FoD trail run series, 26/11/06

A squad of four TAC runners travelled down to Mallards Pike for the multi-distance running events. With over 200 runners toeing the start line, the forest trails were subject to some quality off-road running. The morning's stellar performance came from club captain Cathy Dudfield. The evergreen athlete selected to race the three lap, 15.4km course. And despite, feeling uncharacteristically unwell the day before, Dudfield filled her lungs with forest air and went on to claim the runners-up spot in the women's field. As well as collecting a fabulous trophy, she bagged valuable series points towards the £500 prize fund. Jon Mansfield, the 2005 series runner-up collected points too. Far from his best efforts, the triathlete found the going tough 25 minutes into the race. His running became uncouth towards the finish and had to settle for an overall 8th place. Still finding his fitness, Barry O'Driscoll picked this event as tempo training. He finished within his target time after having to stop to stretch mid-race. Stuart Dudfield choose to run the 10.4km event. It was worked as a quality training run and the morning went to plan as the Tewkesbury runner was pleased by his efforts.

10.4km

19th Stuart Dudfield 46.26

15.4km

8th Jon Mansfield 1.02.46

24th Cath Dudfield 1.12.37

28th Barry O'Driscoll 1.16.03

Suicide Six

Brad Crouch reports...

I managed to enter the Suicide Six with some friends. It had all the things I enjoy in a good run, some nice up and down hill, constant barge of mud to wade in...

I managed to get around the course in 46:44, which is a personal best for me (beating previous time by about 90 seconds). My final place was 60th out of 644.

My next race planned is Mortimer Forrest on December the 10th.

X/C league 18/11/06 report

Tewkesbury AC runners enjoyed the second event in the Gloucestershire cross-country series. Staged conveniently at Pittville Park, Cheltenham, six men and five women performed for the club. A fine turn-out as Tewkesbury has not always been well represented at XC events. Credit due to XC secretary, Andrew Hawkins who has sparked interest within the club. The ladies team shone the brightest on the day. Firstly, with CharlotteMowbray claiming a 6th place finish in the U17 girls event. On a shorter course, Mowbray carved her way around in under 25 minutes. In the main event, superstar Angie Sadler performed so well, not only did she win herV45 category but she beat all the V40 ladies! The long distance ace ran over the tough course in 26 minutes to finish 12th overall. Just a couple of minutes later Cathy Dudfield was chased to the finish by Carol Cowley. Club Captain Dudfield ran well until the later stages when the demanding surface took its toll. Cowley dug dip to reel in her team mate, however,Dudfield had enough in reserve to cross the finish line one second ahead of Cowley who, yet again, was the top V55 performer. Lisa Kane raced her first XC race for the club and was untroubled by the conditions to place 67th. The ladies veteran team claimed 2nd place on the day amongst some strong competition. In the men's race which was longer again at just under 10km, Andy Hawkins produced the quickest time. Although the quickest from the club at 36minutes, Hawkins did not perform at his usual high standards and will be eager to run better at the next event on 9th December. Stuart Dudfield set out to run the course and finish in good shape. This he did do and completed the distance in 41 minutes. Jon Mansfield's demise continued as he was chased hard all the way by Rob Jordan who had a great run on the day. Phillip Howell's had a concerning hip niggle which hampered his day. Especially concerning, as the Ultra-distance competitor teams up with Angie Sadler this weekend to travel to France for the popular La RochelleMarathon. Praise must go to Martyn Draper as he too lost his XC virginity and worked extremely hard for 51 minutes to complete the men's team. The Men's team came in at 19th place in a high calibre field.

Girls

6th Charlotte Mowbray 24.28 mins


Women

12th Angie Sadler 26.38
30th Cathy Dudfield 28.46
31st Carol Cowely 28.47
67th Lisa Kane 31.49


Men

44th Andy Hawkins 36.07
131st Sturt Dudfield 41.32
132nd Jon Mansfield 41.40
152nd Rob Jordan 43.16
160th Phil Howells 44.23
192nd Martyn Draper 51.39

X/C league 18/11/06 pictures

County Road Race Series 2007

The proposed dates for the 2007 Gloucestershire Road Race Series are now available here.

Bath 4 miles, 4/11/06

Jason D reports...

Lisa and I visited Bath on Saturday 4th November for the 33rd Bath Victoria Park 4 mile road race, and as the entry form promised, it was a good honest event, a race for runners in a beautiful traffic free park. This year it was run in glorious sunshine and crisp bracing air.Lisa produced a fine run to finish 4th senior lady and 8th lady overall in a new Pb of 31.48 minutes. I jogged round in 26.10 mins, then we went Christmas shopping! Next year it's November 3rd for anyone not racing GF5.

Sodbury Slog

Tewkesbury's Angie Sadler had great success in the annual 'Sodbury Slog' - an infamous 9.5 mile run across ploughed fields, rivers and particularly gluey mud. Sadler took part in the event along with fellow Tewkesbury AC Ultra-distance runner Phillip Howells. Howells, himself a proven competitor, completed the difficult terrain in 1.20 hr. This gave the V50 runner a top 250 placing from the 1,200 who took part. Sadler, a renowned distance runner, dealt with the course in 1.14 hr. She won the competitive ladies veteran title collecting a substantial financial award which will be sure to come in useful next weekend when the same two runners travel to France to test themselves in the La Rochelle marathon.

Tewkesbury AC at the GF5

Jon M reports...
Runners enjoyed a bumper Guy Fawkes 5 event in Tewkesbury. Host club Tewkesbury AC pulled out all the stops to accommodate a record 351 entrants. In fantastic conditions, dry, little wind and warming sunshine, athletes from all over Britain made the trip to Tewkesbury School to enter this popular annual five mile run.The race was also the Gloucestershire five mile championships and featured keen runners from all the local clubs.However, it was two runners from outside the county that took the top honours. Elite veteran runner, Mike Cadman from Birmingham tore through the country lane course at 5.05 minute mile pace to win by almost a minute ahead of Worcester's Chris Wilson. Meanwhile, the ladies race was won by 26year old Hayley Jennings, also from the West Midlands, by a similar margin. Severn AC's Sian Lewis was runner-up.Tewkesbury AC themselves were represented by twelve runners. All of them had fine runs with several life time best 5M times. Simon Hall returned to racing after a paternity hiatus to claim the top spot for the club. Angie Sadler fitted the event in between her six and seventh marathon of the year to lead the club ladies home. Sadler claimed the V45 title and finished 4th overall. Exciting prospect Charlotte Mowbray won the junior ladies title. Clubcaptain Cathy Dudfield was in the prizes as she finished 2nd in the V35 category. Big performances also included Stuart Buchan who ran a personal best time to finish 4th for the club. Lisa Kane, despite running the day before, also Pb'd.Andy Hawkins landed inside the top twenty-five and Phillip Howells finishedthe last mile strongly in the V50 category. Beverly Thomas and Wes Reid held off recent niggles to record pleasing times. Novice 5M runner, Tracey O'Driscoll beat her target time with ease accompanied by husband Barry who's feeling his way back into running after a two month lay off.

Guy Fawkes 5 results

With more than 150 pre-entries, the field for this popular 5 miler was always going to be big. A record number of entries on the day meant a delayed start, but once the runners were off, it was clear that the perfect running conditions were going to be conducive to some excellent times. A full set of results is available here.