Despite many Chiltern Harriers privately finishing their own pre-Flora London Marathon plans, there were several performances of note by club runners in local events over the holiday weekend.
Good Friday saw the 54th running of the popular Maidenhead Easter 10 mile race. A large field of 968 runners completed the fast and flat course in unusually warm temperatures. Derek Brown finished in 8th place overall in 55:36, winning the Veteran 40 category race and Matt Bennett was 13th in 56:08, claiming the junior race prize. In the mens race the club placed 11th out of the 37 teams competing. The individual race was won for a third successive year by GB international Phil Wicks of Belgrave Harriers in a time of 49:41.
The sole female Chiltern Harrier competing was Debbie Wenman, showing she is in good shape coming up to the marathon, finishing as 19th lady in a time of 68:29. Winner of the ladies' race was Burnham Jogger Claire Pusey, in 61:07.
Easter Saturday saw the Asthma 10K at Dorney Lake near Windsor, raising money for Asthma UK at an increasingly popular location for running events. Several Chiltern Harriers were in action and the flat course and ideal conditions made for plenty of PBs for the distance.
Of a field of 553 finishers, leading the way was Eddie O'Gorman, 6th man in 34:18. In 26th place was Fabian Downs in 37:48 and Richard Quantrill had another good race to PB with 38:04 in 30th. Only junior runner Elliot Mocharrafie was disappointed, coping with a stitch to finish in 57th with 40:49.
In the very competitive ladies race, Laura Butt carried forward her good winter form, finishing as 9th lady and was delighted to again dip below 40 minutes in a PB of 39:48. Not far behind in 10th, and agonizingly close to breaking the same barrier, was Sarah Quantrill with 40:00 dead. And slashing a massive two minutes off her previous best for the distance was Isabelle Winter with 41:33, placing 11th.
Results from both these events at www.jandresults.co.uk
So a promising start to the spring and summer race season from Chiltern, with many excellent events to come.
Steve Perkin