[Andy K tracking Roger R in the second kilometre. They finished locked together in the same positions]What a good turnout from Exmouth Harriers at Yeovilton for this year's 5k Championship race this morning, even though Les Turner and new member Peter Tabenor were unable to run due to injury. The overall quality was good too even though the total entries were down.
The RNAS Yeovilton course is basically a 5 kilometre box from the main gates to Podimore and thence back to Yeovilton via a second lane. There isn't a contour line the whole way... even my pancakes are lumpier than this course!
In the Vet/50 class, Andy Kennedy, a late entry for the race following an encouraging track session last Tuesday, fulfilled his aims by finishing in 19:00 dead for the bronze medal, tracking Roger Rowe for virtually the whole race.
Roger, Vet/60 winner from 2006 was rather disappointed with his silver in the Vet/60 class in 18:58 - his fastest time this year. Disappointed that is, until he realised that the winner was Harry Matthews from Elswick, second in the National Rankings in 2007 up to this morning. Harry's winning time of 17:43 was the fastest in the UK this year, and a Course and Championship record. Even firing on all cylinders Roger is unlikely to manage that!
The interesting races were the Vet/65 and Vet/70 categories with our own Ray Elston in the former and in-form John Perratt in the latter. John's main competitor was Gordon Wiltshire, multi-record holding... the winner of many category titles over the years. On paper there were 7 seconds between them.
Gordon’s strategy seemed to hang on to John for as long as possible, but inevitably after around 2 kilometres, John gradually pulled away. Ray, keeping his powder dry tracked them both, noticing in the final kilometre that he was catching Gordon. Suffice it to say that Ray, encouraged by the shouts of other Harriers, outsprinted Gordon to finish in 20:52 for the Gold medal in the Vet/65s.
John of course simply ran away from them, finishing in the 4th fastest time by a Vet/70 man in the UK this year of 20:16 (his 20:15 in the UK Championship is the 3rd fastest)!
Jim Wyatt running an even-paced and solid race, finished in 22:34 for the Vet/65 silver medal.
Finally, Lee Russell finished in 5th place in the Vet/50s in 21:25.
So Gold for John, Gold for Ray, Silver for Rog and Jim , and a Bronze for Andy. A morning well spent! No other club came away with 5 medals.
(RR)
The RNAS Yeovilton course is basically a 5 kilometre box from the main gates to Podimore and thence back to Yeovilton via a second lane. There isn't a contour line the whole way... even my pancakes are lumpier than this course!
In the Vet/50 class, Andy Kennedy, a late entry for the race following an encouraging track session last Tuesday, fulfilled his aims by finishing in 19:00 dead for the bronze medal, tracking Roger Rowe for virtually the whole race.
Roger, Vet/60 winner from 2006 was rather disappointed with his silver in the Vet/60 class in 18:58 - his fastest time this year. Disappointed that is, until he realised that the winner was Harry Matthews from Elswick, second in the National Rankings in 2007 up to this morning. Harry's winning time of 17:43 was the fastest in the UK this year, and a Course and Championship record. Even firing on all cylinders Roger is unlikely to manage that!
The interesting races were the Vet/65 and Vet/70 categories with our own Ray Elston in the former and in-form John Perratt in the latter. John's main competitor was Gordon Wiltshire, multi-record holding... the winner of many category titles over the years. On paper there were 7 seconds between them.
Gordon’s strategy seemed to hang on to John for as long as possible, but inevitably after around 2 kilometres, John gradually pulled away. Ray, keeping his powder dry tracked them both, noticing in the final kilometre that he was catching Gordon. Suffice it to say that Ray, encouraged by the shouts of other Harriers, outsprinted Gordon to finish in 20:52 for the Gold medal in the Vet/65s.
John of course simply ran away from them, finishing in the 4th fastest time by a Vet/70 man in the UK this year of 20:16 (his 20:15 in the UK Championship is the 3rd fastest)!
Jim Wyatt running an even-paced and solid race, finished in 22:34 for the Vet/65 silver medal.
Finally, Lee Russell finished in 5th place in the Vet/50s in 21:25.
So Gold for John, Gold for Ray, Silver for Rog and Jim , and a Bronze for Andy. A morning well spent! No other club came away with 5 medals.
(RR)
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