Chichester Priory 10k - Sunday 6th February
THE Chichester Priory 10k is one of the major races on the English road running calendar, and this year’s once again attracted a high class field from a large number of the country’s top clubs, including Aldershot, Farnham & District, Herne Hill Harriers, Phoenix AC and Bristol and West AC.
Sunday’s race was the 20th staging of the event which over the years has become a firm favourite with elite athletes, club runners and recreational runners alike. And, even a forecast of unsettled weather was not enough to deter a record breaking number of runners turning up to take part.
Despite strong winds playing havoc over the last three kilometres, as the field headed towards the finish along Lavant Road and Broyle Road, fast times were recorded by the winner of both the men’s and ladies’ races.
There were a number of athletes who were capable of running around the 30 minute mark, but it was Ben Noad of Highgate Harriers who managed to pull out an advantage of 12 seconds over the closing stages of race, crossing the line in a time of 30mins 4secs.
The result of the ladies’ race was slightly more decisive with GB international, Liz Yelling of Bedford & County AC, a clear winner in a time of 34mins 4secs, 45 seconds ahead of Arena AC’s Caroline Hoyte.
For the greens, it was good to see two of the club’s big hitters back in action after lengthy absences due to injury.
Zippy Grice has been plagued by persistent foot problems over recent months, but he is now back training and racing again. Due to feeling unwell before the race, Zippy opted for a ‘steady’ run, returning to the Festival Theatre Car Park in a time of 35mins 21secs (61st).
Mark Le Gassick has also been making steady progress after being out injured for the majority of 2010. A sure-footed run of 32mins 50secs for 21st place, put Mark in between local rivals James Baker (31.55, 17th) and Andy Morgan-Lee (33.02, 24th) who was running for his new club Thames Hare & Hounds RC.
Other Stubbington Green finishers:
229 Simon Carson Jones 41.49
361 Richard Edmunds 44.27
504 Richard Chowns 46.16
658 George Howarth 48.13
1298 Kathryn Davies 58.41 (385th lady)
There were a total of 1619 finishers.