Bourton Roadrunners

Humph's Hilly Half

BOURTON Roadrunners staged the ‘Humph’s Hilly Half Marathon’, a popular scenic race that took its 160 participants through the villages of Clapton, Sherborne, Windrush, Great Barrington and Great Rissington, with club member Shona Crombie Hicks taking the ladies' title.

The race forms part of the Gloucestershire road race series and also incorporates the county half-marathon championships.

The overall winner was Anthony Bailey from Cheltenham and County Harriers, in 1:15.02, with James Bolton second and Brian O’Connor third (both Woodstock Harriers) in 1:15.28 and 1:19.52.

Shona was taking the ladies’ title for the fifth consecutive year and her time of 1:25.31 was more than seven minutes ahead of the second-placed lady, Liza Barry (CLC Striders, 1:32.16).

Ewen Smith re-found his form following many months out with injury, storming around the course in a personal best time of 1:20.59 for seventh overall and second MV45.

Other Bourton prize-winners were Claire Harrison (first LV35 in 1:37.18), Graham Lane (first MV60 in 1:52.09) and Dave Turnbull (third MV65 1:56.07).

There were other superb performances by Chris Krzywiec (1:27.16), Darren Long (1:29.43), Mike Hobbs (1:30.57), Kate Krzywiec (1:40.17), Hannah Maclean (1:43.52) and Lynn Hudson (2:09.20).

Once again, Liz Hulcup did a sterling job of accompanying and encouraging the tail runner, while at the same time earning points in the county road race series.