Hampshire Road Relays
The Lakeside Relays incorporating the Hampshire Road Relays changed their previous April date to the Relay season of September. The venue of Lakeside Portsmouth was retained of course with the conditions dry but with strong breeze on parts of the course with the rain mostly holding off.
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nWinchester & District Athletic Club (WADAC) provided teams in most of the age groups. The Senior and Veteran Men race which included the Under 17 men race turned out to be an exciting race with the WADAC Senior Men team triumphing over Southampton in great style. The Senior/Veteran race was two laps per runner of the 2.36km lap. On the first leg Toby Lambert was in a leading group of 5 at the end of the first lap but after a burst by Mahamed Mahamed from Southampton A the group was split and Toby finished 3rd in 15.00 behind the Southampton athlete who ran the fastest leg of the day in 14.38. Toby’s time ended up being 4th best of the day. On Lap 2 James Heneghan set off at lightning speed and cruised WADAC into the lead 8 seconds ahead of the Southampton B team who had overtaken their A team. James ran the 6th fastest time of the day of 15.28. This left George King on the final leg to bring WADAC home to the title despite being closed down by Matt Revier of Southampton A. George ran 15.23 for the 5th fastest time of the day. The B team of James Moore (16.32) Jack England (16.54) and Colin McManus (sporting his tartan shorts) 18.46, ran consistently to finish 6th overall in the Senior Mens race.
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nIn the VM40 race WADAC finished a superb 3rd to receive team medals. On the first leg Richard Bidgood ran a storming leg of 16.40 to be 6th overall but 2nd VM40 team. Richard was rewarded with the 2nd fastest VM40 time of the day. Richard handed over to Pete Sansome who consolidated 2nd place behind the Southampton VM40 team. On leg 3 Stephen Lowy ran his heart out and was delighted to know at the end of his leg 18.58 that he had managed to hold onto 3rd place to win the team their medals. The VM50 team ran solidly with Dave Vosser 19.08 leading them in 4th VM50 team. On leg 2 Steve Torrance, currently struggling to regain fitness ran 21.36 to stay in 4TH place. Peat Allan had a storming solo leg of 19.00 to keep WADAC in 4th.
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nMartyn West ran the 4th fastest VM60 leg of the day of 19.27 on leg 1 to lead the VM60 teams in. On leg 2 Peter Watts 22.24 ran solidly to bring WADAC in 3rd VM60 . On leg 3 ever reliable Steve Goodwin ran a strong 20.14 to easily retain 3rd for WADAC to pick up team medals.
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nIn the Under 17 Women race which was combined with the Senior & Veteran race WADAC were victorious in a disappointingly small turnout in this category. Alice Calder had a fine run in 18.31 for 4th overall with the Senior & Veteran to be first U17W team. Including all the Senior/Veteran times Alice was 8th fastest leg time overall a superb achievement. Isla Allan 21.21 maintained WADAC as first U17W team leaving Emily Coulson 22.52 to bring WADAC in first ahead of Portsmouth.
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nThe Under 15 Girls team only had one of the 2.36 lap to contend with and Isabella Beck 9.12 had a standout run on leg 1 to come in 3rd U15G behind Southampton and Portsmouth A, her time as 4th fastest of the day. Sophie Torrance 10.24 ran a solid leg to keep WADAC in 3rd to leave Aisling Dunne 9.41, to attack Leg 3 and keep WADAC in 3rd to give the girls well deserved team medals.