An abundance of Tewkesbury AC runners took part in the Bourton-on-the-Water 10km road race. The race included some of the area's top athletes taking on each other and the Tewkesbury club got amongst the prizes with Carol Cowley winning the V55 title. Bredon based Cowley ran away from the competition in a fine time just off her best.
Jon Rawlings had the club's fastest legs on the day, setting himself a target of breaking the 35 minute mark, in which he did with joy.
Rapidly catching Rawlings, Clive Baker performed fabulously as the V40 man finished just outside his lifetime best for 10km. Baker is in great early season form and for the second week in a row, he caught team-mate Jon Mansfield near the 6km mark. Mansfield finished a minute or so slower than last year however, did enough to hold off new member Luke Anthony. Anthony enjoyed his third 2007 event for the club.
Another runner in fine form is Stuart Buchan. The improving runner is the leading the 2007 club championship after another 40 minute run. Jason Draper finished in 41.33 minutes a little ahead of talented Amanda Martin. Stuart Dudfield ran the second half of the race convincingly while wife, Cathy pulled-up with a calf niggle after 5km. Rob Jordan is finding his form again by hitting his target time.
Happy to be back on the comeback trail is Neville Simpson who ran in at 46.07, whilst Veteran 70+ runner Mike Ward completed the course satisfied and Lisa Kane came in at 48.04, close to her 2006 time.
The contingent was completed by Peter Foster who made a dramatic return to racing. Foster had been laid-up with injuries only days before the event and was dreading the thought of having to abstain. Despite going through a bad patch between kilometres 2 and 5, the V45
runner was pleased to time well inside his estimate.
31st Jon Rawlings 34.55
38th Clive Baker 35.24
42nd Jon Mansfield 35.39
48th Luke Anthony 36.09
129th Stuart Buchan 40.23
149th Jason Draper 41.33
160th Amanda Martin 42.02
176th Stuart Dudfield 42.39
215th Rob Jordan 44.19
226th Carol Cowley 44.40
263rd Neville Simpson 46.07
288th Michael Ward 47.23
298th Lisa Kane Tewkesbury 48.04
347th Peter Foster 50.42