Monday, May 28, 2007

Plymouth 13.1 & European Champs

Cathy Newman, Exmouth Harriers’ leading lady and currently their top athlete, has just returned from Regensburg, Germany, after her brilliant performances for Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the European Non-Stadia Championships. Due to various problems she nearly didn’t go, but fortunately for Great Britain (and Exmouth), in the end she went.

There were over 1500 competitors altogether and over 100 from Great Britain. Cathy’s first medal was her silver in the W45 10K. The race was won by Katharina Kaufmann (Germany) in 35:47 and another German, Katrin Dorre-Heinig, was 3rd in 36:37. Cathy’s time of 36:14 was a massive age graded performance of 89.36% - just awesome, and her best result of the championships!

Next, with her team-mates Fiona Bishop and Lynne Marr, Cathy picked up a bronze medal in the 3 x 2K W45 Team Cross Country event, on a beautiful grassy undulating course on the bank of the River Danube. Their time was 28:54 and the race was won by the German team in 24:41, 2nd place going to the Ireland team in 24:47.

Not content with two medals, Cathy did it again! Another silver for another great performance, this time in the half marathon, in 1:23:13. The winner, just as in the 10 K, was Katharina Kaufmann (Germany), in 1:20:22. The Austrian Anita Pichler was 3rd in 1:24:21. Well done, Cathy! Exmouth Harriers are all very proud of you!!

A large field of 3128 runners, including five Exmouth Harriers, contested the Plymouth Half Marathon, which was won by Gemechu Kidane in 1:03:55. Although much of the day was cold and wet, the rain stopped for the race itself, the sun came out and it became very hot.

Hugh Marsden produced another excellent performance for 44th overall and 3rd V45 in 1:20:37. Andy Johnson was 151st in 1:29:07. Julie Gellender produced another good performance for 219th overall and 5th FV35 in 1:32:38. Trevor Cope achieved his best time for about five years, coming 1144th in 1:52:34. Dawn Teed, currently undergoing treatment for a running injury, was asked by her medical advisor to run in a race to check the effects of the treatment. For Dawn, just completing 13 miles was quite an achievement, let alone coming 1336th in 1:55:28. Well done, Dawn!
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Athlete of the year so far (?!) Cathy !!
(LT)

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