Captain’s Report – September & October 2020

Captain’s Report – September & October 2020

During September some of the Harriers have been able to get away to the very few races that are still going ahead. Then in October, Ryde Harriers hosted the IOW marathon abiding with the Covid 19 restrictions.

The theme for all of these races seems to have been very wet, whether it come from above or below.

 

Results for Bournemouth International (Standard Distance) 6th September

(Travel Sponsored by Wightlink)

(Standard Distance is Swim = 1,500m, Bike 40km, Run = 10k)

Trevor McAlister 02:24:07

Splits (Swim = 26:52, Bike = 1:11:29, Run = 41:59)

Trevor McAlister and other Wight Tri members made the trip across the Solent to participate in the Bournemouth International Standard Triathlon organised by Challenging Events, in which he was hoping to get a qualification time for selection for the IOW Island Games triathlon team for Guernsey 2021.

This event has been organised for over 30 years, with a few changes made to transition areas and courses, but it always brings out good competitors, even with Covid 19 restrictions.

Due to social distancing limitations, there was no mass start in the swim, with all competitors starting on the beach and being set off in 15second intervals for the 1500m sea swim. A long climb up the West Cliff zigzag took them to transition in West Cliff Gardens, which was then followed by an undulating 40km cycle along open roads to Ringwood, finishing off with a flat 10km run to Sandbanks and return.

Trevor had a great race, and posted a PB time of 2:24:02, with PB swim and bike splits of 26:52 and 1:11:29 respectively. He was slightly disappointed with his run time of 41:59, and knows there is still room for improvement. However, this is a great performance for Trevor, having just taken up triathlons last year. He has trained hard to improve his swim and bike and has certainly earned this PB time and 17th in the 30-39 category.

(Report by Liz Dunlop)

With the IOW Island Games in Guernsey 2021 now being postponed, this now gives me more time to train hard in all three disciplines during 2021, ready for qualification for the postponed games.

 

Results for Ambleside 60k Trail Race 7,000ft of assent 13th September

(Travel Sponsored by Wightlink)

Sasha Levrier     11:41:13 (2nd Vet 35)

Highly recommend this race if anyone’s looking to step up from a (hilly ) marathon but not quite ready for a 50 miler.! Lovely climbs in it, awesome friendly bunch.! Lovely little introduction to the Lakes for me. The views made up for not the best time. Wasn’t my day, but that’s how it goes. Some cheeky little climbs in this, especially the one out of CP 2. the gift that kept on giving. Lol.

Thank you to Tom again for being crew man.

 

Results for IOW Marathon 4th October

(Travel Sponsored by Wightlink)

Gary Marshall                    02:36:15 (4th Overall, 2nd Vet 40)

Adam Tuck                          02:48:50 (5th Overall, 3rd Vet 40)

Dave Hunt                           02:52:08 (6th Overall, 3rd SM)

Charlie Metcalfe               02:56:38 (1st Lady, 7th Overall)

Ken Oatley                          03:10:38 (5th Vet 40)

Holly Newton                    03:18:01 (3rd Lady, 1st SF)

Graham Gardner              03:38:33

Nigel Eldridge                    04:00:29

Sarah Peake                       04:06:10 (2nd Vet 35)

Claire Angell                       04:06:11 (3rd Vet 35)

Sam Cleare                         04:18:00

Cordelia Dewey                 04:26:26

Jo Tuck                                 04:28:08

Bryan Jones                        04:43:38

Rod Taylor                           04:50:08

Natalie Rose                       04:58:19

Keith Ruth                           05:01:11

Carolyn Ward                     05:01:12

 

On a rain soaked, windswept day 176 intrepid athletes turned up to compete in Ryde harriers 64th Isle of Wight Marathon race. The fact that the race went ahead at all in the light of the current covid 19 restrictions was largely down to the unstinting and immense effort put in by the race Director Chris Lewis. His dogged persistence in organisation and help on the day from an army of marshals and helpers from Ryde Harriers and the larger running community on the Island saw an extremely important sporting event take place. The importance of staging the race cannot be overstressed as the IOW Marathon is the longest continuously held marathon race in Britain and now in the light of this year’s cancellations probably the world.

 

The race also enjoys the fact that it has the first officially sanctioned world’s best time for a lady. (Dale Greg 1964 3.27:25] however it wasn’t until 1976 that the first official Ladies race was sanctioned by the powers that be of the time

 

It should be noted that the relatively new London marathon race had again to follow our lead this year and choose to run their race in October. Back in the day, when the London Marathon started it was initially scheduled for mid-April. Following a complaint from Ryde Harriers, the date of the London event had to be changed as it was deemed to be too close to the isle of Wight race which was normally run in early May. A complaint from Ryde Harriers was upheld by the athletic authorities of the day and London had to reschedule to 29 March. The Isle of Wight was given the decision as it was considered to be the better organised and an established event.

I reluctantly have to acknowledge however that the organisers of the island event said that the London was just a gimmick and would never catch on!

 

 

This year’s race saw two starts 11 o’clock and 11.30. The 11 O’clock start was for those whose predicted times were the slowest. It was designed to cut down the time the marshals spent on their stations. The main race soon saw a group of four leaders break away. Shortly after half way the eventual winner Ross Skelton [HY Runners] made a break and sustained his lead slowly increasing it in the latter stages to win by about 4 min in a new record time for the current course of 2:28:30.  The leading bunch all separated in the second half with James Maloney [unattached] closing to second place in a time of 2:32:36. In third place overall and 1st vet 40 came Mike Boucher [Aldershot and Farnham] in a time of 2:35:23. He was closely followed in 4th overall, 2nd vet 40 and first Ryde Harrier Gary Marshall in a time of 2:36:15. That completed the original breakaway group. Next came Adam Tuck [Ryde Harriers] in 5th overall and 3rd vet 40, putting in one of his best performances to date in the excellent the time of 2:48:50. In 6th came Ryde Harrier Dave Hunt in a time of 2:52:08. The Ryde Harriers trio Marshall, Tuck and Hunt also to the prize for first team.

 

 

In the ladies’ event a superb and beautifully paced run by Ryde Harriers Charlie Metcalf saw her finish in a remarkable 6th place overall and take 1st place in the ladies’ race in a time of 2:56:38. Charlie also took the prize for 1st vet 40. It should also be noted that Charlie’s time was the 4th fastest ever by a woman competing in the IOW Marathon. 2nd place and first vet 45 was taken by Sarah hill [Farnham Runners] 3:10:26. 3rd went to Holly Newton [Ryde Harriers] in a time of 3:18:01.

Ryde Harriers again took the prize for first team with Metcalfe, Newton and Sarah Peake who completed the course in 4:06:10.

 

There were 172 finishers

Ryde Harriers would like to extend our thanks to all those who took part, organised and or officiated at the event enabling to keep this fantastic Island tradition alive.

(Report by Andy Leal)

 

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