 2 min PB), 42nd F of 1,125 and 12th of 269 in FV35-44, followed by Emma Newman (44:55, SB), 45th F, Melanie Tindale (48:36, best time since 2014) and Alison McKenzie (50:38, 3 min PB). For the men, Oliver Daykin put in a top run in 37:16, 65th of 2,303 runners overall, closely followed by Sam Sadler (37:31, SB), Andrew Taylor (43:55, PB) and Jonathan Ollington (44:19, SB).
It was a lovely cool, sunny morning at the Town & Gown 10K on Midsummer Common. Photo: Chris Aylmer
Other Joggers putting in their best efforts for the club were: Jeremy Reader (47:15, SB), Stephen Cousins (49:13), Mike Sales (49:33, SB), Ellie Bithell (52:48, SB), Sarah Sales (53:49, SB), Chris Aylmer (55:41, SB), Sophie Adams (57:12, PB), Alan Thornhill (59:46), Sarah Kinston (1:00:43, SB), Orla Dockery (1:03:34, SB), Caroline McIntosh (1:04:13, PB), Emma Reader (1:11:25, SB), Rebecca Hannah (1:11:26) and Rachel Allen (1:11:28, SB).
Impromptu photo of Joggers at the Town & Gown 10K: Stephen Cousins and Jeremy Reader conversing in the foreground, Jeremy possibly about to remove his Joggers’ hoody top. Other Joggers left to right: Alison McKenzie (side view, red top), Rebecca Hannah (pink hat), Emma Reader (back view, blue top) and Caroline McIntosh (front view, blue top) probably talking marathons with Jonathan Ollington (side view, grey hoody). Photo: Chris Aylmer