Mounts Bay Harriers

Almost perfect conditions greeted the 414 runners at this years An Resek, a light chilly breeze and a some bright sunshine!! The race, which at the beginning of the season was doubtful after previous organisers pulled out, saw Ceri and her crew from Carn Runners and Tri Logic pick up the baton and stage what was an excellent race. Multi terrain was the name of the game in this road, trail, coastal path, beach, mud, sand and water!! all part of the fun and with a last minute slight change to the course due to a fallen tree on the way down to Penrose Walks challenged all who ran, that beach section never gets any easier.

The 4th race in the Cornwall Glass & Glazing Road Running Grand Prix Series saw a welcome return to form for a previously injured Noel Kingdon, winning in a time of 56.49 nearly a minute ahead of 2nd placed Peter Devenport (57.39)of Newquay and with team mate Shaun Milford close behind in 3rd (58.14)

From Mounts Bay Harriers perspective most of our ‘speed merchants’ were not racing today for various reasons including injury, marathon training, childcare problems, other races, working, raising money for charity or resting for bigger things.

That didn’t deter 27 of us turning out and posting 21 new 10 mile PBs (more work for me) – me included, not to take anything away from the performance but did anyone else measure it short? (9.95 miles?)

Mike Robinson led the Harriers home in a time of 59.29 – top time to get under the hour, followed by supervet John Parkes (2nd in AG) in 64.39. Back from injury, and his first race since before Christmas saw Nigel Sims return to form finishing in 23rd place overall, and by my calculations should have picked up 3rd in his AG but I didn’t hear it announced. I understand he wasn’t going to let a Mr Groves or Phil S (new PB time of 65.30 get the better of him today even if he only pipped Phil S by 5 seconds!)

Andrew Hickson must have had something special for breakfast as he has now leap frogged Jer, Mark and myself in the clubs 10 mile rankings finishing in a great time of 68.03. Sam Perkins’ training is certainly paying dividends as following a huge improvement in his marathon PB recently at the Duchy today he knocked a further 2 minutes of his 10 mile time.

New ladies team recruit Wendy Scott showed a little of what is to come finishing 3rd in her AG on very little training and I just feel that with the support of some of our fastest ladies all turning out we could shock a few people.

Special mention to Mike Johns and Phil McNevin who today raced the furthest they have ever and both posting good times.

4 weeks today and the marathon day is here with London, Tresco and Shakespear all taking place - Sam and I managed to continue with our marathon mileage and get in another 5 miles at the end of the race – so all in all a good day, apart from this pain in my lower leg – are you sure you can run through shin splints? More red wine required I think.

Well Done to all MBH who ran today – and if anyone else asks me or Yvonne if we have any places left for our triathlon I clip them round the ear – the entry forms were out just after Christmas so it’s your own fault!! (just to remind everyone NOW – entry forms are already out for the Aquathlons series, Junior Aquathlon and even the Remembrance Run – so NO EXCUSES)

Next weekend sees another GP race, the new Trevornick 10 mile off road – good luck to all entering this one as I hear it’s a real toughy!

It’s back to marathon training for me with a 22 miler on Saturday and don’t forget the Penzance Tri recce on Sunday leaving at 9.30am from the leisure centre – some of you I understand also want to run the run route afterwards? Fine by me.

GS

MBH RESULTS BELOW

POSITION TIME NAME CATEGORY
7 0:59:29 ROBINSON, Michael Male under 40 PB
20 1:04:39 PARKES, John Male Vet 50-54
23 1:05:25 SIMS, Nigel Male Vet 45-49 PB
24 1:05:30 SANGER, Phil Male under 40 PB
40 1:07:54 STEPHENS, Alastair Male under 40 PB
42 1:08:03 HICKSON, Andrew Male Vet 40-44 PB
45 1:08:14 MATTHEWS, Ian Male Vet 40-44 PB
88 1:12:04 CHAPPLE, Steve Male Vet 50-54
95 1:12:28 GIMBERT, Shawn Male under 40
96 1:12:28 PERKIN, Sam Male under 40 PB
113 1:14:02 SCOTT, Wendy Female Vet 35-39 PB
145 1:16:24 HOOPER, Paul Male Vet 45-49 PB
190 1:20:07 HIBBERT, Clive Male Vet 60-64
206 1:21:34 RAGGETT, Ian Male under 40 PB
225 1:23:19 WEBB, Helen Female under 35 PB
228 1:23:33 BURROWS, Robert Male Vet 50-54 PB
232 1:23:41 MARSTON, David Male Vet 60-64
252 1:25:55 MCNEVIN, Philip Male under 40 PB
265 1:27:08 GRONWALT, Ian Male Vet 40-44 PB
287 1:29:12 PETERS, Trina Female Vet 40-44 PB
299 1:30:33 TREWHELLA, Chris Male Vet 45-49 PB
301 1:30:49 PRADY, Liz Female Vet 50-54 PB
314 1:32:22 SQUIRE, Mark Male Vet 50-54
325 1:33:44 BAKER, Pippa Female Vet 45-49 PB
344 1:37:10 SQUIRE, Helen Female Vet 45-49 PB
351 1:38:37 MATTHEWS, Susan Female Vet 45-49
358 1:40:18 JOHNS, Michael Male Vet 50-54 PB

FULL RESULTS HERE