Jordan soars to glory in new Marlborough race (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Jordan soars to glory in new Marlborough race

9:38am Thursday 2nd July 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

Cross country: A new multi-terrain run starting from Marlbor-ough Rugby Club was a great success on Sunday attracting a field of well over 200 runners.

The Downlander ten-mile multi-terrain challenge was a new testing course for runners of all abilities.

The course over road and downland was not the only challenge, said organisers Stephen and Julie Goulding, as temperatures soared into the 80s and competitors were advised to keep well hydrated.

An additional two water stations were added to the course because of the high temperatures.

In all 220 runners lined up outside Marlborough Rugby Club with most local running clubs being represented together with many other runners from across the South West.

After a gentle downhill start from Marlborough Common, the route turned into the Manton Estate and crossed the gallops, through the greywethers to Rockley.

From Rockley the runners climbed back up onto the gallops before a gentle descent to Ogbourne Maizey followed by “a sting in the tail”, a mile and a half uphill section to the finish where the runners hauled their tired bodies back up onto the Common.

A group of four set an initial fast pace from the start and after three miles, Darren Jordan from Cheltenham Harriers proved to be the fastest of the group, pulling away to victory by a minute in a time of 1.06.26.

Tim Hughes of White Horse Harriers used his experience to run a very well paced race to finish 2nd overall in 1.07.36. Gavin Fisher of the Fell Running Association was third in 1.09.20.

In the ladies race, Cathy Cook cruised to victory in 1.13.47 (13th overall) with Jo Parkes of Marlborough in second in a time of 1.15.49, with 3rd going to Frances Burge of Headington in 1.19.54.

Organisers were pleased with the positive feedback.

ROLL OF HONOUR Men: 1 Darren Jordan, Cheltenham Harriers, 1.06.26; 2nd Tim Hughes- White Horse Harriers, 1.07.36; 3rd Gavin Fisher, Fell Runners Association, 1.09.20.

Women: 1 Cathy Cook, unattached 1.13.47; 2nd Jo Parkes- Marlborough RC 1.15.49; 3rd Frances Burge, Headington, 1.19.54.

Male Vet 40: Gavin Fisher, Fell Runners Association, 1.09.20.

Male Vet 50: Tim Hughes- White Horse Harriers, 1.07.36.

Male Vet 60: Ted Townsend, Marlborough RC, 1.27.26.

Female Vet 35: Cathy Cook, unattached 1.13.47.

Female Vet 45: Carole Philips, Swindon Striders, 1.23.39.

Female Vet 55: Hilary O’Shea, Abingdon Amblers, 1.42.50.

First male team: Marlborough Running Club.

First ladies team: Swindon Striders.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)