Romsey 5
SUPER Susie MacGregor, sporting a dashing new hair cut, won the Vet 35 age group category at the Romsey 5 Mile Road Race.
Organised by Concept Sport, the race started at the Greatbridge Industrial Estate and looped round the surrounding area of Fishlake Meadows, Woodley Lane and Cupernham Lane.
Susie finished ninth in a quality women’s race with a time of 33.42. Karrie Blake from City of Portsmouth AC won the ladies’ event in an impressive 29.39, the same time as Stubby Mike Bainbridge.
Mike was last seen wearing Stubbington colours rampaging along the Test Way and this was his first racing sortie of the year.
Mike was the first Stubby home in 38th place for 11th place in the Vet40 age group in what was his first road race under half marathon distance in more than three years. "I was hanging on after an over zealous first mile of 5min 19sec," said Mike.
"I'm in a £50 bet with Darren Hitchen to run every day of 2008 in the hope that this will kick start the running as I was finding too many reasons not to run.
"I ran Romsey after only a months training and no speeedwork so hopefully the faster times will come back in the not too distant future!"
Mike Harper, running in the more distinguished Vet45 category where he came fourth in his age group, clocked 30.20 and 48th place – the exact same time as the Southampton-based maths lecturer, Gareth Jones (Oxford City AC) who won the Vet60 age group!
Robert Blackmore ran steadily at just under seven-minute mile pace for 34.35 (Vet 40, 26th) and 129th overall. Andy Tomlinson continued his fine progress of late with 42.11 (Vet40, 62nd) and 293rd, Graham Edwards, who is in the middle of marathon training 50 years after his first marathon, recorded a time of 47.45 for sixth in the Vet70 age group and 353rd overall, and Alan Rogers placed 374th in 54.26 (Vet55, 22nd).
In the women’s race, behind Susie came team-mate Gemma Jones in 198th with 51.08.
The race itself was won by Jonathan Blackledge from Belgrave Harriers in 24.28. Southampton Running Club captured the men’s team prize and Romsey Road Runners scooped the ladies’ trophy.