After the club’s annual presentation evening on Saturday, 15 dedicated Beverley Athletic Club runners tackled the Snake Lane 10-mile race at Pocklington on Sunday morning and with a head wind to contend with in the first half of the race the cobwebs were soon blown away.
Runner of the Year James Pearson continued his excellent form and was the first Beverley runner to finish despite a strong challenge from Rob Snaith. Pearson finished in sixth place overall and set a new personal best time of 56.18. Snaith followed 25 seconds later to take seventh place and also recorded a new personal best time. Snaith admitted that he had struggled in the race but was able to take some consolation from achieving a new personal best.
Andy Johnson lived up to his Most Promising Newcomer award finishing in 64.24 and knocking an amazing 2 minutes off his personal best time at this distance. He is on great form and thoroughly enjoying his running.
Beverley’s middle and long distance champion, Julie Donald, led the ladies home, finishing third in her age category and in 23rd position overall.
There were some excellent performances from other Beverley ladies: Jayne Dale finished in fifth place in the F50 category; Jo Dewar, running in a Beverley vest for the first time completed the course in 88.18 and came fourth in her age group; Pam Atkins was six seconds faster than last year and finished 4th in the F60 category.
The race was won by Stephen Hepples of Newham & Essex Beagles in 53 minutes and the first lady to finish was Melisa Neal of March AC in 61.02.
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Beverley Athletic Club finishing times:
James Pearson 56.18; Rob Snaith 56.43; Andy Johnson 64.24; Darren Rodmell 65.59; Andy Tate 67.12; Julie Donald 71.47; Rob Reid 74.43; Lucy Stamford 75.04; Jayne Dale 77.37; Mike Abbotts 78.25; Paul Evans 82.34; Amanda 83.32; Steve Hadley 84.04; Charlie Culpan 86.44; Jo Dewar 88.18; Pam Atkins 88.49.
Photos courtesy of Dave Gowans of East Hull Harriers – Reported by Kay Farrow