Home win for veteran runner

BEN Paviour felt right at home when he took part in the inaugural Sonning Common 10km — and won.

The veteran runner lives only a few minutes’ walk from the start line and regularly runs the route for practice.

The 51-year-old finished in a time of 35 minutes and 22 seconds, more than two minutes ahead of his nearest rival who was 32 years his junior.

Mr Paviour, who is a member of Reading Roadrunners, was one of 272 runners who took part in the race to raise money for the village primary school.

The race started and finished at the school in Grove Road and followed a route along quiet country lanes around the village.

Mr Paviour, who lives in Reades Lane and works from home, said: “It is a good local event and I only live round the corner, so it’s as local to me as you can get.

“It’s a good route because once it leaves the village you end up on these quiet country lanes.

“It’s quite a tough course as it’s very up and down. The first half is uphill but once you pass halfway it’s relatively downhill.

“I am excited to see the race develop over the years and the standards improve so I don’t win it again!”

He said he had not expected to be first, adding: “You never know who is going to turn up on the day and I really shouldn’t be winning 10kms at over 50.

“I do a lot of running — I run for the Roadrunners and a club in London. I have been running for about 20 years now.”

The runner-up was Zak Lambourne who finished in 37 minutes and 24 seconds with Jonny Williams in third another 16 seconds behind.

Zak, who is 19 and lives in Emmer Green, said: “I really enjoyed it. It was a very nice course with country hills and good people to run alongside.

“It was really well laid out and the volunteers along the way were really helpful.”

Zak, who attended the primary school and Highdown School in Emmer Green, also takes part in marathons.

The first woman to cross the line was Molly Skeil, of Oxford University Cross-Country Club, in a time of 40 minutes and 36 seconds with Nicola Taylor another minute and 21 seconds behind and Liz Fraser, of Abingdon Athletics Club, the third-placed woman.

The event was organised by a group of parents and staff from the school to raise money for an all-weather running track for the pupils. They were led by Cate and Tom Sturgess whose six-year-old son Miles is a pupil.

The race was marshalled by more than 50 volunteers including staff, parents and pupils as well as villagers and members of the Henley police neighbourhood team.

The school’s Kite Café, which is run by parents, provided tea and coffee, bacon and sausage rolls and a selection of homemade cakes made by pupils, parents and members of Sonning Common WI.

Before the race, the runners were given a warm-up exercise by personal trainer Jules Greenaway, of Focus Gym at Badgemore Park in Henley, one of the event sponsors.

Mr Greenaway, who is also a school parent, said: “We hope the event goes from strength to strength in the future.”

The race was started by headteacher Chris Hirst and commentary was provided by Karl Schorman, whose grandchild is a pupil and is a regular commentator at events, including matches at Henley Rugby Club. Reception teacher Annabel Worlock, who ran the race, said: “It was a really positive event that shared the school as the community hub it is.

“There were lots of people encouraging us along the route, ringing cowbells and clapping and whooping.

“In the new estate next to Memorial Park lots of people came out of their houses and were cheering us on.”

Kirrily Morris, who ran alongside fellow parents Tori Galloway-Dacie, Louise Austin and Carl Cuthbert-Brown, described the day as “awesome”.

She said: “It was well organised and really friendly. People helped each other along the way and we got bacon butties at the end.

“The whole group finished, which was really good and two of us got personal bests.

“Carl did it in a really good time of 45 minutes, so he disappeared off into the distance but I ran with the others. It was a gorgeous route — there were hardly any cars as the road had been closed and the country lanes were quiet.

“There was lots of cheering along the way and lots of people waving.

“I am so pleased for Tom and Cate who organised it. It was such a huge effort and really well done.”

Mrs Sturgess said: “It was a huge amount of work to set the run up but I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved.

“We were inspired by the success of On Your Bike, which was set up in 2007 by Penny Snowden and Andrew Burnett and has raised thousands of pounds for the school and local charities since it started.

“Penny was a great help to us in the beginning when we were considering the idea. We are very grateful to her for her support and encouragement.”

Ms Snowden, who also founded Active Leaders, took part in the race.

She said: “The Sonning Common 10km was a fantastic event for the school, community and competitors and really well organised from start to finish.

“The route was lined with supporters and enthusiastic marshals who encouraged us to great efforts of endurance and achievement.

“All the pre-race information was excellent, as were the announcements on the day.

“It was an absolute pleasure to take part and to see such a huge range of participants.

“The school staff and PTA were such a brilliant support and deserve all the funds raised.”

Deputy headteacher Rachel Salmons, who helped with the organisation, said: “It is wonderful to think the money raised today will go towards facilitating the next generation of runners.”

Mrs Sturgess thanked event sponsors Badgmore Park and Shiplake College, whose headteacher Tyrone Howe ran.

She said: “They have turned our idea into a reality and have been so supportive.

“I would also like to Richard Beville, of Beville estate agents, who helped us with the posters and signs.

“Richard was out very early on the morning putting the signs up for the race. He is a founding committee member of On Your Bike and a huge supporter of the school. His wife, Helen, took part in the race.

“We have also had so much support from local residents, businesses and our friends and families.

“Special thanks to everyone who helped us make this event a huge success. It really was very special to bring a running event to Sonning Common and we are already looking forward to next year.”

The full results are below.