A busy week on the local and national race calendar saw a number of great achievements for Beverley AC runners.
Saturday saw outstanding successes for Carla Stansfield and James Pearson at the 39th Humberside County Track and Field Championships at The Costello Stadium. Stansfield, in her 2nd year at the club, saw recent, intense middle distance training at the stadium paying dividends, winning the 3000m in an impressive 10:46.6. She has now qualified for a place in the Northern Athletic Championships at Sport’s City, Manchester in the 5000m.
Pearson, who normally competes at a variety of events up to marathon distance, has targeted the 5000 and 10000m this year and was in the lead of the 5000m until the last lap, eventually coming 2nd, in 16:26.7, a full 5 minutes ahead of the 3rd place finisher.
“The 5000 was a new experience. I ran it at pretty much an even pace but unfortunately was not able to crank it up on the last lap so ended up second but I’m pleased with the time and things are finally moving in the right direction” he said.
On Sunday, Driffield Striders hosted the highly popular, Multi-terrain ‘Mucky Duck’ 8 ½ mile race. Another club handicap series event saw blazing sunshine to help the Beverley team along. Pride of place went to the trio of Tanwen Gray, Jayne Dale and Jackie Hardman, who came first in the Ladies team event.
Gray’s time of 64:55 also saw her come 2nd in the V35 category, whilst Hardman was 1st in the V55’s in 69:26. James Pearson, in spite of heavy legs from his previous day’s exertions, grabbed 3rd place overall in 48:23.
Farther afield, Marathon Runner Paul Evans once again took on the Edinburgh Marathon. Marathon day usually seems to concentrate a lot of Scotland’s sunshine, and Sunday was no different, the heat slowing Paul a little in the final stages. He has improved his marathon times steadily over the past 2 years and ran a PB in 3:49:59, rejoicing in the”very important second under 3:50!”
Beverley AC finishing times at The Mucky Duck:
James Pearson 48:23, Darren Edge 55:29, Andy Johnson 56:33, Tanwen Gray 64:55, Jayne Dale 65:17, Michael Anderson 69:18, Jackie Hardman 69:26, Pam Atkins 77:53, Elaine Julian 83:39, Rachel Cope 83:47, Victoria Evins 85:33, Jacqui Dickinson 86:46, John Boardley 88:25.
Reported by Andrew Grainger
