In the Hatfield 5 Mile road race on Sunday, 28th November in Hertfordshire, Newmarket Jogger Paul Holley recorded a time of 27:53, his fastest time over the distance for 3 years, earning himself 89.96% age grade. This puts him (at the time of writing) top of all UK M55-59 road runners over 5 miles this year, according to the runbritainrankings.com website. No other M55 in the UK has currently clocked under 28 minutes for a 5 mile race ratified by UK Athletics in 2021. Holley specifically targeted this race to put in his bid for top spot over the distance. He finished in 16th place of 547 runners overall and 2nd of 81 in M50-59. The one person to beat him in that group was aged 50-54, which was not separated in the results table.
In the same race, James Smith (27:35, 11th overall, 1st of 78 in M40) also put in a top performance, his best 5 mile time since 2016. Close behind was Mark Hayward (27:56, 17th, 3rd of 78 in M40) in an all-time PB for him by 33 seconds. Anna Mayhew (44:18, 108th F of 266, 29th of 87 in F50-59) followed with her best 5 mile time this year.
Front running Joggers in Hatfield 5, all in blue tops: Jimmy Smith (front left with headband), Mark Hayward (middle, slightly behind), Paul Holley (just behind leader). Thanks to Jimmy Smith and Active Training World for this great photo.
Meanwhile, 11 Joggers ran in the Bass Belle 10 Miler in Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire. It was a cold, calm morning with dazzling sunshine and near perfect running conditions, after overnight wind had dried the rainswept roads. Andy Fryatt maintained his excellent run of form and was first home in 1:08:28, 27th of 331 overall and 2nd of 16 in M50-59, his first recorded attempt at this distance. Then came Jonathan Ollington (1:11:22, 35th, 3rd in M50-59), a PB for him by over 3 minutes. Hannah Parsons (1:15:06, 58th, 9th F of 174, 1st of 32 in F45-54) was first female Jogger home and continued in fine form, beating her time in this race in 2019 by over 5 minutes. She was followed by Richard Jones M55 (1:15:43, 65th), Jon Brooker M55 (1:16:37, 78th), Ellie Bithell F40 (1:23:54, 36th F), Joe Cormack (1:27:06, 160th), Lisa Johnson (1:36:20, 105th F), Chris Aylmer M70 (1:43:42, 274th), Sianie Painter F55 (1:50:12, 153rd F) and Sarah Kinston F45 (1:51:41, 160th F).
From left: Sianie Painter, Sarah Kinston, Andy Fryatt and Jonathan Ollington at the Bass Belle 10 in Bassingbourn on Sunday. Cold, but brilliant sunshine all the way.
MK Mo Run 10K, Milton Keynes, Saturday 27th November: Shane Basing (44:01, 7th of 129 overall) recorded a 10K PB by 38 seconds in this charity race. His two daughters, Lilly and Isobel, both ran in the Mini Mo Run and came 1st and 2nd in the girls’ race, so a great family effort.
