The Easy Runner Blog

WESTBURY Harriers’ Emma D’Alton raced to a supereb victory in the 18th Blackmore Vale half marathon, in Sherborne.
D’Alton not only finished over three minutes ahead of Devon ultra distance international Heather Foundling-Hawker but set a new course record of 1hr 21mins 58secs, just 26 seconds off her personal best set in Stroud last year.
On a course that isn’t regarded the fastest that suggests D’Alton will dip well under 81 minutes when she lines up on a faster course.
Clubmate John Terry finished 12th in the men’s race that saw over 600 finishers.

18th Blackmore Vale half marathon, Sherborne, Dorset – men: 1 Steve Way (BM) 69:28; 2 John Sharkey (BM) 73:07; 3 Tristan Cooper (Wells) 74:23
WEST: 7 Mark Pittaway (RMP, M40 1st) 78:11; 8 Paul Rose (YTRR, M40) 78:42; 12 John Terry (WH) 80:11; 21 Jacob Hayes (BRR) 82:52; 24 Simon Hancock (Clev) 83:23; 35 Richard Ponsford (Clev) 85:59; 36 Richard Smith (Clev, M40) 86:00; 43 mark Templer (Clev, M40) 87;33; 47 Joe Pickles (GWR) 88:32;

Women: 1 Emma D’Alton (WH) 1:21.58 (record) ; 2 Heather Foundling-Hawker (HRC, W40) 85:26; 3 Michelle Parsons (Evesham, W35) 86:57; 4 Chloe Felton (Tiv) 89:09. 609 finishers

WEST international Tom Russell smashed his personal best to finish third in a high-quality Alsager 5 miles road race yesterday.
The Bristol & West AC runner clocked a very impressive 23mins 43secs, over a minute off his previous set in Weston five years ago when still a teenager, to finish close behind British internationals Nick McCormick and Chris Davies.
The run will be a big boost to Russell, who was left bitterly disappointed with his fourth place in the Midland Cross Country Championships the previous week.
Clubmate and international duathlete Phil Wylie, who took a break from racing and training over Christmas, ran a PB of 24:44 in 20th place from a field of 610 finishers.

Asics Alsager 5 miles road race – men: 1 Nick McCormick (Morpeth) 23:33; 2 Chris Davies (Telford) 23:37; 3 Tom Russell (B&W) 23:43. WEST: 20 Phil Wylie (B&W) 24:44; 37 Matt Withey (Stroud, U20) 26:29; 112 George Robinson (Stroud) 30:01; 117 Nick Holliday (Stroud, M50) 30:06.. 610 finishers

* Bristol & West AC’s Tom Merson retained his Fulfords 5 miles road title in Exmouth in a time of 25mins 11secs, 15 seconds quicker than he ran on his debut twelve months ago.

THE Avon Schools’ and Midland Cross Country Championships were the two major events in January while the indoor season moved up a gear to give our local athletes plenty of opportunities to shine in the Easy Runner/Bristol Evening Post athlete of the month competition.
The short list of candidates is published below and the winner will be revealed in Saturday’s Evening Post.

REBECCA BARLOW: The 16-year-old Westbury Harrier ran a really gutsy race to win the bronze medal at her first attempt in the senior girls’ race at the Avon Schools’ CCC. Then ended the month with 33rd in the Under 20 women’s race at the Midland CCC.

ZAK TOBIAS: A month of contrasting fortunes for the 15-year-old Bristol & West AC runner, who opened with a decent ninth place in the McCain Cardiff Cross Challenge but was then a below-par eight in the inter boys’ race at the Avon Schools’ Championships. Tobias, though, saved his best until last producing the best run of his young life to end the month on a high with a coveted bronze medal in the Under 17 men’s race at the Midland CCC.

VICTORIA KENNY: Unlucky to be up against two of the best girls in the country in Olivia Sadler and Aoife Thorogood the 14-year-old Clifton College student focused on her own race and beat some very good runner to claim the bronze medal in the inter girls’ race at the Avon Schools’ Cross Country Championships.

YANNICK BUDD: The 18-year-old sprint hurdler has enjoyed a terrific month twice beating his personal best in the 60m hurdles and on both occasions improving the Bristol & West AC club record. Budd clocked 8.79secs at the Bath Open then improved to 8.69secs to win the event at the Welsh Open Championships.

EMMA SMITH: The 15-year-old Backwell School athlete, who also competes for North Somerset AC, impressed with her victory in the speed bounce to win the Under 15 girls’ athlete of the match at the Avon Schools’ Sports Hall Championships staged at Bristol Grammar School.

JAMES LAURENCE: Stepping up into the new group the 14-year-old Worle School student, who is a member of North Somerset AC, claimed a superb hat-trick of wins in the 2-lap race and both the standing long and triple jumps to be named Under 15 boys’ athlete of the match at the Avon Schools’ Sports Hall Championships staged at BGS.

