On Sunday, 19th April, the annual Manchester Marathon attracted a huge field of almost 28,000 participants, making it the second largest marathon in the UK, after London. Right up there among the frontrunners was Newmarket Joggers’ Neil Pollard (2:36:47 SB, 79th of 27,977 overall, 5th of 1,572 in M45-49, 85.29% age grade), who achieved a tremendous result. He sets himself such high standards that he was a little disappointed that he didn’t get nearer his PB of 2:31:56, gained in the Chester Marathon 2022. His positive halfway split was slightly under 4 minutes, but of course he expects it to be zero or preferably negative. Nevertheless, he now holds, by far, the fastest marathon time this year of any club member.
Above from left: start of the Manchester Marathon; Manchester United player statues in Old Trafford
Next to finish was Neil’s wife Hannah Pollard (3:25:38 SB, 312th F of 9,173, 36th of 799 in F45-49), who was so close to her PB of 3:25:01, gained in the Yorkshire Marathon 2018. Her halfway splits were immaculate…only about 30 seconds longer to complete the second half. It was her first marathon attempt since that Yorkshire race, eight years ago. There’s a story behind this: around 2019, she went down with a long-term leg/hip injury and it was years before she could run again without discomfort. In a seemingly miraculous recovery over the past two or three years, she has been improving by leaps and bounds and has been setting new all-time 10k and half marathon PBs. After years of being cruelly sidelined, it’s marvellous to see her enjoying her running again, at a better standard than ever.
Above from left: Hannah Pollard with Manchester Marathon medal; Hannah & Neil Pollard celebrating afterwards.
Third NJ to finish was Christopher Connett (3:47:21 SB, 8,047th, 873rd of 2,104 in M40), a light racer, who did well in his first known marathon. He was followed by Joanne Bouttell (5:42:48 PB, 7,932nd F, 90th of 129 in F60-64), who ran with her daughter. She did very well to gain a PB by 34 seconds, compared with her first marathon in Paris last year.
Above from left: Joanne Bouttell (right) with daughter at the finish; Joanne (left) and daughter, with Manchester Marathon medals.
On US Patriot’s Day, Monday 20th April, the 130th Boston Marathon took place. It was along a point to point course, starting in Hopkinton, Massachusetts and ending in the city of Boston. Runners needed to be bussed out to the start. NJ bona fide ‘Boston Qualifier’ Carol Cienna Carter and her husband Richard Defries were there, with Richard in a supporting role. Carol Cienna (3:11:44 PB, 9,091st of 29,335 overall, 1,813th F of 12,763, 7th of 972 in F55-59, 85.65%) judged her pace perfectly, gaining a PB of 3 min 41 sec compared with her Valencia Marathon in 2024. She maintained an almost even pace of 7:20/mi (4:33/km), though the several inclines near the end, including ‘Heartbreak Hill,’ gave her a slight positive halfway split of about 4 minutes. Her result of 7th of 972 in F55-59 will ensure she gets to take part in the Abbott Major Marathon Age Group Championships at the Tokyo Marathon next spring.
Above from left: Carol Cienna Carter with Boston Marathon medal; Cienna & Richard Defries after the race; Cienna’s official result.
Much nearer home on Sunday, the Northstowe Half Marathon took place, with two NJs involved. James Thomson (1:47:23 SB, 120/406 overall, 57/128 in M20-39) did well in his first half marathon this year. His PB stands at 1:27:50 in the Cambridge HM, back in 2017, when he had a lot more time to train. His main training recently has been pushing his daughters in a buggy around parkrun courses, which is very good exercise. Alex McCaffrey (1:52:12 SB, 155, 69 in M20-39), did well in his first known half marathon.
Above: James Thomson with medal after Northstowe HM; the attractive slate medal, close up.
Also on Sunday the Cambridge Biomedical Campus 5K/10K took place, close to the new site for the Cambridge South Railway Station. Eleven NJs took part, 5 in the 5K and 6 in the 10K. The course was basically flat, along road, pavement and through parkland, but the railway line was crossed twice in the 5K and four times in the 10K, which made for fair amount of elevation over the road bridge hump.
Above from left: the event village and Biomedical Campus scenery; the event advertising notice.
Above from left: at the start gate, looking down Francis Crick Avenue; the start of the 5k & 10k race.
In the 5K, Hugh Tawell (16:20 PB, 1st of 285 overall, 1/14 in M23-34, 78.61%) was in brilliant form in his first race of the year. It is thought to be a PB for him and the fastest 5k time by any Newmarket Jogger this year. Then came Stephen Edwards (20:53, 17th, 1/3 in M60-64, 76.84%), Karl Coutts (22:20 SB, 35th, 1/12 in M40-44), Sarah Last (30:55, 58/173F, 8/24 in F50-54) and Gillian Green (39:28, 123F, 1/3 in F65-69), all putting in good age category efforts.
In the 10K, first home was Charles Jones (43:15 PB, 53rd of 678 overall, 2/9 in M65-69, 80.27%), who did exceptionally well in his age category. Not far behind were Craig Dykes (44:24 SB, 70th, 3/31 in M50-54), Paul Roberts (45:52 SB, 85th, 8/33 in M45-49) and Tom Elton (46:58 SB, 103rd, 2/23 in M55-59), all doing well in their age groups. Only female NJ in the 10K was Sarah Kinston (1:05:24, 245/344F, 24/34 in F50-54), who was followed by Chris Aylmer (1:07:58 SB, 585th, 2/2 in M75-79).
Above from left: The finish area; Tom Elton, with medal.
Above from left: Gillian Green and Sarah Last, with medals; Sarah’s bib & medal.
Chiltern Ridge Classic 50K Ultra, Saturday, 18th April, Berkhamsted Castle to Wendover: Sianie Painter (8:22:37, 301st of 316 overall, including 11 x DNF, 2nd of 3 in F60-69) took part in this event and thoroughly enjoyed the course, the scenery and the beautiful sunny weather. The event started at Berhamsted Castle in Hertfordshire and made its way along the Chiltern Ridge towards Wendover, completing an extra loop at the end. The route included 3,494ft of elevation. Enjoy Sianie’s photos below:
Above, from left: Sianie Painter at start; Sianie using her sticks en route.
.
Many thanks for all the great photos, which are much appreciated.