Almosts' Christmas period achievements

Almost Athletes celebrated a fantastic year of running at the Gloucestershire 2018 County Road Race Awards, with several members bringing home medals and shields for their efforts. Allan Green took home the County Shield with first place in the MV65 category. The club completed a clean sweep in the LV40 category, with Amy Sheer winning the County Shield, Deb Cartlidge in second and Michelle Balchin in third.  There were second place medals for Lorraine Taylor (FV45), Alison Hume (FV50), Sandra Stuart (FV55), Neil Tring (MV55) and David Lawrence (MV70). Taking third place were Hayley Woolnough (FV45), Martin Foster (MV40), Richard Birch (MV45) and Norm Lever (MV60).

Five Almosts travelled to Thornbury to complete the River Bank Rollick, a scenic ten-mile race along trails through fields and woodland. First home for the club was Kirstie Hallam in 1:42, followed by Ceri Schofield (1:45), Glenda Gill (1:48), Mariel Chretien 1:57 and Cos Pearson (2:05).

At Draycote Water, Karla Cleverley ran the fourth race of the Draycote Winter Series. In windy conditions, Cleverley completed the 10K loop of the reservoir in 1:25.   

In Pewsey, Katy Sworn ran the Rough and Tumble off-road race. She finished the hilly ten-mile course in 1:50.

A quiet week for races saw over eighty Almosts turn out at parkruns across the county and beyond. Matt Polson continued his impressive season at Gloucester North, where he charged home in first place in 18:58. Lesley Cottle followed in 24:53 to finish sixth lady, and Andrea Hardy also finished as a top ten female with a course PB of 27:02. There were PBs for Shaun Carr (19:04) and Philip Jukes (19:50) in Cheltenham, with Carr taking seventh place overall. Martin Foster was close behind in ninth place with 19:19. Hattie Jenkins was first female Almost home, and third lady, in 21:29. Rob Rennell achieved yet another PB at Gloucester City, running 36:27 with guide Robert Dalton-Morris. Also running was Patricia Peever, who finished seventh lady in 25:02.

Seven Almosts took a trip to Tewkesbury. Steve Wallbridge was first club member to finish in 24:40, followed by Jeanette Gullick (24:51 and fifth lady). Sarah Wallbridge, Debbie Masding, Sheila Chatterley, Debbie Worster and Kasha Price completed the line-up. Peter Jones ran at Newent, Danny Carroll ran at Chipping Sodbury, and Malc Smith and Rachel Fargher ran at Wotton. Lorraine Taylor was second lady (27:51) at Churchfield Farm Droitwich. There was also tourism for Robert Foord at Bedfont Lakes, Martyn Fisher at Luton Wardown, Jane Russell at Newcastle, Kimberley Mansell at Exmouth, and Jamie Courtenay at Bath Skyline. Oliver Bell travelled across the water to Medina, Isle of Wight.

In Berlin, Simon Jarvis finished in an impressive 18:57 to take first place at Hasenheide parkrun. He was accompanied by Claire Gallagher, Greg Hollingworth and James Clay.

The beginning of the New Year got off to a flying start for several members of Almost Athletes.

Helena Youde continued her winning streak by finishing as first lady and twelfth overall at Wirral Way Trail Half Marathon on Saturday 5th January.  Her time of 1:27:24 broke the ladies’ course record by an impressive 2 mins and 33 secs.

There were also some excellent results in parkruns throughout the country.  Matt Polson came fourth at Cheltenham with a new PB of 18:33, and Simon Jarvis came 14th in 20:06.

Peter Hooper achieved a new PB at the Torbay Velodrome parkrun with a time of 21:42, whilst both Neil Tring and Lorraine Taylor also gained new PBs in the Worcester Pitchcroft event of 21:12 and 24:27 respectively.  

Almosts took part in ten other UK parkruns including Gloucester Kingsway where Phillips Jukes was 6th with a time of 19:32 and Newent where Mike Kennedy came 8th in 22:36.  Lynne Macedo came first in her age group in Tunbridge Wells.

Further afield, David Davey and Claire Cook ran in the Sligo, Ireland parkrun and Mark Medland participated in Malmö Ribersborg, Sweden.

The latest event in the Gloucester Cross Country race series also took place on Saturday at Rendcomb School near Circencester.  Ten Almosts competed with Josh Hand the first of those to finish the challenging course in 39:37, followed by Nick Lewis in 41:17 and Shaun Carr in 41:44.  Jayne Cheslin completed the ladies’ event in 35:47.

Over in Norway, Karla Cleverley participated in the Polar Night 10km race in Tromsø.  Wearing spiked shoes to combat the icy conditions, she completed the race in total darkness with a finish time of 1hr 35mins.

Back in Cheltenham, Paul Haig took on a different kind of endurance test by successfully undertaking a 24 hour and longest continuous ski challenge. By the finish on Saturday evening he had covered an astonishing 231,021 metres.

The traditional Almost Athletes New Year run took place on Sunday 6th with a 15 mile route from Winchcombe to Old Pats RFC in Cheltenham. Runners had the choice to complete the whole 15 mile run, to join for 10 miles from Cleeve Golf Club or to run 5 miles from Lineover Woods.

Allan Green also began his latest round of marathons on Sunday by running the Hillingdon Cycle Circuit event.  He finished the 14 lap event in 5:05.