RR10 - Stoke Park Woods, Bishopstoke
JANE BUTLER made a welcome return to competitive running with her first race in Stubbington colours for 15 months.
The last time Jane raced was at the London Marathon in 2006 where, despite a hamstring injury, she managed to complete the 26 miles in just over five hours.
She was back and racing at Stoke Park Woods in Bishopstoke for race nine in the RR10 series.
Jane was still smiling at the finish with a 65th placing among a field of 105 female runners. A total of 284 runners took part in the event. "That was tough," said Jane who was the third scorer in the ladies' team.
Susie MacGregor led the ladies home in 14th, followed by Louise James in 20th as Stubbington finished 11th on the evening and lie sixth overall with nine of the ten races completed. The women's race was won by Winchester & District's Karen Hazlitt.
In the men's race, Mark Le Gassick emerged a comfortable winner in the woodland race. Southampton Running Club's Andy Morgan Lee, who has been out injured with a back injury, stayed with Mark for the first lap of the undulating course before stepping out.
With the RR10 title already in his pocket, this allowed Mark to cruise home well ahead of Winchester's Julian Mann.
The men's team finished third on the evening, and now lie third overall, thanks to ninth from Andy Simpson, 12th from Chris Hall, 16th from Ray Gunner and 32nd from Graham James, who was making his first RR10 outing of the summer.
Mention of Marcus Lee, fresh from becoming a dad and coping with sleepless nights, who ran out of his skin with a superb 66th place.
The final RR10 race of the season takes place at the IBM headquarters in Hursley Park north of Winchester on Wednesday, August 15th (7.15pm start). If you would like to take part then contact Mark Le Gassick or Dave King.
Stubbington finishers:
1st Mark Le Gassick
9th Andy Simpson
12th Chris Hall
16th Ray Gunner
32nd Graham James
48th Mike Harper
56th Malcolm Lavery
66th Marcus Lee
72nd Nick Kimber
90th Richard Simms
102nd Neil Jarvis
105th Chris Furnell
106th Keith Carter
112th Colin Elderfield
115th Gordon Westley
124th Ryan Gunner
145th Aitken Hunter
148th John Simister
Stubbington A: 3rd (3rd overall).
Stubbington B: 13th (16th overall).
Stubbington C: 22nd (30th overall).
Ladies
14th Susie MacGregor
20th Louise James
65th Jane Butler
67th Helen Kimber
87th Tracie Jarvis
88th Liz Hall
Stubbington A: 11th (6th overall)
Stubbington B: 27th (28th overall)