The fifth race in the RSE Short Stuff specialist Championship 2019 was the Bourton mile. Something a little different to do on a Saturday afternoon! 6 men and 8 ladies competed, and many picked up county prizes along with their championship points.
Men’s Competition
First man home was Mark Garrett, picking up 10 points. He was followed by Mark Manley for the 9, Ben Chapman was 3rd man home to pick up 8 points. This has changed the top 3 yet again!
Mark Garrett – 35 points
David Witnall – 30 points
Ben Chapman – 28 points
Ladies Competition
First lady home was Rosie Oates, picking up another 10 points. She was followed by Ellie Taylor for the 9 points, then Rochelle Ravenscroft picked up 8 points. With 10 points in each short race she has completed, Rosie is looking in a very strong position, but it is still very close.
Rosie Oates – 40 points
Sharon Smith – 36 points
Ellie Taylor – 35 points
The next Short stuff specialist race will be the Flying Monk 10km at Malmesbury. Also remember that you can complete any 5km, including a park run, up until the 31st October to count towards the championship!
The Bourton 1 mile challenge took place on Saturday 13th July and was the 5th race in the RSE Short Stuff Specialist Races for 2019. It also formed part of the Gloucester AAA Road Race Series. The race itself was a one mile fast flat point to point race, finishing in centre of picturesque Bourton-on-the-Water.
Representing RSE was Mark Garrett who completed the race in 5:41. He was followed by;
Mark Manley – 5:51
Ben Chapman – 5:57
Rosie Oates – 6:26 which was a PB
Dave Whitlow – 6:36
Ellie Taylor – 6:38 which was a PB
Rochelle Ravenscroft -6:54
Ryo Taylor – 6:58
Kirsty Pitts – 7:02
Sarah Page – 7:20
Ted Pitts – 7:29
Amanda Tyler – 7:32
Linda Edwards – 7:47 which was a PB
Felicity Crotty – 8:39
RSE also had a number of medal winners in the Gloucestershire AAA Championships.
Rosie Oates – Senior Lady Gold
Ellie Taylor – Senior Lady Silver
Rochelle Ravenscroft – LV40 Bronze
Kirsty Pitts – LV50 Gold
Sarah Page – LV55 Silver
Linda Edwards – LV55 Bronze
Mark Garrett – MV50 Silver
Mark Manley – MV50 Bronze
Ted Pitts – MV60 Bronze
Great turnout from RSE and some fantastic results well done from you all.
Piece of Cake Trail Half Marathon
Saturday 13th July saw the return of one of the most epic half and full trail marathons to hit Shropshire, with runners tackling 13.1 or 26.2 miles of the beautiful Shropshire Hills and The Long Mynd. The route which included 665m of climbing covered a National Trust haven, with the start in Carding Mill Valley. The finish was also in the valley nearly opposite the National Trust tea rooms.
Representing RSE was Sarah Reynolds who completed the race in 2:40:15. Great effort Sarah.
Race to the Stones
The Race to the Stones 100km endurance event took place over the 13th and 14th July. The route which takes the Ridgeway offered something very special. Lined with Bronze Age hill forts, Neolithic burial chambers and Roman river crossings, runners were able to step in the same footsteps as travellers who lived over 5,000 years ago. The event gave the option of completing the 100km distance in 1 go, over 2 days or runners could take part in the 1st or 2nd day stages.
Representing RSE on his 52nd birthday was Mark Manley who completed the 2nd stage of the race coming in 12th place and 3rd MV50 in a time of 5:35:43.
Interesting way to celebrate your birthday Marks.
Selsley Sizzler Trail 10k
The Selsley Sizzler 10k trail race took place on Sunday 14th July and was the 2nd race in the Trailmania race series. This was a run in beautiful Cotswold countryside on the edge of King’s Stanley, through Middleyard and elevated runners to the top of Selsley Common with spectacular views.
Representing RSE was Nadine Brown who completed the race in an unofficial time of 1:06:03 coming in 3rd place in the ladies category.
Well done Nadine
Greystones Swan Lake 10k
The inaugural Greystones Swan Lake 10k took place on Sunday 14th of July at Greystones Farm Nature Reserve, Bourton on the Water.
Representing RSE was Caroline Joynes-Creed who completed the event in 1:15:19. She was followed by Kevin Joynes-Creed who finished in a time of 1:15:21.
Well done both of you.
Two Tunnels Half Marathon
There are 3 different half marathon routes, known as Return Ticket, Hilly Ticket and City Ticket, being run through the Two Tunnels in Bath this year. All the Half Marathon distance events are also part of the Challenge Series events; The Two Tunnels Challenge and Mini Challenge as well as the Beast of Bath Challenge.tails.
The latest Two Tunnels event took place on Sunday 14th July. This was a multi distance event using the Two Tunnels Greenway path shared along Linear Park. It included the Devonshire Tunnel which measures 408m long and the Coombe Down Tunnel measuring 1672m long. The half marathon route was a 2 lap out and back course which meant that the runners pass through the tunnels 4 times during the race which made it the race with the longest underground section in Britain. It was described as being perfect for setting a PB.
Representing RSE was Sandie Wood who completed the race in 2:08:15. She was followed by Tracey Webster in 2:20:28.
This was also the third and final part of the challenge that requires runners to complete the 5k, 10k and half marathon Tow Tunnel races in the year which both Sandie and Tracey completed and received a commemorative paper weight.
Fantastic effort from you both. Well done both of you.
Mentioned in Dispatches
A great turnout from RSE at the Bourton 1 mile challenge event on the weekend. This resulted in some fantastic times with yet again multiple medal winners in the AAA Championships. This included Rosie Oates, Ellie Taylor, Rochelle Ravenscroft, Kirsty Pitts, Sarah Page, Linda Edwards, Mark Garrett, Mark Manley and Ted Pitts. Well done to you all.
With 4 Short races, and 5 Endurance races completed, we are starting to see who the main contenders for this years overall championship are. It’s a very exciting competition this year, and I predict it will go right to the end to determine the top 3, and who will be our first Masters trophy winner.
Men’s Competition
There has been change in the top 3. David Witnall is running strongly and has a good lead in the men’s championship. There is a good competition for the 2nd and 3rd places, with many in the mix.
David Witnall – 59 points
Mark Garrett – 43 Points
Ben Chapman – 40 points
Ladies Competition
This year’s ladies championship is very close, with 1 point separating the top 3. But there are runners closing in on that top 3 too.
Rochelle Ravenscroft and Sharon Smith – 55 points
Ellie Taylor – 54 points
Rosie Oates and Kirsty Pitts are in the mix as well with 43 and 42 points respectively.
The next short stuff championship race is the Bourton Mile, and the next Endurance expert race is the Chippenham Half marathon.
Remember, you can count your best marathon or 5km up until 31st October to gain points in each part of the championship
Sunday 23rd June saw the 4th round the of the short stuff specialist championship – the David Macnamee 10km. 7 Men, and 11 ladies competed on a sunny Sunday morning. The conditions were tough, but there was some excellent running.
Men’s Competition
David Witnall continues to dominate the short stuff championship, picking up the 10 points, followed by Mark Garrett for the 9th. A strong run by Dave Daniels in his first short stuff race of the year saw him picking up the 8 points. There has been change in the top 3, but it is still very close.
David Witnall – 30 points
Mark Garrett – 25 points
Ben Chapman – 20 points
Ladies Competition
Another strong run by Rosie Oates saw her collect another 10 points. She was followed by Sharon Smith and Ellie Taylor for 9 and 8 points respectively.
