Le Gassick Champion
HE'S the new RR10 series champion. Mark Le Gassick wrapped up the summer cross country series with an impressive performance at Janesmoor Pond in the New Forest to secure the title with two races to go.
The Stubbington sec led home a field of 286 runners on a tough, two-lap woodland course near Stoney Cross.
After a fast, early start, Mark made his move on the first hill and was then never headed. "I pushed on from there extending the lead around the two laps," said Mark.
"Although it was a fairly short course, at just over four miles, the two-lap undulating terrain made it a pretty stiff challenge.
"Having done the race last year, I knew the final hill would be tough so I held a bit in reserve and took it quite steadily as I knew I had a comfortable lead."
With four first places and two seconds, Mark cannot be caught in the series with the best six performances counting. It makes up for missing out by just a single point a year ago to Winchester's Julian Mann, who though challenging for the title again, didn't run in midweek.
Mark added: "I had an amazing run last night – I felt really strong on the hills and was flying on the flat sections.
"I couldn’t actually remember too much about the course from last year but, during the run, I started to remember it and how it had felt much harder last year. I think that was due to the fact that I’d been concentrating so much on the Hampshire Road Race League and was knackered and hadn’t bargained on continuing to race competitively in July/August."
A week earlier, Mark had just four men and no ladies to run. Come the day, there was a 24-strong turn-out of 18 men and six ladies.
Chris Hall followed home in tenth place cheered on by wife Wendy and Ray Gunner's family were out in force to cheer dad home in 18th position. Tim Crumpton was the third Stubby scorer in 44th, followed by John Exley in 55th and Tim Sullivan in 62nd. That gave the men in green fifth team on the evening behind Southampton Running Club, and the club lie third overall.
In the women's race, with the absence of Susie MacGregor, who currently lies third overall, Lou James took advantage to be Stubbington's best-placed lady in 14th.
Teenager Hannah Littlecott, daughter of Gazza, made her first Stubbington appearance for the summer for 33rd, and Sarah White was the third scorer in 52nd. That gave Stubbington 11th place on the night for fourth overall.
The men's B team placed 15th on the night and lie 16th overall, and the C team placed 21st at Janesmoor Pond, for 30th after eight races.
The next round of the RR10 takes place closer to home at Stoke Park Wood in Bishopstoke on Wednesday, August 1st with a 7.30pm. It is the penultimate round and any Stubbington runners wanting to take part should contact Mark Le Gassick on marklegass@sgrac.net
Stubbington runners:
Men
Mark Le Gassick 1st
Chris Hall 11th
Ray Gunner 18th
Tim Crumpton 44th
John Exley 55th
Tim Sullivan 62nd
Malcolm Lavery 69th
Marcus Lee 72nd
Nick Kimber 79th
Richard Simms 81st
Neil Jarvis 97th
Ryan Gunner 100th
Gordon Westley 111th
Colin Elderfield 116th
Keith Carter 117th
Dave King 141st
Gary Littlecott 144th
John Simister 146th
Ladies
Lou James 14th
Hannah Littlecott 33rd
Sarah White 52nd
Helen Kimber 64th
Julia Hunter 75th
Liz Hall 79th