6:00pm Friday 14th August 2009
By Steve Sowden
THE members of the Yeovil Town Road Running Club have been out in force in local races, as well as taking on the triple challenge of the triathlon in events across the country.
Pride of place goes to the two members who completed the Bolton Ironman with colleagues from the Wessex Wizards Triathlon Club – Barry Harriss completed the 2.4-mile swim, 120-mile cycle course and then full 26.2-mile marathon in a superb time of 12hr19m04, with Scott Quayle overcoming the testing bike course to look fresh during the run and finish in 15hr45min27.
The distinctive green and white Yeovil vest is often the best advert the Club can get – after following Scott all the way round the marathon course, Matt Baker (16hr01m45) has now also joined the club!
Elsewhere Klara Saville had a strong run in the London Sprint Triathlon as she finished in 48th place and a time of 1hr25min29, whilst Liz Collins sounds enjoyed the London Olympic Triathlon, recording 3hr01m09 for her efforts.
In local events, the Yeovil team was conspicuous at both the Haselbury Trail 10km on Wednesday evening and the Maiden NewTen 10km on Saturday evening, and several members took on both challenges.
The Haselbury Trail run starts at the cricket pavilion in North Perrott and takes in a cross country course, which had been watered quite generously in the days prior to the race, which made for exciting racing.
Paul Rose led the way, finishing in fourth place and leading Male Veteran, in a time of 41m42, just ahead of Dickie Wythe, club member but in the colours of Wells City Harriers, who finished as Male Veteran 50 winner in 42m29, and Mike Harvey finished in the top ten in 44m48.
Martin Lascelles ran well for 45m46 to keep ahead of the battle between Shawn Lewis (47m27) and Rod Appleby (47m55), and Pete Jakeman made the most of his last race in the Male Veteran 50 category as he crossed the line in (48m28).
Karen Bentham was leading Club lady on the night, her 48m37 enough to finish as 3rd Female, and Sam Harvey (49m20) held off the challenge of Lin Lascelles (49m28), who was delighted to be awarded the Female Veteran 35 trophy. Steve House (50m41) enjoyed a good race long battle with Matt Driver (51m24) and Rob Adams (51m50), whilst the sprint to the line was won by Rose Cullimore (53m09) in front of Iain McCallum (53m21) and Rebecca Lefeuvre (53m35), Alan Hunter just behind in (54m03).
Jody Foy ran in a sober manner as he recorded a time of 54m55, keeping clear of a triumvirate of club mates, Brian Mountjoy-Row (56m05), Nigel Moysey (56m12) and Jack Frost (56m21).
Malcolm Maxted beat the hour mark, finishing in 59m26 showing a clean paid of heels to Jo Whaites (1hr01m48) – though Jo was not able to show a clean anything to anyone after falling head first into the biggest, muddiest cowpat you have ever seen! Phil MacQuaid ran well for his 1hr04m49, with Debbie Neal in 1hr05m33 and Graham Watts (1hr06m30) not far behind.
Amanda Inch finished in a time of 1hr12m46, ahead of Val Hales (1hr14m14), club debutant Donna Smith (1hr20m02) and Mel Dodge (1hr22m05).
On Saturday evening, 140 runners made their way to Maiden Newton for the latest running of the Maiden NewTen Madness, and again Yeovil green and white was to the fore. Paul Rose enjoyed another fourth place finish and another Male Veteran trophy as he finished in 39m23, holding off the challenge of Noel Murphy (41m43), whose partner Emma is busy working on the next generation of Yeovil Town runners!
Mike Harvey made the top ten again, crossing the line in 43m06 thanks to his “Paula” socks, and Pete Jakeman won his first trophy as Male Veteran 60 as he stormed home in 45m26. Matt Driver had a good run for his 47m15, with Rob Adams (48m12) leading home Paul Allen (49m41) and the jogging Sam Harvey (50m37).
The Dorset trio of Tony Watts, Mark Hann and Jon Rowe all ran together to cross the line in 50m52, with leading Club lady Rose Cullimore finishing in 53m26. Andy Tudor (53m56) held off the fast finishing Brian Mountjoy-Row (53m59) and Jody Foy (55m04) kept in front of Jo Whaites, thankfully un-cowpatted in this race, who finished in 56m39.
Lisa Gunning enjoyed her run of 58m02 and Hayley Gough finished under the hour in her first Club race as she crossed the line in 59m50. Liz Collins also completed the course in a time of 1hr10m25.
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