Stubbington Green Runners

THANKFULLY, conditions for the third and final race of the Promenade 5k series were much better than those of the first two fixtures, when strong headwinds buffeted runners, hampering efforts to record quick finishing times.

Despite a few complaints about the heat (there’s no pleasing some runners!) a warm, sunny evening with a gentle sea breeze provided the 197-strong field with a good opportunity to record their fastest times of the series.

Once again, James Baker was the man with the golden run. After easing to the front of the field in the early stages of the race, he expertly negotiated his way around the twisting promenades to claim his third successive victory of the series, with a winning time of 15 minutes, 24 seconds.

Stubbington Green Runners & AC’s Mark Le Gassick continued his strong form of late to take second place, knocking a second off his 5k best on the road, with a time of 15 minutes, 45 seconds. Richard Batchelor of Aldershot, Farnham & District just managed to dip under the 16 minute-mark, to take third place in 15 minutes, 59 seconds.

A perfect winning record gave James Baker the overall series title, with Mark finishing in second place, over the three race series, and Aldershot’s Stephen Laidler, who also picked up the prize for best M40, finishing in third.

Making her first appearance of the year in the Promenade 5k series, Winchester & District AC’s Lucy Elliot was a comfortable winner in 17 minutes, 24 seconds, which was good enough for 21st place overall. Denmead Strider, Karrie Blake (who took the overall series title), finished second in 18 minutes, 26 seconds (33rd), and Nicci Blandford, of Southampton RC, was third in 18 minutes, 51 seconds (39th).

Stubbington’s Susie MacGregor has had a superb 2007 season. She has finished consistently inside the top ten in the RR10 summer cross-country series, where she currently lies in 5th place overall with just one fixture remaining, and she has also run well throughout the Promenade 5k series.

At the third and final fixture, Susie recorded her quickest time – 20 minutes, 18 seconds – to finish in 8th place on the night and claim 3rd spot overall for the series. And, as if that isn’t impressive enough, she was also the best v35 lady over the three races.

Stubbington’s results

Men

2 Mark Le Gassick 15.45
18 Chris Hall 17.16
48 Tim Crumpton 19.13
68 Zac Conaty 20.27
107 David Langrish 22.45

Ladies

8 Susie MacGregor 20.18
19 Lauren Coates 24.13