TRACK and field athletics in Bristol has been given a huge boost with the news that Bristol City Council is to release £1.5million of funding to upgrade facilities.
The cash injection will facilitate the establishment of a six-lane training track at Packers Sports Ground, in Whitehall and the upgrading of the all-weather track at the WISE Campus, Filton, into eight lanes with new floodlighting and improvements to the jump and throws area.
The decision will bring the city’s athletics facilities into the 21st century and give Bristol & West AC a huge lift in their ambition to qualify for the top flight of national track & field athletics having in recent years been prevented from even staging a Midlands League match at Whitchurch.
“This is a decision all Bristol’s track and field athletes have been waiting for,” said Bristol and West AC chairman Mike Down.
The original decision to replace the athletics facilities at Whitchurch was taken back in 2003 and Councillor Simon Cook, who is Bristol’s deputy leader and cabinet member for culture, sport and capital projects, admitted local athletes had endured a long and frustrating wait for the new plans to get the go-ahead.
“This two-pronged approach to provide better athletics facilities for Bristol is an excellent way forward,” said Cook.
“For far too long local athletes have had to make do and mend - with facilities that just weren’t good enough. Now here’s
a real chance for us - in partnership with Filton College and City Academy Bristol - to deliver facilities local people deserve.”

BRITISH international Claire Hallissey leads a strong Bristol University squad at the British Students’ Cross Country Championships at Stirling University tomorrow.
Hallissey will be backed up by Bristol University team-mates Imogen Ainsworth, Georgie Bruinvels, Easy Runner Sodbury Slog winner Sarah Wigmore, Erica Golland and Hannah Pollak.

BITTON Road Runners, Clevedon AC and Westbury Harriers will be out in force at the fourth and final Gloucestershire Cross Country League fixture at Pitville Park, in Cheltenham. The event will also host the Gloucestershire County Championships, postponed from last month due to the bad weather.

FRUSTRATED By his fourth place in the senior men’s race at the Midland Cross Country Championships Bristol & West’s Tom Russell will be seeking to make his mark in the quick Alsager 5 miles road race on Sunday. Nailsworth Olympic marathon runner Dan Robinson is also entered.

“It is usually a high quality race so I’m hoping for a fast time,” said Russell.

Coincidentally clubmate Tom Merson is also running a 5 miler on Sunday but has opted for the Exmouth event, which he won last year. Merson lives in the east Devon seaside town and is determined to retain his title.
Entries will be taken on the day for this event so if you fancy a run on a decent, two-lap course including sections along the sea front look at the website for further details: www.exmouth-harriers.co.uk

ENTRIES for the May Hill Massacre multi terrain race in Gloucestershire, he Longleat 10k road race in Somerset and the Blackmore Vale half marathon have closed and none will be taken on the day. All three races are being staged this Sunday.

YOUNGSTERS interested in representing the south west in the Virgin mini marathon, in London, on Sunday April 25th need to apply for selection this year.
Unlike last year, when a trials race was held in Bristol, it has been decided that a squad will be selected on the basis of performances this winter.
Runners eligible must either live, go to school, or were born in the one of the west counties - Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Avon, Gloucester – and six runners will be selected for each age group.
“Selections will be based on performances in recent events but athletes will development potential will also be
considered,” said a statement from the team management.
Members of the selected teams will travel together by coach, from a central pick up point, to London on April 24th. They will have an overnight stay and travel to the race start for 9am. All travel, accommodation, kit, and meals will be
provided.
For further information email Keith.Reed@plymouth.gov.uk or tel 01752 307349, or contact the team manager: Sonya Ellis on e-mail sonyaellis@hotmail.com or tel 077456 16852. Closing date for entries: Sunday 1 March 2010

AVON will send strong squads to the South West Sports Hall Championships at Torbay Leisure Centre on Sunday.
“Last year I was taken by surprise when the girls and boys team both qualified for the National Finals,” said Under 15s team manager Hilary Nash.
“This year I think the girls may be expected to repeat that success even with a young team. The boys will do well but it all depends on all round performances on the day and the unknown quality of the other teams. Whatever happens it should be an enjoyable day for all participants.”

Under 15 girls: Rosie Parsons (Backwell), Bethan Wakefield (Backwell), Tasha Osgood (Gordano), Maria Jones (Colstons), Rebecca Abbott (Backwell), Emma Smith (Backwell), Karlie Hickson (St Bedes). Reserves: Francesca Allen (Nailsea), Laura Price (Colstons).

Under 13 girls: Natalie Ogden (Backwell), Sophie Thomas (Worle), Shannon Holloway (Backwell), Anicia Skeates (St Bedes), Katie Grinyer (Clevedon), Stevie Parker (St Bernadettes), Natasha Jones (Redland Gn), Yemma Songu (Fairfield), Nike Fleming (Colstons), Alexander Alden (Redland), Georgia O’Sullivan (Fairfield), Maddie Burnell (BGS), Sarah McEvoy (Priory), Redlyn Street (St Bernadettes).

Under 15 boys: James Lawrence ( Worle), Josh Evans (Cotham), Kane Lee (Broadlands), Luke Lorenzi (Bradley Stoke),
Josh Hook (St Mary Redcliff & Temple), Ben Matthews (Redland Green), James Cooley ( Cotham).

Under13 boys: 1 Thomas Davison (Priory), Matthew Mattis (St Bedes), Zach Rigby (St Bedes), Josh Caulfield (Priory), Dean Taylor (Merchants), Josh Allen (Fairfield), Marcus Hook (SMR), Kieran Manning (Worle), Jospin Buxton (Priory), Brian Miklat (St Bernadettes), Matthew Chapman (SMR), Tom Scammell (BGS), David Alexander (BGS), Jamie Hoare (Priory)