Adrian Essex: British Champion

It was a weekend of glory for Heathside’s best, brightest and fastest. It is hard to know where to start, but perhaps we should go with age because 63-year-old Adrian Essex not only picked up a PB in coming second in the pole vault in the British Master’s National Championships; he came first in the 60-plus age group in the 60m hurdles in 11.86, making him a British champion.

Then there was Lily Beckford’s 400 m time of 57.45 in the England U20 indoor championships, which is a club indoor record and Tom Livermore’s 5th place in the Milton Keynes Half Marathon in a time of 74:36, and so many more did impressive PBs…. About 70 of our members raced at the weekend. A few of the reports…

Inter-Counties National Championships, Crofton, Birmingham

There were several very promising performances from Heathsiders, despite some of our best being unavailable (Tom on nappy duty; Sarah off with Achilles and toe troubles….). Here’s Sue’s report:

“Although more were selected to represent Middlesex in the end we were five Heathsiders to travel to Birmingham on Saturday for the Inter-Counties, which has for several years now been run over a nicely varied course (my opinion) in Cofton Park. There was sufficient mud around to warrant what will be a lengthy procrastination on the spike-cleaning front, but conditions were otherwise ideal and we all did ourselves proud. It’s not quite the same thing heading to a cross-country race without the full Heathside rabble in tow, but once you get a glimpse of the sea of runners sporting county colours from all across the UK (OK, maybe GB) you can’t help but feel the buzz. A special mention at this stage to young Liam Garrett, who had a wonderful cross-country season and whose smile after his race was one of the best I’ve seen.”

And another special mention: for Sue herself. Coming back from knee and Achilles injuries she came 68th out of 275 finishers in a highly impressive time of 31:20.

British Master’s Track and Field Championships, Lee Valley

Aside from Adrian’s heroics, there were several others who did well here. Tony Kililea came 7th in the M50 300 meters in a PB time of 9:56.14; Tina Peate also picked up a PB in coming 7th in the W35 class in a time of 28.4, while Michael Bense also picked up a 7th place in the M40 200 m.

Finchley 20m

There were several solid performances in Sunday’s Finchley 20 (nowhere near Finchley, by the way). Leigh James was the third woman home in 2:15.29, Cathy Jeremiah, the second Heathside woman, picked up a bronze medal in the Middlesex Championships with a time of 2:26.21. Caroline White was the 2nd V55 in 2:49.25. Our first man home, in 24th place, was George Stewart in 2:03.34, followed by James Pickett who ran a PB of 2:08.15. The men’s team (which also consisted of Mark Anderson and Roger Braybrooks) came third, as did the women’s team (which also included Elinor East).

Most of our 25 entrants used the event (wisely) as more of a kind-of pre-marathon test/pacing run than a genuine race, and the times reflect this approach. Jim Connell reports that it was a “good run in terms of atmosphere, marshalling and support”, but the “heat and undulations played havoc” with his and others’ best-laid plans.

Milton Keynes Half Marathon

Aside from Tom Livermore’s 74 minute effort,, there was Dan McKeown’s 77:49. Tom Upchurch (88:51) and Julia Kelk (96:39) both ran PBs. Dan reports: “It was Tom to the fore at the MK Half Marathon on Sunday: despite heat, twists and turns and shambolic organisation which sent the half marathoners through the back of the 10k field, he pinged round the labyrinthine course in a stonking PB of 74 minutes to finish fifth overall. Tom looks like he's in great shape for London and his commemorative range of 'Live More' merchandise will be available via Nike soon. (Disclaimer: I made that bit up.) I had a bit of a tough time of it but got home inside 78 minutes. We also ad Michael Bironneau in the 10k, who came 13th with a respectable sub-40. Looking forward to getting my revenge on Milton Keynes in the road relays next week.”

Other Halves

Six Heathsiders took part in the Surrey Half, with Jack Ridings first home in 84:15; In the low-key but well-organised  Retford Half, Andy Welshman ran 83:25 into a headwind (“an off-day,” he says. “I never really got going for some reason.”). In the Cambridge Half Anthony Hall, running without a bobble hat, arrived in 81:54-  his comeback has begun. And in the sunny, windy but flat Lydd Half Alex Weatherill picked up a PB in 78:17.

Ballycotton 10, County Cork, Ireland

Steve and Barbara relished this scenic ten miler. Here’s Barbara’s report: “Steve and I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely popular 10 miler in County Cork, hosted by the charming fishing village of Ballycotton. Much is made of the uphill challenge of the final couple of miles but the inclines were short and not very sharp, and the atmosphere was "just grand", and attracts runners from all over Ireland. It even has its own song that is played as you start! Very few overseas entrants, but the commentator gave London Heathside a name check as I passed.”

