Newman is Stratford’s top finisher at Leamington Regency 10k
STRATFORD-upon-Avon Athletic Club members enjoyed considerable success at the Wright Hassall Leamington Regency 10k with three age category winners and a further three podium finishers in their respective age categories.
The club occupied the top two places in the M70 category and had three of the top four places in the W65 category.
Stratford’s men and women also finished inside the top three in the team standings in a competitive field. Josh Newman, Kieran Tursner, Matt Burdus-Cook and Chris Cond teamed up to finish second, while Lynne Hinson, Annie Cox and Sarah Boundy combined to place third.
In a race won by Leamington’s Callum Hanlon in 32.39, Newman was Stratford’s top finisher and was just 88 seconds behind the winner, placing seventh in 34.07 on the undulating course.
It was the fastest time Newman had ever recorded for 10km. “The uphill drag around the golf course was still pretty muddy,” said Newman.
“I blew up a bit with three kilometres to go and struggled, but didn’t lose too much time.”
Newman, who turned 24 just a few days before the race, feels capable of bettering 34 minutes on a fast course, but his immediate target is the Rotary Shakespeare Half Marathon on 13th May.
Tursner was Stratford’s next finisher, crossing the line in 24th place in 37.48. Burdus-Cook was just 27 seconds adrift in 38.15 to finish 32nd overall and third in his age category.
Chris Cond was the fourth Stratford athlete to finish inside the top 50, placing 43rd in 39.08.
Lynne Hinson was the first Stratford AC woman to cross the finish line, clocking 46.55. Hinson was the 35th woman overall, finishing nine minutes behind
the top woman, Eleanor Fowler of Nuneaton.
Stratford’s Annie Cox was the top junior woman finisher. The 19-year-old’s time of 47.24 was more than two minutes quicker than her performance from last year.
The ageless Roger Wilson edged out Phil Brennan by just 29 seconds, 47.53 to 48.22, to claim the M70 age crown.
Just seven days after running the Manchester Marathon, Sarah Boundy clocked 48.25 and was the 58th woman finisher.
Angela Cox, meanwhile, clocked 51.42 to win the W65 age category by 41 seconds. Ruth Calderbank ran 53.57 to finish third in the same category with Kate Sergent placing fourth 59.39.
Other Stratford AC results: 405th Luke Watkins 48.51, 513rd Suzi Graham 50.28, 683rd Dave Maundrell 53.02, 770th Jennifer Morrison-Jones 54.09, 785th Jan McLure 54.19, 858th Bev Brigden 55.13, 950th Nic Reynolds 56.23, 1067th Sue Mothershaw 57.58, 1390th Pete Law 1.02.22, 1391st Julie Jennings 1.02.30, 1395th Steve Harman 1.02.33, 1470th Tash Watkins 1.03.51, 1513th Jane Fradgley 1.04.43, 1963rd Sheryl Buckland 1.16.59.
