2011 Reports
Last updated: Monday, 11 April, 2011Downs Storms To Victory
Event: 29th White Horse Half Marathon
Time: 10:00am
Date: Sunday, 10 April, 2011
Venue: Old Mill Hall, Grove
With the course bathed in bright sunshine the runners were set off promptly at 10:00am yesterday to contest the 29th White Horse Half Marathon, which incorporated the Oxfordshire County Half Marathon Championships along with the second of the 2011 Oxfordshire Grand Prix Series events. After a generally dull and dismal winter and spring the excellent conditions were a welcome bonus for the organisers and athletes alike, although not entirely unexpected following the recent spell of good weather we had experienced.
Photos: Richard Jégou
As the runners settled into the race a group of about ten athletes including the eventual race winner Fabian Downs (Chiltern Harriers AC) and last year’s runner up Stephen Male (Oxford City AC) had begun to establish comfortable lead at the head of the field as they approached the Denchworth turn, at approximately the two and a half mile mark. By the time leaders had left Lyford, after another two miles the lead group had been whittled down to half a dozen athletes with Fabian Downs and Stephen Male at the head of the group. It was also good to see James Bolton (Woodstock Harriers AC), who just missed out on a podium place last year and host club athlete Paul Jégou in contention as well.
After last year’s disappointment of having lead from the front only to be outsprinted at the finish it was clear that Stephen Male had adopted different tactics this year preferring to run shoulder–to–shoulder with Fabian Downs who was setting the pace. It wasn’t long before the pace of the leading pair began to take its toll on the remainder of the group. With the other athletes unable to maintain their challenge it was left to James Bolton to establish himself in third place jut a few metres off the pace. This is how the positions remained as the leaders passed through Charney Bassett (8 miles) and headed down towards the turn back to Denchworth in the direction of Goosey (10 miles).
By the time the leaders had reached the turn it was clear that the increasing warmth of the race conditions had caused the pace to slow which allowed James Bolton to recover some ground and looked as though he might present a threat to the leading pair. However, with Male and Downs still looking strong as the lead group passed back through Denchworth, it was James Bolton who fell back as the athetes crossed the railway bridge to make the turn back to Grove and the finish.
In the last mile Fabian Downs found another gear to surge ahead of his closest rival, Stephen Male, and seal an emphatic victory in a time of 1:12:07. By the time the leaders reached the finish at Pound Green another sizeable crowd had gathered, basking in the warm sunshine, to welcome the athletes home to great cheers and applause. Stephen Male, resigned to settling for the runner's up place on the podium for the second year running, finished six seconds behind the winner with James Bolton crossing the line a further 17 seconds adrift to claim third place. Paul Jégou (White Horse Harriers AC) followed Nigel Marley (Coventry Godiva Harriers) home to record fifth place.
Sophie Carter (Woodstock Harriers AC) led the ladies home with an impressive run to finish in 18th place overall recording a time of 1:21:21 to see off the challenge as well as turn the tables on last year’s overall ladies champion, the veteran L35 athlete Jude Craft (Headington Road Runners) who finished three places back just over a minute adrift. Jude’s clubmate Diane Moore, also a veteran L35 athlete, crossed the finish line to secure the final podium place in 34th place overall.
This year’s leading home club athlete was Paul Jégou who finished in 5th place overall completing the course in a time of 1:16:23, securing the Senior Men’s bronze medal in the Oxfordshire County Championships and the Kit Trophy (Leading Male White Horse Harrier) in the process. Lucia Singer retained the Coachman Trophy (Leading Female White Horse Harrier) for the third successive year crossing the finish line in a time of 1:42:56 to secure 148th position overall. Also, notably, Kevin Harris also of the home club contingent crossed the line one place behind Lucia to complete his 10th White Horse Half Marathon in a time of 1:43:04.
In finishing in second place overall Stephen Male (Oxford City AC) again secured victory in the M40 men’s category in both the Open and Oxfordshire County events recording a time of 1:12:13 as well as taking the overall men’s County Championship title. Tony Lock (Witney Road Runners) and Robert Storey (Eynsham Road Runners) picked up the silver and bronze medals in this category. James Bolton secured the Senior Men’s Oxfordshire County title ahead of Nigel Marley (Coventry Godiva Harriers) and Paul Jégou (White Horse Harriers AC) in a time of 1:12:30. In the V50 men’s class Bryan Vaughan (Woodstock Harriers AC) regained the title he won in 2009 with a time of 1:24:50 to finish in 27th position overall and claim both the men’s V50 class Open and Oxfordshire County titles. The M60 category Open title was secured by Jeff Davies (South West Veterans AC) in a time of 1:33:03 ahead of Dave Parsons (Oxford City AC) who reclaimed the Oxfordshire County title for the category. Des King (Abingdon Amblers AC) claimed the Oxfordshire County M70 category title finishing in a time of 2:38:23.
In the ladies’ categories Sophie Carter (Woodstock Harriers AC), as well as taking the overall ladies title, retained the Senior Ladies’ Open and Oxfordshire County titles she won last year. By finishing in 21st place overall in a time of 1:22:27 Jude Craft (Headington Road Runners) also retained both the Open and County Championship L35 category titles. Likewise in the L45 category Lucy Gettins (Compton Harriers RC) saw off all–comers to repeat her performance of last year in claiming both the Open and Oxfordshire County titles in a time of 1:36:56 finishing in 96th position overall. The L55 category Open title was won by Cath Brighton (Abingdon Amblers AC) recording a time of 1:44:13 to finish in 162nd position overall. Janene Pemberton (Unattached) who finished third in the L55 Open Category secured the Oxfordshire County L55 category title in a time of 1:55:55. There was no winner of the Oxfordshire County L65 category title this year.
The men’s team events were dominated once again by the Oxfordshire clubs with the Woodstock Harriers AC team of James Bolton (3rd), Brian O’Connor (13th), David Cantwell (20th) and Martin Ineson (26th) retaining both the Open and County team titles for the fourth successive year! The team of Abingdon Amblers AC took the silver medals with a points tally of 74 points just 12 points adrift of the winners. The Oxford City men’s team completed the podium in both the Open and Oxfordshire County events.
Similarly, the ladies’ Open and Oxfordshire Championships team events were also dominated by the Oxfordshire clubs with the Headington Road Runners ‘A’ team of Jude Craft (21st), Diane Moore (34th) and Charlotte Harris (73rd) retained both titles with an emphatic victory over their nearest challengers. Their margin of victory was impressive – 187 points ahead of their closest rivals! Alchester RC and Headington Road Runners ‘B’ finished in second and third place respectively to claim the silver and bronze medals in both the Open and Oxfordshire County Championship events.
At the awards ceremony held following the race in Old Mill Hall, Grove the Open category prizes were presented to the winners this year by Peter Pitts (chairman) representing The October Club, the supported charity for this year’s event. John Sear, chairman of the Oxfordshire AA, kindly presented the prizes to the County Championship winners following his duties as the race referee.
The organisers would once again like to thank all of the contributors and volunteers for their efforts this year in helping to make this event another great success, in particular, the officials, the recorders, St. John Ambulance, and all of the marshals and helpers without whom the race could not take place. Thanks also go to our sponsors Nick Ponting Windows, Doors & Conservatories, Fit2Run, and APT Planning to whom we are indebted for their invaluable support.
For the full results you can click on the link below:
Finally, don’t forget, for pictures of the race taken on the day go to the official race photography site at www.philoconnor.com. The official race photos are available to view online now!
Dene Stringfellow