European Masters Indoor T & F Championships, Torun, Poland (17th - 23rd Mar.)
Ros Tabor won bronze W70 medals in the 1500m, 3000m and 6km cross-country, plus a fourth place finish in the 800m with a SB of 3:26.09s. Barry Ferguson (M80) was the lead off runner in the GBR Mixed 80 4 x 200m relay which won silver behind Finland. Barry also contested the 60m flat and 60m hurdles, the latter with a SB of 15.93s.
Ros pictured here in the W70 3000m (Photo from EMA Facebook)
Edale Skyline Fell Race, Peak District (Sun, 24th Mar.)
Three of the club’s fell runners made the journey up to the Peak District for the Edale Skyline, one of the longer fell races at over 21 miles, reports John O'Mahony. It is a challenging course that takes you onto Kinder Scout then around the hills surrounding the beautiful Hope Valley with some tough climbs as well as nice runnable stretches. Fell races this time of year can be cold and wet affairs but the weather gods were kind with a lovely sunny day albeit a very windy one which on a circular course takes at least as much as it gives. Heavy recent rain meant the route was very boggy in places to add to the challenge. John O'Mahony was the first Harrier to finish in 3:30:21 which placed him 27th overall (23rd male). Jon Wilson finished in 4:38:35 (123rd male (149th overall)) narrowly beating Maggie Illingworth 4:38:55 (28th Female, 151st overall) in a sprint finish. All three report that the post-race pies and mushy peas remain of an excellent standard. Along with the unlimited cups of tea and plenty of cakes they make the race superb value at just £18 entry and hopefully that will encourage a bigger Cambridge contingent to make the journey up next year.
Maggie - John - Jon
Hastings Half-Marathon, St. Leonards-on-Sea (Sun. 24th Mar.)
Despite having been up half of the night before the race with sickness, Hayley Newman was the first Harrier across the finish line in 1:47:09. Alex Griffith Crowe, making his debut for the club, was the next in with 1:49:27, followed by Rose Baker (1:49.45). Joanne Barber secured a PB of 2:03:22. Other club members finishing were Maria Macdonald (2:14:11), Angela and Paul Ford both in 2:16:55.
Fleet Half-Marathon, Hampshire (Sun. 24th Mar.)
New member Lizzie Orr continued her promising marathon preparation with a PB of 1:31:49 at the Fleet Half.