Northbrook Results

For a complete listing visit the Results Index

March 2023

Derby 10k – 26 March 10K

  Jill Pittard 0:46:41
  Lisa Abbott 0:51:46

Ashby 20 – 26 March 20M

  David Hartopp 2:34:56  
  Gemma Nash 2:48:40  
  Joanne Evans 3:17:27 PB
  Catherine Dear 3:46:07  

Wilmslow Half-Marathon – 26 March HM

  Tom Mitchell 1:24:49

A really enjoyable course, not quite a PB but a good day out.

 

Droitwich Half-Marathon – 26 March HM

  Alan Smith 1:46:42 3rd FV50

Droitwich Half moved back to its usual March date after a November running last year, and this year it had a new start venue with a large car park and cafe, and a new course. It felt much hillier than the old course, and consisted of similar loopy bits around country lanes meaning you ran up some big hills knowing you’d have to do them again soon. Only 1 water station which you passed twice, but it was not well placed as the 2nd pass was at 12 miles. Not completely on roads, as had a half mile section of muddy canal path which had to be run twice.

I stupidly decided to run in the new shoes I bought a week ago, with only 5 miles of breaking in. Big mistake. I ended up stopping at 6 miles and sat in a marshall’s car to put a compede on my left arch, and this meant the 2nd half of the race was run with discomfort in both feet.

I managed to knock 5 minutes off my previous best time at Droitwich, running my 2nd fastest ever half, but given the hilly nature of the course, I was pleased with the time. Sets me up nicely for the completely flat Kew Gardens Half next Sunday.

I was 3rd in MV50 category, only 3 minutes behind the MV50 winner. I wish I’d worn different shoes.

Salcey Forest 50 Miles – 26 March OTH

3 Matthew Hathrell 8:17:29

Super happy with this result. Don’t care at all that I was 2nd for most of the race and ended up losing it by less than 3 minutes. Really solid time, despite some horrible conditions underfoot and, although the pace dopped off a lot after half-way, I was still running most of the final lap, rather than limping round with poles like normal.

Cotswold Tough Runner Trail 10k – 25 March 10K

  Simon Aldridge 1:08:14
  Ellie Aldridge 1:08:14

SIMON ALDRIDGE

Fantastic run through lots of mud and water, hills after hills but some fantastic views and a mile the wrong way for me – Simon

Pennine Way Ultra – 25 March OTH

  Duncan Gordon 9:12:28

DUNCAN GORDON

My first time running with Ranger Ultras. A Very enjoyable day, run/walking 55km with Gem in the hills.

Rome Marathon – 19 March M

  Claudie Combelas 3:54:16

CLAUDIE COMBELAS

Much against my expectations I was so very pleased with my time. There were great vistas and monuments of ancient Ancient Rome en route. Great support from Chris Archer and my first alcoholic drink of the year. Result.

Mad Dog 10k, Southport – 19 March 10K

  Richard Hands 1:05::13

Knighton 20 Miles – 19 March 20M

278 Dave Halford 3:21:34

Fission 20 – 18 March 20M

73 Terry Moynihan 2:24:15  
107 Tom Miller 2:34:27  
149 Rob Cox 2:43:50  
156 Sally Eason 2:45:09 2nd FV60

TERRY MOYNIHAN

A good outing for Northbrook AC at the Fission 20-mile event in Gloucestershire, close to the river Severn estuary, with Sally placing 2nd in her age category, and the other Northbrookers all coming in the top 10 of their categories. A strong field where Western Tempo, who typically blitz the cross-country races, only just made the podium in the team placings.

A well organised event and a lovely flat course through quiet rural lanes. Highly recommended if you’re seeking a 20-mile event – Terry

Cannock Chase Trail Half-Marathon – 18 March 20M

SIMON ALDRIDGE

4 Matthew Hathrell 1:36:21
  Simon Aldridge 2:27:37
  Cliff Evans 2:27:37
  Joanne Evans 2:34:36

Exmouth 5 Mile – 15 March 5M

  Tommy Dempsey 0:33:47

Two laps of a wet and very windy Exmouth promenade.

Tamworth Castle 10k – 12 March HM

SIMON ALDRIDGE

  Cliff Evans 0:50:23
  Simon Aldridge 0:51:00

Milton Keynes Half-Marathon – 12 March HM

  Craig Holmes 1:26:25
  Chris Goodman 1:28:57
  Gemma Nash 1:49:14
  Kirstie Murray 2:08:57

Milton Keynes 10k – 12 March 10K

JANE WARD

  Jane Ward 1:18:00

Nottingham 10 Miles – 11 March 10M

27 Matthew Hathrell 1:03:53

Gato Sports Head Torch 10k – Race 3, Salcey Forest – 7 March 10k

Race 3

2 Matthew Hathrell 0:40:23
20 Spencer Davies 0:52:43
41 Claudie Combelas 0:57:17
62 Chris Archer 1:05:11

Series

    Total time
1 Matthew Hathrell 1:59:52
11 Spencer Davies 2:37:06
19 Claudie Combelas 2:56:34

