Today's Runner, Midhurst - 29th October 2006
PENNY FORSE has endured a tough 2006 running-wise with niggling injuries which won’t go away. On her day, Penny is one of the strongest female runners at the club, but has spent much of this year resigned to watching from the sidelines at races, while giving up a lot of her time coaching.
On Sunday, after a promising return run-out at the Hampshire League cross country at Farley Mount, Penny was in action again. This time it was the opening Today’s Runner cross country event which was held at Ambersham Common near Midhurst in West Sussex.
A good number of Green Vests turned out for the first of the event which was hosted by Midhurst Milers with 17 men and 5 ladies representing Stubbington Green.
The sandy tracks and constant ups and downs sapped the strength from most runner’s legs, and everyone agreed that it was a tough course.
Penny led the ladies home with an impressive ninth place, with Helen Grice 33rd and Chris Haskell in 43rd.
Ray Gunner always perfoms well over these events, and didn’t disappoint this time, leading the men home with an impressive sprint finish to take third place. Marcus Lee secured one of his best performances of the weekend in 54th.
John Exley, who was 29th, managed to persuade teenage son Lloyd to run in club colours for 60th spot, just behind the evergreen Phil May, and John’s wife Ingrid ran well for 53rd in the ladies’ race.
Men: 3rd Ray Gunner, 20th Tim Crumpton, 29th John Exley, 52nd Mike Bell, 54th Marcus Lee, 59th Phil May, 60th Lloyd Exley, 64th Jon Leigh, 68th Nick Kimber, 71st Nick Crane, 74th Richard Simms, 76th Ken Griffiths, 81st Paul Coffin, 86th Andy Lee, 110th Ryan Gunner, 130th John Vose, 131st Derek Balsdon.
Ladies: 9th Penny Forse, 33rd Helen Grice, 43rd Chris Haskell, 49th Tracie Jarvis, 53rd Ingrid Exley.
Special thanks must go to Nick Kimber for bringing a portable shower. This was attached to the roof of his van allowing us to wash off the mud from our legs!
The next race in the Today’s Runner calendar takes place at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park, just off the A3 near Petersfield, on Sunday, November 12th. Start time is 11am. Contact Glen Street for more details on gstreet@gresham-computing.com
If you’ve never run cross country before, Today’s Runner is the perfect and very friendly introduction to the sport – and you don’t have to get up with the lark either!!
Click here for photos by Neil Jarvis