Lilleshall
It was a tribute to the determination and dedication of around 260 runners that the first of Telford AC’s Sexarathon Series was such a success last week. Conditions for the race were atrocious, with dark skies, cold winds and torrential rain for the athletes, who had to run 5 miles down the drive from Lilleshall Sports Centre, before turning at the gate and climbing back uphill to the finish.
Over two dozen Newport runners took on the challenge and were probably glad to start the race and generate some warmth having stood round in the rain before the start.
Robin Guy headed the Newport runners and was still running strongly on the uphill return to be 30th in 30:44. David Brown, who seems to be improving with every race, did well to be 57th in 32:54 and Maurice Reid, who had been in the Paris Marathon only three days previously, was 61st in 33:06, closely followed by Phil Hill in 33:37 who was 65th.
Duncan Strowger had a good run to record 35:18 and take 92nd and Steve Fowles, who has competed in the series on more occasions than he would care to remember, was 112th in 36:44. Darren Churm ran well to be 120th in 37:33 with the fast improving Alan Jenkins showing that his injury issues are behind him, finishing in 37:40 to be 123rd.
Kevin Nicklin did well to be 128th in 38:30 with Tony Churm beating many younger runners to be 141st in 39:40.
Other Newport finishers were:-
Ollie Stokes 149th 40:11
Pauline Newton 167th 41:22
Ed Christie 185th 42:31
Tracy Hartridge 186th 42:37
Anne Strowger 193rd 43:04
Ceri Christie 197th 43:17
Aimee Macphee 199th 43:28
John Metzger 209th 44:12
Sarah Higginson 215th 44:56
Suzanne Potts 224th 46:53
Toni Ireland 227th 47:03
Sarah Murase 230th 47:38
Gary Bowness 232nd 47:55
John Brown 246th 50:17
Norma Jones 255th 54:06