Stubbington Green Runners

SEPTEMBER is here and so too is the new Hampshire Road Race League season. As the claxon sounded at precisely 3pm on the first day of the month, 450 runners set off across Overton village green and out on to the hilly two-lap course.

Now in its 19th year, The Overton 5, organised by the north Hampshire club, Overton Harriers, is an early season fixture that’s as popular as ever. As was the case last year, race day was cool and overcast, making for near perfect running conditions. This was a welcome relief because, in the past, soaring temperatures have made this fixture particularly challenging.

Winchester & District AC’s Toby Lambert was the runaway winner over the hilly, two-lap course, setting a brisk time of 24 minutes, 8 seconds - almost 30 seconds clear of Birchfield Harrier, Tom Payn, who crossed the line in 24 minutes, 35 seconds. Peter Grist of Wells City Harriers finished third in a time of 25 minutes, 36 seconds.

After a week long lay-off due to illness, a solid performance by Stubbington’s Mark Le Gassick saw the 2005/6 HRRL winner finish in 10th place, in a time of 26 minutes, 32 seconds.

As with the men’s race, there was also a clear winner in the ladies’ race. Sophie Morris of Windsor Slough & Eaton Harriers recorded an excellent five-mile time of 27 minutes, 13 seconds to finish in 18th place overall. The race for second and third was a much closer fought affair with Lucy Hasell, of Thames Hare & Hounds, just managing to hold off Aldershot Farnham & District AC’s Susie Bush by six seconds, in a time of 27 minutes, 50 seconds.

Stubbington’s results

10 Mark Le Gassick 26.32
95 Ray Gunner 31.48
144 Nick Kimber 33.41
168 Susie MacGregor 34.20 (20th)
189 Zac Conaty 34.59
229 Lucy Simmons 36.20 (39th)
355 Gilbert Yeates 42.01
378 John Simister 43.55