RUNNING
Parkrun Junior 2K
Jack Parker was the only Junior BRJ Parkrunner in action on Sunday, securing a 3 Sec Club PB at Jubilee Park.
BRJ’ers made returns to Braunstone, Felixstowe, Lands End, March, Salcey Forest, Salisbury, St Mary’s & Whittlesey. No PB’s were secured at these
venues. However, Club 5K PB’s were secured at Ferry Meadows (Kim Olivier by 3 mins 10 Secs) & Storeys Field (Chloe Wilson by 21 Secs).
Harrison Evans made a BRJ debut Wendover Woods.
At Huntingdon, 4 new PB’s were achieved which in order of merit were for Kevin Ryan (by 2 Mins 6 Secs), Paul Treadwell (by 2 Mins 2 Secs), Stuart Ainsworth (by 25 Secs) & Kags Alexander-Cahill (by 19 Secs).
London Summer Run 10K
Kelly Robinson braved the very hot & humid conditions in the “Smoke” & a lack of Water Stations. The race started in Trafalgar Square heading east through Central London and the City then heading back to the finish in Whitehall. Kelly finished in a time of 1:08:11 in position 3,307 of the 5,013 finishers.
Northstowe 10K
5 BRJ’ers competed in this inaugural local event run in hot conditions which had 213 finishers. The BRJ squad was led home by Alex Mitton in 19th position in 00:42:17, a new Club PB by 21 Secs. Alex finished just 1 place & 11 Secs ahead of Paul Mitton, but who secured the sliver medal in his age category. The remaining finishers were Richard Stevens (position 105 in 00:59:11), Claire Few (position 154 in 1:05:45) & Kate Ruddock (position 155 in 1:05:49).
Bedford Festival of Running
The Festival comprised a mix of distance events staged over 2 days. The races that featured a BRJ’ers were:-
Bedford Twilight 10K
Felicity Baillie, continued her current run of form by finishing as 2nd woman in 15th position of the 676 finishers in a time of 00:41:57. This was a new Club PB by 30 Secs, her 3rd of 2021, compared with the time set at Oundle in April 2020. Felicity’s new time makes her the 4th fastest Senior Woman in the Club’s “All Time Greats” list just 32 Secs behind former member Marcela Gracova.
Bedford Half Marathon
Alexandra Smart & Melanie Gearing were among the 698 finishers. Alexandra finished in position 339 in 2:11:17 & Mel position 590 in 2:43:43
Bedford Spring Half Marathon
Heledd Marshall-Roberts, in training for the London Marathon, led home the club contingent in position 86 of the 387 finishers securing a bronze age category medal. Joy Pollock, in her debut club run, finished in position 293 in 2:24:20. Unluckiest athlete, in her debut club 1/2 Marathon, was Rebecca Carmody. Sadly she was mis-directed by a Marshall about 2 miles from the finish meaning that she ran an additional 2 kilometres, finally finishing in position 352 in 2:43:44.
Milton Keynes (MK) Festival of Running
Like Bedford, the Milton Keynes Running Festival included a mix of distances, but all held on the same day. The races that featured a BRJ presence were:-
MK 10K
Anna Best finished in position 314 of the 537 finishers in 1:03:25 also securing the runner-up position in her age category.
MK Half Marathon
Keelan Duffy & Rob Farrant were the sole BRJ participants. Despite a long lay-off from competitive racing, Rob finished in 12th position of the 557 finishers in a time of 1:20:53 and was runner-up in his age category. Keelan Duffy, using the event as a further test ahead of his debut Marathon (London) finished in 20th position in 1:25:19 just shy of his current Club 1/2 marathon PB.
MK 20 Miles
John Parker completed his debut Club 20 miler in position 141 of the 338 finishers in 3:12:16.
MULTI-DISCIPLINE
Box End Standard Distance Triathlon
As part of his continued comeback following injury, Gilles Corby completed in this Bedford based Standard distance Euro qualifying event. Gilles finished in position 209 of the 316 finishers in 2:56:40.