In cool and drizzly conditions, perfect for racing, 33 runners from Beverley Athletic Club joined over 1500 others in the Brass Monkey half marathon.
The course runs from York Racecourse, south of the historic city through the villages of Bishopsthorpe, Acaster Malbis, Acaster Selby and Appleton Roebuck. Conditions were good for the runners, resulting in a number of personal best times.
As runners finished in the racecourse grounds, the going was clearly good. Rob Snaith was the first Beverley athlete to cross the line, finishing 6th overall and knocking nearly 5 minutes off his previous best with a time of 1:14:13. He commented: “I’m not really sure what’s happening to me at the moment but I seem to be running better than I ever expected. I think it’s the London marathon training!”
Steve Jackson was the next Beverley runner to finish, also achieving a personal best – 1:23:54 – along with Andy Johnson (1:27:10), five minutes faster than his previous best, Rob Singh (1:27:20), Steve Hadley (1:46:54) and David Robinson (1:48:38). Robinson’s daughter, Nicola Glover, kept it in the family as one of the ladies team who also posted a new personal best, finishing in 1:55:09.
Julie Donald was the first Beverley lady to finish. Her time of 1.33.41 was her best time for the distance. Julie was delighted with her performance as one of many club runners building up to the London Marathon in April. For some runners this was their first race of 2010 and three more ladies achieved their best ever half marathon time over this flat course: Angela Collins (1:46:13); Claire Burcham – breaking two hours for the first in 1:33:41time (1:56:44) and Gemma Bellett (2:00:10).
Credit must also be given to Jayne Dale, Mark Dalton, Helen Storr and Pete Watkinson who represented their club in the North of England Cross Country Championships at Blackburn the day before.
Matthew Pierson of Holmfirth Harriers won the race in 1:05:35 and local lady, Becky Pent, was the first lady to finish in 1:18:33.
Beverley AC finishing times: Rob Snaith 1.14.13; Steve Jackson 1.23.54; Ian Husband 1.26.56; Andy Johnson 1.27.10; Rob Singh 1.27.20; Andy Tate 1.28.14; Mark Dalton 1.28.30; Paul Burnley 1.28.55; Paul Clark 1.29.14; Darren Rodmell 1.31.15; Julie Donald 1.33.41; Andrew Foster 1.35.16; Pete Watkinson 1.36.11; Lucy Stamford 1.40.01; Rob Reid 1.40.38; Martin Hall 1.40.55; Lucas Meagor 1.44.21; Colin Taylor 1.44.41; Mike Abbotts 1.45.46; Angela Collins 1.46.13; Steve Hadley 1.46.54; Helen Storr 1.48.20; Jayne Dale 1.48.21;Jed Holden 1.48.26; David Robinson 1.48.38; David Muschamp 1.49.27; Amanda Ritchie 1.49.46; Nicola Glover 1.55.09; Deborah Brant 1.55.29; Andrew Grainger 1.56.19 Claire Burcham 1.56.44; Gemma Bellett 2.00.10; Jacqui Dickinson 2.14.22.
