Lordshill 10 - 5th November 2006
TWELVE months ago, Chris Haskell turned up to the Oaklands Leisure Centre in Lordshill croaking like a good 'un. The ladies captain looked like Rudolph with a bad bout of flu, and should have been tucked up in bed, rather than preparing to run the Lordshill 10.
But Chris ran, she survived, although later admitted he hadn't been the brightest idea in the world to run in the cold and rain. One year on, and the sun was shining on Chris as she was the ladies' Vet 55 prize at this year's race.
A total of 215 runners took part in this year's race, which was made into a Hampshire 10-mile Championship event. This is a race that has been held now for many years and always proves to be a popular race, even with the challenge of Packridge Hill after seven miles, runners still seem to be able to manage a PB on this course.
Chris finished 43rd in the ladies' race and 163rd overall with a time of 1hr 28min 20sec, and was Stubbington's leading female finisher on the day.
The overall winner was Mark Hargreaves of Bournemouth AC in 54min 7sec, and the first woman past the line was Emma Patel of Winchester & District AC in 1hr 0min 59sec. The winning men's team was Southampton Running Club and the top women's team was Winchester & District AC.
Anne Fairhurst was the only other Stubby lady to compete, finishing 64th in the ladies event and fifth in the Vet55 category with a time of 1hr 43min 41sec. Stubbington's men came sixth in the team standings, guided home by Ray Gunner in 18th and seventh Vet40 with a time of 1:02.00.
Tim Crumpton was second in the Vet50 standings thanks to a swift run of 1:05.00 and 25th place. Marcus Lee ran a personal best and slashed minutes off his time from the Great South Run a fortnight earlier with an impressive 1:11.38, and just in his shadow was Nick Kimber with 1:12.08 for 62nd. Neil Jarvis checked in in 69th spot with 1:13.12, and John Fairhurst will have been pleased with his 1:21.33 for 88th and 6th in the Vet60 age group.
Gary Littlecott, who has fond memories of this race for the medical care he received a few years back, managed to finish this time - in 1:23.53 and 94th. And there was a welcome return to the club after more than a year for Del Granger. Del-boy was clearly keeping well away from any sudden Littlecott smells on the final run-in to the leisure centre and was 99th for 1:24.42. Wise tactics!
Photo courtesy Southern Daily Echo.