Stubbington Green Runners

GREY, cloudy, overcast and drizzle are nouns that are usually met with weary groans of dissatisfaction when mentioned during the weather forecast. However, on Saturday, at the Overton 5, they were welcomed with unbridled cheers of joy.

Over the previous three years, the Overton 5, held on the first Saturday of September, and the fixture that heralds the start of the new Hampshire Road Race League season, has become known for its sweltering, heat wave-like conditions.

And, the tough, hilly five-mile long course, spread over two-laps has become just as famous for claiming numerous hapless victims as they struggle up the hill at Dellands Lane for the second time of asking!

This year, as the runners set off across the village green and out on to the winding country lanes around the north-Hampshire village, the cooler conditions were just what the doctor ordered. However, conditions weren't perfect, with a strong, blustery headwind to contend with at various points along the course.

Headwinds were not enough, however, to stop Carl Morris of Wells City Harriers, from setting a new course record in an amazing time of 24 minutes, 30 seconds - that's an average of 4 minutes 54 seconds per mile! Second was Darren Deed of Bedford and County AC (24.44) with Cannock & Stafford AC's Chris Powner in third (26.01).

The ladies race was won by Winchester & District AC's Karen Hazlitt who finished in 25th place overall in 27 minutes 57 seconds. Louise Damen of Poole Runners was second (28.15, 30th ) and Kath Bailey of Winchester was third (28.38, 35th ).

For Stubbington Green Runners & AC, Mark Le Gassick showed some promising early season form finishing in 6th place, as the first Hampshire runner home, and clocking a personal best time of 26 minutes 35 seconds.

Tor Duffin, having not done a great deal of racing of late, had a good run, finishing in 33rd place in 28 minutes 31 seconds, and improving on his time of two years ago.

For a man who, in his own eloquent words is "running crap at the moment", Chris Hall, like Pompey, seems to be in pretty decent form. The men's team captain crossed the line in 51st place with a time of 29 minutes 26 seconds, which is inside six-minute mile pace.

Completing the four-man team, Mike Harper just managed to squeeze under the 30-minute mark, in a time of 29 minutes, 58 seconds, for 59th place.

Ray Gunner, who has had injury problems of late, finished in a time 30 minutes 37 seconds, in 74th place.

The rest of SGR&AC's results were as follows:

129 Paul Hammond 33.16

146 Andy James 33.50

160 Marcus Lee 34.35

170 Nick Kimber 35.12

181 Susie Macgregor 35.38

185 Eric Beck 36.07

210 Sean Jones 37.26

215 Lesley Harding 37.34

246 Gary Littlecott 39.13

336 Michelle Simpson 49.37

337 Denise Crumpton 50.41

338 Tim Crumpton 50.42 (tweaked his hamstring)

League newcomers, Portsmouth AC won the mens' team event with Winchester & District AC taking the ladies' team honours.

There were 345 finishers. Click here for photos.