Runners keep their cool as hot weather brings out the crowds

A TOTAL of 689 runners took part in this year’s Goring 10km, which was the highest number for two years.

Warm weather on Sunday prompted almost 100 people to sign up on the morning of the race, which was in aid of the village primary school.

Race director Elkie Mace said: “Last year it was raining and so this year, with the warmer weather, that has definitely helped with the turnout. We’re absolutely thrilled.”

The race, which started outside Storton Lodge and finished in Bourdillon Field, was celebrating its 25th anniversary.

James Ellis, 32, from Didcot who didn’t run for a club, was the first to cross the finish line in a time of 33 minutes and 28 seconds, which set a new men’s open race record, and was 14 seconds short of the overall race record.

He said: “I’m building towards the London Marathon in April so I just wanted to have a good workout. It’s really nice to run in support of the local primary school as well.

“I have Sebastian, my four-month-old baby, so training has taken a bit of a backseat but I’ve been trying to fit in training when and where I can.

“When we came up to the second hill in the course, there was a headwind so it was definitely a bit of a struggle but I knew we were probably all finding it hard so we just had to crack on.”

The runner-up was Matt Lock, a member of Witney Road Runners, who won in the race last year. He finished in a time of 33 minutes and 53 seconds which was 15 seconds slower than last year.

Mr Lock said: “This is not really the time I wanted. I was slower than last year and the conditions played into that. I’ve just not really had the time to train for it.

“I’ve done normal training but not enough to counteract the heat for today. The winner went for it really early, from about 4km or 5km and I didn’t have it in the legs to chase him down.

“You start on an uphill and it sets your heart rate off like nobody’s business and it is hard work from there on.”

Mr Lock said he hoped to win the county team title as part of the Oxfordshire Grand Prix with his club.

George Trotter, 28, from Headington, was 50 seconds behind to claim third place after competing in the Inter-Counties and Cross Country Championships in Nottingham the day before.

He said: “The conditions were really tough. I enjoyed the course today but definitely not the heat. My time was a good 30 seconds quicker than last year when I ran it for the first time. Last year I was fifth.”

Mr Trotter, a member of the Highgate Harriers, said: “This course is more difficult than other 10kms I have done. If anybody gets a personal best today, they deserve a real pat on the back because there’s a big climb at the beginning and after you just about recover in the middle, you’ve got a couple of ramps up at the end as well.”

Aaran Critchley, 54, of the Banbury Harriers, took a tumble as he crossed the finish line after scrambling to secure a competitive edge.

He said: “There was a bit of a fall at the end because there were three of us in a line. It was just the competitiveness of trying to get to the line first. I was trying to roll back the years. I got past the line but fell over, which was a bit unfortunate.”

The fastest woman was Katherine Jones, 36, from Abingdon, who completed the course in a time of 40 minutes and 30 seconds. She is a member of the Woodstock Harriers.

She said: “It’s one of the hardest 10km’s around so I’m really happy. The course is quite twisty-turny and undulating.

“The hardest bit was when there was 2kms of headwind and there’s nobody around to shout at you but the support on the course was incredible. There was so much cheering, clapping and there were banners and someone on the drums at one point.

“My goal for today was to beat my time from two years ago. It wasn't my goal to be the fastest woman. I wanted to place in the top three in my age group.”

The second-placed woman was Mary Scott, in a time of 42 minutes and 55 seconds, and third place was Sarah Davies, who finished in a time of 43 minutes and 46 seconds.

Pip White, 37 and Dan Stockwell, 42, of Reading Road Runners were pleased with their results having suffered injuries.

Ms White said: “It’s lovely to do a local event — I prefer doing local events like this to big races now. It’s a lot less faff. It was just really hot. I had the flu beforehand, which knocked me out for about six weeks.”

Mr Stockwell, 42, from Goring, has a daughter who goes to the school and wanted to support them. He finished in 51 minutes and 34 seconds.

He said: “I’m quite surprised with my time because I had a few beers yesterday. I wasn’t expecting too much from today but I’m happy.

“I normally do the Hairy Legs Challenge but I will try to do this one more often. I did my back in slightly beforehand where I couldn’t do anything for three weeks, so I didn’t do as much training as I would have liked.”

Charlotte Parsley, from Goring and Streatley Chiropractic, ran with her husband Kieran. She finished in one hour, one minute and nine seconds.

She said while running the race, she bumped into a friend she went to school with, who she hadn’t seen in 25 years.

Mrs Parsley said: “I wanted to do it because it’s a great course and it’s challenging. It’s a great atmosphere and especially when the weather is like this. The race was more difficult than I expected because of the weather. It was mad to see my old friend along the course.”

Race starter Kate Gibbons counted down the runners and there were about 50 volunteers who marshalled different points of the race.

Erika Doyle and Bryony Warren handed out medals and flapjacks to all the finishers along with primary pupils who wanted to help. The event raised about £15,000 for the school.

Bob Warmingham, of Warmingham estate agents, handed out trophies to race veterans and runners who won their categories.

There were trophies for the following categories for males and females: Men’s Open (age 15 to 39) — James Ellis (33m 28s); Men’s Veterans (age 40 to 49): Giuseppe Morabito (37m, 36s); Men’s Super-Veterans (age 50 to 59): James Bolton (35m, 12s); Men’s Masters (60+): Sean Bowen (44m, 14s) ; Women’s Open (age 15 to 39): Katherine Jones (40m, 30s); Women’s Veterans (age 40 to 49): Kate Daniels, (45m, 7s); Women’s Super-Veterans (age 50 to 59): Sarah Davies (43m 46s); Women’s Masters (60+): Patricia Ronksley, (49m 21s); Men’s Grandmaster: Anthony Whitehouse, (43m 3s); Women’s Grandmaster: Kate Williamson (59m, 39s)