Ukrainian wins 10km race two months after arrival

A UKRAINIAN man won the 42nd Wargrave 10km event on Sunday — two months after moving to the UK.

Andrii Sochka, 30, said he felt good after finishing in a time of 34 minutes and 59 seconds, nine seconds ahead of runner-up Chris Ellis, a member of Windsor’s Datchet Dashers.

Third place was taken by Samuel Lloyd, 25, who lived in Victoria Road, Wargrave, until last year.

A total of 347 runners took part in the 42nd annual event, which started at the recreation ground, off Recreation Road.

The route, which had been changed to improve the runners’ safety, went to Crazies Hill and back, cutting out Highfield Park and a 60mph road at the top of the course.

Mr Sochka lives in Frimley, Surrey, having recently moved from Kolomyya, where he was the head of the local running club.

“I’m so proud,” he said. “I’m happy to show that I’m from Ukraine and maybe more people will be talking about the war in Ukraine.

“I’m happy to show that we’re here. We’re so appreciative of the UK helping us.

“This was my first time in Wargrave. It was quite a hilly race. I tried to save my energy in the first half and then tried to catch the other guys leading. It was different surfaces so it was difficult, especially when you’re tired. It was really hot, which makes it more difficult to maintain your pace.”

Mr Lloyd, a member of London Heathside Athletics Club, said: “I was leading for about six or seven kilometres and then I lost my pace.

“As my family live in Wargrave, I’ve run the course quite a few times so I knew where the hills were but they do take it out of you. I was aiming for top three because I haven’t run many 10kms recently so I’m pretty happy.”

The first woman was Katherine Streams, 55, of Reading Roadrunners, who came home in a time of 40 minutes and 43 seconds with Melanie Phair, of Wycombe Phoenix Harriers, and Veronika Gill in second and third respectively.

Mrs Streams, who had been recovering from a tendon injury in her ankle, only entered a week before the event.

“I’m pretty stunned to win,” she said. “I got injured about 10 days before the London Marathon. I’ve only been running again for a few weeks and just decided to enter this. I’ve got the Sydney Marathon in September so I thought I better start running again.

“It’s a challenging course, which is why I wanted to do it. I just thought, ‘I’m going to run it and hopefully feel like I’m pushing myself’ but I’m not capable of doing anything crazy at the moment. There was a part of the course with quite an incline in the full sun which was quite difficult, especially when I knew I had to repeat it.”

The race was overseen by Wargrave and Twyford Runners and organised by sports event management company Barnes Fitness.

It was supported by Barber Crew barbers in Henley. All proceeds from the event will go to the Robert Piggott Infant School in Wargrave.

James Cassim, lead organiser for the running club, said: “We’re part of the Wargrave Village Festival this year and also the Berkshire Championships, which definitely gave us a lot more entries.

“We simplified the course this year for safety reasons. It has been going for more than 40 years so it’s really important that it continues.

“It’s great to see so many people from the community and runners from further afield.

“A lot of athletics clubs use this race as their club championships. I love seeing runners getting together and enjoying running.” The day started at 9.15am with a children’s one-mile fun run comprising three laps of the recreation ground.

The race was won by 11-year-old Wilf May, from Reading Athletics Club, for the second year running.

Wilf, who attends Polehampton School in Twyford, said: “I’m happy. It’s pretty exciting to win again. I practise for seven hours a week.”

Oskar Winker, five, of Spring Walk, Wargrave, ran alongside his father, Matthius.

Mr Winker said: “Oskar did it last year and really enjoyed it. He wanted to do it by himself but because of the excitement of the day, I ran with him. He did a new personal best.

“Our race strategy didn’t really pay off. We wanted to start very slow but we got a bit carried away when the big boys started sprinting off and we couldn’t quite keep up.

“We did it just for fun. It gives Oskar the confidence and, of course, there’s the medals.”

The proceeds from the fun run will go to Robert Piggott Infant and Junior Schools.