Dambuster Duathlon, Rutland Water

John Driscoll continued with his duathlon quest by coming 15th in his V40 age group in a time of 2:21.26. He reports: “Very well organised race and weather stayed dry but windy throughout. Despite cycling as fast as I'd ever done, dropped to 52nd after the bike section and then managed to claw back a few places on the final run leg. Shiny new elastic laces helped shave off a minute of two in the transitions compared to normal but looks like more bike laps of Regents Park are needed!”

Parkruns

Once again a bunch of our runners took part all over the county and elsewhere, but, unfortunately, the results had not yet arrived by early Wednesday morning, so, I guess they will have to wait until next week. I do know that Brent and Dave (Hellard) came first and third respectively in Highbury, and there were five Heathsiders at Finsbury Park, with Adam Kirk-Smith coming second in 17:25 [UPDATE: click here for this week's parkrun round up]

Results

Inter-Counties,, Cofton Park, Birmingham, March 9

U13 Boys

122nd Liam Garrett 11:56

300 finishers

U17 Women

109th Rachel Seckl 22:26

260 finishers

U20 Men

168th Daniel Szajna 32:36

180 finishers

U20 Women

118th Yanna Raykov 26:31

150 finishers

Senior Women

68th Sue Rust 31:20

Finchley 20 mile, Sunday March 9

24th George Stewart 2:03:34 M45

42 James Pickett 2. 08. 15 M 32 

43 Mark Anderson  2. 08. 32 M 35 

44 Roger Braybrooks 2. 08. 54 M 44 

49 Howard Gold 2. 10. 17 M 43 Mx

61 Paul Jarman 2. 13. 04 M 49 Mx

80 Leigh James 2. 15. 29 F 30

88 Jonathan Hopkin 2. 16. 34 M 46 Mx

97 Stuart Meiklejohn 2. 18. 09 M 33

107 Paul Mercer 2. 19. 28 M 39 Mx

133 James Connell 2. 23. 48 M 41

151 Cathy Jeremiah 2. 26. 21 F 31 Mx

170 Elinor East 2:29.16

182 William Wagstaff 2. 32. 58 M 51 Mx

186 Marco Luna 2. 33. 05 M 35 Mx

187 Emerson Paul 2. 33. 14 M 38

215 Nick de Sausmarez 2. 38. 23 M 48

250 Catherine Doherty 2. 46. 24  

259 Jesper Lycke 2. 47. 25 M 42 M

278 Caroline White 2. 49. 44 F 57 Mx

285 Jane Higgins 2. 51. 04 F 31 Mx

294 Gavin Parish 2. 53. 10 M 37

370 Agi Palanki 3. 04. 43 F 36 Mx

398 Eleanor Jones 3. 11. 27 F 31

419 Monika Thaler 3. 17. 27 F 41 Mx

British Master’s National Track and Field Championships, Lee Valley, March 8

M60 60m Hurdles:

1st Adrian Essex – 11.86 (PB)

M60 Pole Vault

2nd Adrian Essex – 2m

M50 3000m

7th Tony Kililea – 9:56.14

M40 200m

7th Michael Bense – 26.46

W35 200m

7th Tina Peate – 28.4

England Athletics U15 / U17 / U20 Championships, Sheffield, March 1
4th (h1) 57.45 Lily Beckford

Surrey Half Marathon, March 9
Jack Ridings 84:15
Chris Burke 89:22
David Hellard 89:52
Jethro Price 1:40:23

Rebecca Sweet 1:52

Claire Sliwerski 2:02.56

Milton Keynes Half Marathon, March 9

Tom Livermore - 5th - 1:14:36

Dan McKeown - 12th - 1:17:29

Tom Upchurch - 107th - 1:28:51

Julia Kelk - 19th woman, 284th overall - 1:36:39

Milton Keynes 10k, March 9

13th Michael Bironneau 39:29

Lydd Half Marathon, March 9

5th Alex Weatherill 78:17

Retford Half Marathon, March 927 Andy Welshman 83:25

Cambridge Half Marathon, March 9
45 Anthony Hall 81:54

Ballycotton 10m, County Cork, Ireland, March 9

Barbara Tomaszczyk 1:21:31 (1, 252nd)

Steve Woolf 1:29:36 (1, 794th)

Dambuster Duathlon, Rutland Water (10k run, 40k cycle, 5k run) – 574 finishers

297th John Driscoll 2:21:26 ( 37.24 / 1.10 / 1:23.15 / 1.01 / 18.36) (46th V40)