Athletics: Rankin cruises to victory in Hogweed Hilly Half (From Gazette Series)

Lee Rankin wins Hogweed Hilly Half

11:00am Friday 8th March 2013 in Sport

LEE RANKIN cruised to victory in the Hogweed Hilly Half on Sunday.

The Stroud AC runner was on a mission to break the course record of 76 minutes, four seconds and although he was unable to achieve that he still recorded an impressive time of 79.41.

Hogweed Trotter Jaroslav Motyka, known as the Polish Bullet, also made it look very easy in 84.18 and completing the podium was third-placed Chris Offer in 84.30.

The first lady was Kate Britten of North Somerset AC in 96.08.

Now in its ninth year, the event organised by Hogweed Trotters is regarded as one of the toughest all road half marathon courses in the UK.

On a bright but cold day in the South Cotswolds a smaller than usual field of 166 novice and experienced runners competed in this very scenic running experience through the villages of Horton, Hillesley, Hawkesbury and Hawkesbury Upton.

The first Thornbury RC runner home was Rob Hopkins in 11th place.

Other Hogweeds results: Phil Sampson 1:27:11; Andy May 01:28:28; John Curtis 01:30:55; Steffan Britain 01:36:53; Nigel Burford 01:37:03; Mark Clements 01:39:58; Scott Leonard 01:40:56; Neil Hopkins 01:41:05; Julian Lewis 01:43:53; Sarah Richards 01:44:10; Mandy Spedding 01:46:15; Laura Buet 01:50:51; Ben Bonnick 01:53:21; Paul Searle 01:53:22; John Wools 01:55:03; Liz Jones 01:55:11; Ange Martin 01:59:37; Rob Ford 02:00:07; Mike Mitchell 02:00:12; Sandra Killen 02:01:58; John Franksen 02:04:54; Rob Smith 02:05:48; Martin Cook 02:10:06; Duncan Macarthur 02:13:53; John Wheeler 02:14:19.

Across the Severn Bridge at the Llanelli half five sensible Hogweeds opted for that flatter course and were rewarded for their efforts in the cold conditions. There were some superb performances from the group with the front four of them achieving personal bests. Chris Lewis was well and truly safe under the 90 minute mark in 1:27:55. Just outside of that was Alan Wilcox in 1:32:02. The fight was on for Geoff Partridge (1:36:13) not to be chicked by Rachel Bennett (1:36:55).

Dom Hurford didn’t let the niggling injuries get the better of him and ran a highly commendable time of 1:54:23.

Three members made it to the last race in the winter series of the Pompherey Sports 5k. Steve Stretton’s return to racing is going well and he finished 21st out of 74. Chris Lewis was back in a course and personal best time of 19.07 and Helen Newbery was just outside 20 minutes, finishing second second senior lady out of nine in 20.02.

At the Ashton Court Parkrun Sheila and Alan Wilcox both crossed the line in a comfortable time of 34:23 Across town at the Little Stoke Parkrun it was a Hogweed rumble for the top three spots. Jason Bidwell chased the two leaders from start to finish, knocking 26 seconds off his previous time in the process to grab third spot in 19.04. Bruce Sellers (19.09) was just five seconds behind in 19.09, securing fourth place and another personal best by 40 seconds. Stuart Wilkie was six seconds behind Sellers in 19.15.

Chris Lewis reduced the distance from Wilkie considerably as he came home in 19.17. Dave Stott was well inside the top ten in 19:34, another personal best. Other hogweed finishers were Dominic Hurford (22:11) John Francksen (25:45, PB) Shelley Armorgie achieved the biggest PB of the day and finished in exactly 30 minutes.

• Hogweed triathlete Ali Ramsey has been selected for a Great Britain Age Group spot to race at the European Triathlon champs in Alanya, Turkey in June this year. This will be a unique experience for Ramsey, who has been competing in triathlon for a while and was thrilled to learn of the news.