Handy Andy leads the way!
There was a great deal of rejoicing as a real, as opposed to virtual race, the Gate Gallop 10km, took place on Sunday. The slight disappointment for the organisers was that only 172 runners lined up for the chipped time main race. This reluctance was not however reflected in the turn out from the Club with 28 runners keen to relieve the enforced isolation. In good running conditions over a rutted, mainly cross-country course runners progress was also slowed by a series of stiles. Andy Hawtin made light work of this as he led the Club’s contingent home in 11th place in 39.10 with the determined Sam Bassett one place back in 39.35. Dan Bower ran well for 16th place in 40.03 with, again Mark Slade one finishing position behind in 40.24 and the added reward of 2nd MV40 finisher.
On relatively home soil Mark Harriott was his normal consistent self as he finished 3rd MV50 in 43:24 and 28th place with training partner Andy Orme and David Green close behind in 43.42 and 43.47, respectively. Nathan Holmes and Micheal Walters were given the same chip times of 43.52 with Colin Mee confirming his status as a top local MV60 by finishing in 45.31 and 2nd place in his age category. The improving Ross Ballinger was next in 46.24 with Katie Dennis, the Club’s first finisher in the women’s race, breathing down his neck in 46.31 and 5th finishing position. Hector Arenas ran well for 46.36 with Steve Leafe completing the challenging course in 48.11. Little separated Becky Moult, Lisa Wright, Tracey Glover and Paul Glover as they finished in 49.07, 49.22, 50.00 and 50.00 respectively, with Tracey also clinching 2nd spot in the WV50 category. Robert Read and Nikki Reeves ran well to finish in the top 100 race finishers before Laura Harper, making a welcome return to club racing action, stopped the clock in 55.26. Sarah Walters, Karen Wilks, and John Pegg all ran with distinction to finish in 56.18, 58.26 and 59.33, respectively.
Part of the community fabric of the Club husband and wife duo Kevin and Helen Clarke recorded the same time of 74.33 with the determined Teresa Swift one second back in 74.34 and the redoubtable Pauline Cooper completing the Club’s finishers in 77.39.
