Totton 10km
THERE’S no business like snow business as the Totton 10km road race endured unseasonal April weather for round eight of the Hampshire Road Race League.
Heavy overnight snow had meant it was more like January than April 6th at Testwood School for the Totton race over a fast and flat course which attracted a quality field.
Conditions were cool, dry and with very little wind on a day when Stubbington’s women shone brightly.
Chasing promotion from division two of the HRRL, the Stubbettes were led home by the dynamic duo of ninth-placed Lucy Simmons in 40min 28sec and Susie MacGregor in 41.08 to place third in the Vet35 category.
Such was the quality of the ladies race that it was won in a scorching time of 34.19 by Aldershot, Farnham & District’s Susie Bush who pushed Winchester & District AC’s British international Louise Damen into second spot with a time of 34.43.
With many of Stubbington’s ladies running in the Paris Marathon, or preparing for next Sunday’s London Marathon, the club still scored well thanks to Lucy May’s 44th place in 47.44. Mum Geraldine placed 171st in 1hr 00min 55sec (Vet 45, 36th), as the Stubbettes placed third in the team event behind Winchester and second-placed Romsey Road Runners.The race itself was won by Basingstoke & Mid Hants AC’s Steve Rees-Jones in 30.34, just seven seconds ahead of second-placed Thomas Payn (Winchester & District AC).
Darrell Millner was the first Stubbie home in 37.35 and 11th Vet40, followed by Graham Bell in 66th with 38.58 (Vet 40, 15th) and 118th-placed Tim Crumpton in 41.32 (Vet 50, 17th).
On a day out for the May family, dad Phil led home the tribe in 141st with 42.38 (Vet 50, 22nd) and Richard Roche in 241st was the fifth scorer with 47.59 (Vet 40, 71st).
A total of 618 runners took part on the day.