Sherborne Castle 10k
PAUL HAMMOND donned the green of Stubbington for the first time this year by taking part in the Sherborne Castle 10km in Dorset.
This is a multi terrain race staged through the castle grounds and organised by Yeovil Town Road Running Club.
"Surprisingly it was not the mud bath I thought it might have been," said Paul, who arrived with only 15 minutes to spare as the A30 was closed at Henstridge - which is about four miles from the castles, prompting a hasty detour via country lanes and farm tracks.
The start was quick over the first 300 yards, and then the field turned into a strong headwind. "It almost stopped me in my tracks and I could hardly see as my eyes were watering so badly," explained Paul.
"We then turned with the wind at our backs and now I was off before we hit a hill and I was left asking, 'where are my crampons?'.
At this point I was regretting the extra couple of Guinness's whilst watching the rugby. "At the top of the hill I was off again admiring the lovely scenery and a really nice course. At about half way was the drinks station where the wind was really strong. I saw a couple of drinks dislodged from runners' grasp. Me? I sheltered behind an oak tree.
"Over the latter part of the course the wind abated as we were sheltered by the walls of the grounds. The final 1km or so were round the back of the castle which afforded some lovely views of lakes, water courses and a waterfall with a dog in it; it wasn't dead it was having a swim.
"The final run in took us up the road to the castle entrance, just like Brideshead revisited, except I never saw any of them running in green."
The race was won by Mark Goodridge from RNAS at Yeovilton in a time of 34min 37sec and the first lady was an unattached runner, Stephanie Slade, who recorded a time of 41:57.
Paul placed 50th in 43:40. Barry Hards was the first Stubby home in 11th overall with a time of 38:17. Graham Watts made up the Stubbington contingent and he came 225th in 56:15.