Overton 5 Mile - 3rd September 2005
BLUE skies, beating sun, and temperatures in the 80s heralded the start of the Hampshire Road Race League season, with Stubbington's Mark Le Gassick once again leading the green contingent.
The ten-race series began at Overton on September 3rd, attracting 358 runners for the two-lap Overton Five-Miler.
There is always a country fayre feel to the Overton 5, with children's races on the playing field beforehand, bouncy castle, ice cream stalls, and a relaxed atmosphere not found at some of the bigger races. It's a far cry from the icy grip which will greet some of the winter-time Hampshire Road Race League events.
Mark Le Gassick, now hopefully over some niggly injuries which has hampered his training this summer, scorched round the undulating course, with two nasty hills, to place eighth overall in a time close to his personal best with 26min 53sec.
Such was the quality of the race that it was one in 25:19 by Aldershot Farnham & District's Elliot Robinson, followed by Southampton Running Club's Andy Morgan-Lee, returning from a nasty knee injury, who was second in 25:56.
The number of Stubbington runners taking part was disappointingly few compared to other clubs which enjoyed sizeable squads. A fleet-footed Mike Harper finished 51st in 30:03, followed by Paul Hammond in 131st with 33:57 and the scoring for the men's team was completed by Dave King two places behind with 34:06.
Other Stubbington men taking part included Colin Elderfield, warming up for the mighty Beast multi-terrain race in Dorset on Sunday who came 194th with and in 248th place was Gilbert Yeates with 40:36.
For the women, ladies captain Chris Haskell managed to chivvy herself and three other runners to take part to make up a team. Lesley Harding had a great race and was pleased with her time of 38:36 for 216th overall. She was followed by Lisa Edwards who clocked 42:34 and placed 274th, with Chris Haskell not far behind in 282nd place in 43:23, and Liz Hall coming 307th in 45:52.
Winchester & District AC's Karen Hazlitt with 28:36 for 28th overall, was the fastest women o the day. For full race results, go to
For full race results, click here.