Annabel Litchfield wins Orion Forest 5

Relatively slim pickings this week by our usual standards, but the highlights include a first place for Annabel Litchfield in the hot and hilly Orion Forest 5 (33:04); another club V60 record for Pete Crockford in the Sri Chinmoy 5k at Battersea Park (in 18:41); another gruelling ultra for Lenny Martin (this one a 101 km mountainous course in Switzerland) and a sprightly PB for Sion Lewis in the Standard Chartered Great City Race  (16:34).

Orion Forest 5m, Saturday July 14

Annabel Litchfield led a group of six Heathsiders in this hot and hilly five mile event, coming in as the first woman in 33:04. Here is Emilia Vynnycky’s report:

‘Six Heathsiders ran in the Orion Forest 5 last Saturday, a scenic, friendly, low key-event in Epping Forest.  The heat and the hills made it harder than usual, and the herd of indecisive cows in the middle of the course, trying to choose between drinking at a lake and grazing in the shade provided some welcome distraction.  Annabel Litchfield ran well to finish first woman in 33:04, followed by Philip Duggan (34:54).  The others followed soon after, rounded off by Rebecca Marshall and Rachel Scott Halls finishing in just under 45 minutes.  The final race in the series is on the 11th August and promises to be a fun event. ‘

Sri Chinmoy 5k, Battersea Park, Monday, July 16

Pete Crockford’s rich vein of form continued on Monday in fast, flat Battersea Park when he ran his best-ever age-graded performance of 18:41. This was not only a club record but also a new V60 course record. Pete described conditions as ‘hot, sunny and breezy – but not as hot as of late’. Also running was Jennifer Wing who was the 10th woman in 21:04.

Standard Chartered Great City Race, Tuesday July 17

Sion Lewis came 20th in this highly competitive event, putting in a new PB time of 16:34. Thanks to all the Heathside Volunteers on the course,’ he said.

Eiger Ultra Trail (101km), Grindelwald, Switzerland, Tuesday July 17

Lenny Martin and Kim Butler travelled to Switzerland for a spot of off-road racing. Kim, making her mountain debut, opted for the 16k event and came 97th out of 242 women. Lenny, a veteran mountain man, came 96th out of 396 in the 101km event, which was cut short because of torrential rains (he ran a mere 87km). Here is Lenny’s report:

“I raced the 101k distance - with 6,700m of climbing around the route. It was going well, until I reached about 70km in, when a large thunderstorm hit the course, and resulted in the suspension of racing for about two hours. It was eventually restarted over a re-routed course so I eventually reached the finish line but having been able to race only 87km. 

“Official results are complicated by the fact that runners were at various points when the storm hit, so timings for some sections were neutralised, and so my eventual "official" time was listed as for an 80km course, with 4,800m of vertical and was given as 13:10:42. This was good enough for 96th of the 396 male runners on the shortened course - not including the 40 elite runners who made it through before the storm.

“The result was decent, but I'm still deeply disappointed at the cancellation, and not being able to test myself over the full route as I felt I was moving really well when the storm hit. Maybe back next year for some unfinished business...

“Also, Kim Butler raced in the 16km race (with 800m of climbing!) and finished in 2:24:07 for 97th place out of 242 women, which is a very creditable result indeed in her first season of mountain racing.”

 Parkruns

A grand total of 66 of our members took part in 23 Parkruns on Saturday. First places went to Rebecca Bunting on Worthing (18:00), Olivia Desborough in Highbury Fields (19:41) and Emma Ford in Coventry (20:13). Full Heathside results here.

Results

Orion Forest 5m, Saturday July 14

23 Annabel Litchfield 33:04 (1st F)

35 Philip Duggan 34:54

48 Emilia Vynnycky 37:57

50 Marco Maserati   38:14

81 Rebecca Marshall 43:46

84 Rachel Scott Halls 44:38

Sri Chinmoy 5k, Battersea Park, Monday, July 16

36 Pete Crockford 18:41 (1st V60; V60 course record, club V60 record)

66 Jennifer Wing  21:04 (10th woman)

Standard Chartered Great City Race, Tuesday July 17

20th Sion Lewis – 16:34 (PB)

Eiger Ultra Trail (101km), Grindelwald, Switzerland, Tuesday July 17

80km course (reduced from 101), with 4,800m climb

396 male finishers

96th Lenny Martin – 13:10:42

16km course with 800m climb (242 female finishers)

97th Kim Butler – 2:24:07