Ten Beverley AC runners took on the Major Stone Half Marathon around the village of Lockington last weekend. The race was held earlier in the year than usual to avoid a clash with the upcoming Hull Marathon, and conditions were hot and testing: a strong breeze provided some relief from the heat but also slowed runners down. The race is well supported by local people and many villagers came out to cheer the runners on and offer cold water to drink or pour over themselves. A circuit of gently undulating rural roads, this has the potential to be a fast course, and in the event provided personal best half marathon times for several Beverley athletes.
Lewis Holloway was Beverley’s first runner to cross the line. He was tenth overall and second in his V45 age group. Holloway took over two minutes off his previous best half marathon pace to finish in 1:24:00. He was followed in by Andy Johnson in 1:33.14, and David Morrison, completing his first ever half marathon, in 1:39:02. Beverley’s women were led in by Samantha Allen, in 1:41:07, also a personal best time. Allen was eighth female finisher. Second for Beverley was Rebecca Burge in 1:43:39, and third was Fiona Oakes in a personal best half marathon time of 1:53:15.
In a good field of 212 runners, the men’s race was won by Phill Taylor (Bridlington Road Runners) in 1:16:34. First place in the women’s race was taken by Tori Green (Ripon Runners) who recorded 1:25:03.
Over the same weekend, two adventurous Beverley runners made the trip to Iceland to participate in the Reykjavik marathon, now in its 32nd year. One Beverley AC Junior tackled his first competitive 10km road-race and an aspiring Beverley junior took-on a winding 3Km course along with 1800 competitors from across the globe.
As they ran, runners were treated to some of the Capital’s sights including Reykjavik’s stark concrete church, steaming hot volcanic springs and iron clad fishing huts, before the finishing straight through Reykjavik’s Central Park. The 10km and 3km races shared some of the Marathon’s early rolling course and all runners enjoyed good, cool conditions.
In the marathon, Edward Lisney and Jim Harbidge spurred each other on throughout the first half of the race, before Lisney pushed on to a finish of 3:32: 22, placing him in 211th position and taking 19 minutes off his personal best performance. Harbidge crossed the line in 3:57:00.
Junior runner Guy Harbidge completed his debut 10km race in 49:23, and brother Joel was placed 22nd in a field of 1800 3km runners in a time of 13:30.
The marathon was won by Bartosz Olszewski, of Poland, in a time of 2:29:30, with the first female finisher being Kaisa Kukk, of Estonia, in 2:53:09.
Beverley AC times at Major Stone: Lewis Holloway 1:24:00; Andrew Johnson 1:33:14; David Morrison 1:39:02; Samantha Allen 1:41:07; Rebecca Burge 1:43:39; Lucas Meagor 1:48:54; Graeme Pittaway 1:49:47; Jody Horth 1:51:36; Fiona Oakes1:53:15; Stephen Ogden 2:20:22
