HRRL Success at the Alresford 10k

The Alresford 10k is something of a highlight in the HRRL fixture list....it's a tough undulating course, it's at the tail-end of the season and it's often warm so it's not fast but it is very local, has a nice community vibe and gives away bags of watercress in the goodie bag. For many it's a favourite.
nSunday 18th was certainly on the warm side but that didn't deter over 40 WADAC athletes who turned out to contest the event. There was an air of expectancy as we saw some of our top athletes milling around doing their warmups....the sharp end was looking pretty sharp.
nSo it proved with an elite group of around 6 men (incl. 3 from WADAC) leading us away up the High St and staying away....the Top 3 all finished under 33mins with our Freddie Slemeck (2nd) and Andy Greenleaf (3rd) having to give best on the day to Harry Smith from City of Salisbury. Our strength in depth was however on display with George King (4th) and Joe Driscoll (8th) our men were pretty much untouchable for the team prize.
nWADAC was similarly dominant in the ladies race - it is of course a combined open event so the ladies are in amongst - and beating many of - the men it's just harder to get a photo of a leading pack of ladies. Tamsin Anderson again reigned supreme with her 38'35 placing 30th overall and winning the ladies race by a distance. Karla Borland (our NI vest 100km runner) again showed her versatility to place 60th overall and 3rd lady, quality running over any distance. Strength in depth again with Sarah Gurney (5th lady) and Susy Perry (9th lady) winning their age categories and bringing home the team prize.
nResults and team prizes inevitably focus on the open category (ultimately we are all racing on scratch) but there is keen racing through the age groups as Masters and Veterans are also racing against their age group peers. As ever WADAC athletes show up strongly in the age category results with Melissa Callister, Jonathan Kane, Joy Radford also winning their age cats.
nThe HRRL season finally reaches it's conclusion at the Lordshill 10k on 2nd July and the final league places (as well as the WADAC Grand Prix) will only be declared then but with this success at Alresford WADAC are pretty much assured of winning both the Ladies and the Men's A league competitions. The B and C teams are also sitting well with the men well placed to win the B and C leagues as well as the A's...what price a whitewash?Photo Credit: Paul McGroary