Big Bear Elephant Challenge, Salcey Forest – 7 March OTH

  Verity Crichton 2:10:00 10.24 miles
  Liz Pharoah 5:39:00 26.4 miles

VERITY CRICHTON

I managed to complete 3 laps of this 5k’ish lap course, in all 10.24 miles. A lovely race and I really enjoyed it, and the stunning forest – Verity

Centurion Grand Prix 5 Mile Race 5 – 5 March 5M

7 Matthew Hathrell 00:29:08
8 Craig Holmes 00:29:09
28 Peter Kirkhope 00:37:36
29 Spencer Davies 00:38:06
41 Cath Fenn 00:40:39
44 Tony Mackness 00:41:47
47 Julie Cozens 00:42:42
52 Jo Arden 00:45:37
57 Chris Archer 00:50:24
63 Angela Hands 00:57:17
66 Sally-Ann Tully 01:02;42

TTP Cambridge Half-Marathon – 5 March HM

  Tim Hughes 1:43:47
  Caroline Hughes 1:55:32

TIM HUGHES

A trip to Cambridge to practice our race setup and fueling at an ideal point of our Marathon Training. Situated in an ideal part of the country to run with Caroline’s sisters, and the event did not disappoint. An efficient park and ride system to deposit us near to the athletes village by the race start started the day as it would continue, efficiently.

Masses of toilets, a highly simple and organised method of getting runners into their start pens and onto the course, the race started with a trip around Cambridge centre, including a run around some of the historic colleges before making our way out on nice wide roads towards the countryside through some picturesque villages before returning to the city.
The course is nice and flat with friendly support and competitors.

I started out steadily, afraid of blowing up, before settling on a nice pace which remained constant throughout. I realised after 3 miles that I was up on my race target, so I kept my head down. I was amazed at seeing my watch click through 1:43 on the final straight which gave me an 11 minute half marathon PB. Meanwhile Caroline battled round in her zone barely noticing her sister passing her with 2 mile to go. She also bagged a PB by over a minute.

A great race – Tim

Oundle 20 – 5 March OTH

21 Steve Turvey 02:16:37  
47 Tommy Dempsey 02:26:23  
55 Rob Richardson 02:29:30  
107 Kathryn Adams 02:43:35  
131 Alan Smith 02:48:15  
147 Debbie Campbell 02:52:45 PB, 2nd FV55
152 Adrian Powell 02:53:56  
159 David Giles 02:55:49  
185 Malc Copeland 02:59:49  
188 Louise Myers 03:00:25  
207 Claudie Combelas 03:03:18 2nd FV60
253 Simon Aldridge 03:13:25  
252 Cliff Evans 03:13:26  
282 Joanne Evans 03:18:37 PB
309 Francis Mason 03:24:45  
357 Tracy Jefferson 03:49:56 PB

Carding Mill Canter – 4 March OTH

52 Matthew Hathrell 1:02:46
73 Claudie Combelas 1:20:44
74 Spencer Davies 1:20:47

Three of us decided to have a go at something different. The Carding Mill Canter is a 7.8K fell race at the Long Mynd – it’s a beautiful area of the country with some very steep climbs and drops. We knew it was classified as hard and short but we were still willing to have a go at this new venture.
The weather was cool but we knew we would soon warm up. A quick check to make sure that everything was strapped on and tight, with Tracey encouraging us, a quick safety briefing and we were off from the start.

The first part was deceptively flat and I decided I was going to not even try to keep Matthew in sight. opting instead to run with Claudie who was a little worried about what was to come. The ford crossing softened up the shoes, then what looked like a cliff face appeared. The first mile had 750+ft of climb. Matt disappeared at this point and the next time we would spot him would be as we approached the finish. For me this was walking with calves ready to explode and we were still in the first mile. Meanwhile Tracey had retired to the cafe with the woodburner to take up Northbrook’s second most famous activity – eating cake.

Once we summited it flattened out but ominously "Devils Mouth" beckoned with its scree slope ascent. A bit of ridge running and the views were fantastic. We were holding last place at this point but chatting and smiling all the way made it worth while.

At the half-way point we "dibbed in" again. This was the base of the valley again and back across the river, surely it had to not be as bad as the first half. Stupid expectations as what followed were three climbs with handholds cut into the grass, three of them to take us back to the top of the world again. Having picked up the tail runner now, the 3 of us chatted on the climbs. He was insistent that if we did not talk as much we may get up the climbs quicker. But he was just as guilty, often starting the conversation. Then the terrain started to go downhill, gentle at first heading more towards the vertical. Quad pain replaced the calf pain. I knew this path now, and the option to criss-cross the stream numerous times was too much to ignore. Tracey and Matt were there waving at us as we approached, everyone else was sheltering in the café half a mile away. I did the gentlemanly thing and let Claudie "Dib in" before me.

This was totally different from anything any of us had done before. It was an eye opener. But I’d do it again at the drop of a hat – maybe let the legs work first – Spencer