Eynsham 10k

Sunday 30th November 2008

Above: Alan collects the prize for first male vet over 60 (thanks to Calvin for poor quality photo!).

Three Bromsgrove & Redditch Athletes travelled to Oxfordshire looking for fast times at the Eynsham 10k.

Alan Elsmere picked up Simon Bowen and Calvin Scoltock just before 8 a.m. with the temperature gauge reading zero degrees for the hour drive to Race HQ.  As we crossed the county border into Oxfordshire the heavens opened up and the rain began.

Once in Eynsham we went for a quick warm up trying to avoid the puddles and checked out the finish area.  It appeared that there may be a lap around the edge of a muddy school field at the end.  Simon was very concerned about his new DS Racers.  We retreated to the school hall and enquired about the finish, to Simon’s relief the lap of the muddy field was only for the 1 mile fun run.  We waited in the warm until the last minute for the half a kilometre jog to the start.

Calvin got himself ready on the front line looking for a fast first lap; the course is two laps of Eynsham Village.  Alan got away well but Simon was boxed in and allowed Alan get away from him.  After about one kilometre Simon caught Alan and had planned to pace himself in the early stages with Alan however Alan was already struggling with last nights cheese sandwiches sitting heavy in his stomach!

The rain did not ease up and running into the wind along the A40 was difficult at times.  Running on the slippery grass verges at various places was unwelcome and Simon was not impressed with getting his shoes muddy.  Calvin managed his target of 18 minutes for the first 5 km but slowed on the second lap to complete the course in 36:51 and 25th place.  Simon ran a more consistent race and finished 83rd in 40:37 with Alan not far behind in 41:27 (100th place).  Alan, disappointed with his run however, claimed the first over 60 Vet men’s prize.

Also running was lapsed B&R member Reg Gardner who finished 5 places ahead of Alan in 41:15.

The winner was Stephen Kimber of Windsor, Slough & Eton AC in 32:23 and over 90 seconds clear of 2nd place, Paul Fernandez from Abingdon Amblers in 34:03.  First lady was Stephanie Lane of Bourton RR in 36:59 and 28th overall.  Stephanie had run leg 6 of the Hill 100 for Bourton’s winning ladies team in 66:10 early in the year.

(Calvin Scoltock)

Click for full results