At 7pm on Sunday 22nd August 2010 a host of runners lined up along side the four Harriers, Andrew Johnson, Roger Rowe, John Perratt and Joan Mason, for the start of the Torbay Royal Regatta 10k Race. The race was full with 650 entrants so the start at the Pavilion Theatre Torquay was very crowded. Unfortunately the weather was far from kind. A drizzle was falling for about an hour before the start but with just twenty minutes to go the heavens opened with a monsoon type deluge. So much rain fell that the drainage system was unable to clear the water so some areas of the race line were flooded, much to the enjoyment of the odd water baby.
After tracking Roger Rowe for the whole race, Andrew Johnson surged past in the last 100 metres to pip his old training partner by just 8 seconds. Andrew finished in overall 75th position in a time of 41-21. Roger Rowe finished in 80th position in a time of 41-29. Roger took the first place in the M65/69 age category, over seven minutes ahead of his nearest rival. John Perratt finished in overall 167th position in a time of 46-34 and was the first in the M70+ age category. Like Roger he also was over 7 minutes ahead of his near age rival. Joan finished in overall 333rd position in a time if 53-01, well up the finishing order in her category, but unfortunately outside the first three places.
The first athlete to cross the finishing line was Kairn Stone of the Newham and Essex Beagles in a time of 31-34.
The first female athlete was Jo Meek of Tavistock AC in overall 20th place in a time of 36-55.
The last competitor was Stanley Lloyd who finished in a time of 1 hour, 39 minutes and 49 seconds, taking the 586th place.
In such adverse weather conditions the organisers performed miraculously to record any finishing times and the camaraderie in the changing rooms was amazing where such appalling conditions brings the best out of all the athletes.
(RW & RR)
After tracking Roger Rowe for the whole race, Andrew Johnson surged past in the last 100 metres to pip his old training partner by just 8 seconds. Andrew finished in overall 75th position in a time of 41-21. Roger Rowe finished in 80th position in a time of 41-29. Roger took the first place in the M65/69 age category, over seven minutes ahead of his nearest rival. John Perratt finished in overall 167th position in a time of 46-34 and was the first in the M70+ age category. Like Roger he also was over 7 minutes ahead of his near age rival. Joan finished in overall 333rd position in a time if 53-01, well up the finishing order in her category, but unfortunately outside the first three places.
The first athlete to cross the finishing line was Kairn Stone of the Newham and Essex Beagles in a time of 31-34.
The first female athlete was Jo Meek of Tavistock AC in overall 20th place in a time of 36-55.
The last competitor was Stanley Lloyd who finished in a time of 1 hour, 39 minutes and 49 seconds, taking the 586th place.
In such adverse weather conditions the organisers performed miraculously to record any finishing times and the camaraderie in the changing rooms was amazing where such appalling conditions brings the best out of all the athletes.
(RW & RR)
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