Worthing 20 Mile, Sunday 2nd April
STUBBINGTON Green's Richard Roche was the first green vested Stubby to finish at the Worthing 20.
This four-lapper around the West Sussex seaside town is widely regarded as the final long race of the London Marathon programme. Even though the race clashed with the Hampshire Road Race League, many of the top county runners preparing for April 23rd in the capital, opted to miss Totton for the Worthing race.
Richard ran well around eight minute mile pace on the flat course around Worthing to finish 191st in a useful time of 2hrs 40min 42sec. Also taking part was Stubbington team-mate Lucy Simmons, who clocked 2:50.46 for 285th overall and 46th lady on the day, which was an excellent performance.
A total of 598 runners took part, with the race won by Robbie James from Lewes AC in 1:50.07, just ahead of Hampshire Road Race League regular, Nick Baker from Denmead Striders, who completed the course in 1:53.21. First female was Julie Briggs from the Brighton-based Arena 80 team who recorded a time of 2:13.27.