Shakespeare Marathon hailed as a huge success
GLORIOUS weather greeted runners in this year’s Rotary Shakespeare Marathon and Half Marathon in Stratford last Sunday.
More than 3,200 runners took part in this year’s event, which was officially started by elite athlete and marathon runner, Amy Whitehead.
Whitehead, who was selected to run for England at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, had been mentoring 20 runners from race sponsors Shakespeare Martineau.
Cliff Armstrong, race director, said: “This was our 36th marathon and half marathon, so we’ve had plenty of experience staging the event, which is always appreciated by our runners. Feedback has been incredible.
“The runners, who come from all over the UK, commented that they love Stratford and the atmosphere, the stunning course, the friendly and supportive local folk, and the professionalism of the marshalling and volunteers.
"We’d like to thank our sponsors and all of the other organisations who helped to make this year an outstanding success.”
The day saw many special performances and milestones achieved.
One of the heroes of the day was 75-year-old Harold Gleave, who has run nearly 70 marathons.
Gleave, from Staffordshire, did not start running until he was 60. He completed the race in 4.29.32.
Steve Edwards, who lives in Moreton-in-Marsh, is deemed one of the world’s most successful marathon runners.
On Sunday, he ran his 780th race, and 20th Shakespeare Marathon, completing the course in 3.09.40.
Edwards, who overcame a congenital blood disorder which affected his running, has become one of the world’s leading multi-marathon runners, having run 700 official marathon races in the fastest ever average time.
As ever, Stratford-upon-Avon Athletic Club were well represented in both races.
Five members took on the really difficult challenge of the marathon, with 33 members competing in the half marathon.
Competing in his first marathon and first to finish for the club was Ivan Sarti (45th, 3.11.29). This really was a fabulous performance by Ivan. He was very pleased to complete his first road marathon, which went pretty much to plan throughout, apart from hamstring cramps at mile 23.
Next to finish for the club was Sam Nicholson (118th, 3.34.34). This was another great performance from Nicholson, in only his second full marathon.
Cadie Hibberd (484th), who had fellow member Chris Seeny cycling alongside her for support, was happy with her time of 4.43.09.
Tara Lambert (492nd, 4.47.14) is a competitor who seemingly could run for days and can be very proud of her performance.
The final Stratford AC runner to finish was Rebecca Flower (557th, 5.08.47).
The race was won by Noel Kindon in a time of 2.46.56, while Melissa Venables was the first female to finish (44th, 3.11.19).
Of the 33 Stratford AC members who completed the half marathon, there were many notable achievements and some impressive age group performances.
First home for the club and hot on the heels of his superb run in the recent London Marathon was Tim Hutchinson (9th, 1.19.56).
Hutchinson also won his age group by some four minutes.
First lady to finish for the club and third lady overall, also first in her age group, was, almost inevitably, Kate Wright (24th, 1.25.24). Another club member who ran the London Marathon was Henry Morrison (30th, 1.26.31).
James Cusack (35th, 1.27.52) is in training for the KMD Ironman in Copenhagen in August and this fabulous result shows he is well on track to do well there.
Malcolm Bowyer (42nd, 1.28.37) another London Marathon runner from a couple of weeks ago, was second in his age group.
Seventeen-year-old Seb Hopper (52nd, 1.28.45) was comfortably the youngest club member in the race and was competing in his first half marathon.
To run that time in any half marathon would be a superb achievement but to run it in your first, really is very special.
Andrew Cox (55th, 1.29.33) was yet another London Marathon runner and his time was just 12 seconds quicker than his time in the Bath Half in March.
Drew Sambridge (62nd, 1.27.55) is in excellent form and his great run follows on from his run of 3.07 in the recent Manchester Marathon.
Only four seconds separated the next two SAC runners as they crossed the finishing line, David Smyth (65th, 1.30.38) and James Coy (66th, 1.30.29).
Tim Tandy (100th, 1.33.41) can be very satisfied with his performance, while Martyn Austin (112th, 1.34.31), who has recently been plagued with injury, clocked a time almost five minutes quicker than last year.
Second lady to finish for Stratford AC was Lucy Kershaw (114th, 1.34.04) who was 13th lady to finish out of 830.
Tom Murray (164th, 1.37.23) was followed by the third Stratford AC lady to finish, Alison Bagnall (175th, 1:39.18).
David Jones (242nd, 1.42.37) was delighted to win his age group by just over four minutes. Jones and Lynne Hinson (267th, 1.42.56) are always evenly matched in local races and this was no exception.
Phil Brennan (405th, 1.49.11) comfortably won his age group by three minutes.
Worthy of special mention is Stratford AC club chairman Paul Hawkins.
Hawkins has been training all winter at race walking for the forthcoming season.
This being the case, he decided to racewalk the half marathon, targeting a time of around 2.20, which was pretty much what he achieved.
The race was won by Toby Spencer in a time of 1.08.30. First lady to finish, in sixth place, was Nic Sykes in 1.19.00.
Other Stratford AC times: Karl Harris 1.50.27, Gavin Lambert 1.51.35, Matt Lyness 1.52.31, Alan Coldicott 1.54.44, Ryan Bakewell 2.00.35, Jan McClure 2.02.35, Alan Wright 2.04.19, Christine Pastrak 2.09.01, Gemma Smith 2.10.07, Kate Sergent 2.13.03, Eva Lowe 2.12.43, Martyn Sergent 2.20.18, Paul Hawkins 2.22.32, John Butler 2.31.22, Richard Eden 2.35.54
