Bristol Half Marathon inc. English & UKA Champs., Photos
Bels strike gold out West
The National Half Marathon Championship crops up at different venues each year and this time it was the turn of Bristol to host the English Road Running Association and UKA Championships. We'd already had a rewarding trip to the "Bristol Half" in 2006 when we swamped the head of the field with Belgrave vests. But this year, with the major championships incorporated, the race was no pushover. There were also changes to the course and in addition to the long drag out through the Avon Gorge, there were tricky hills, twists and turns to negotiate on some of the cobbled streets of the City.
There was no time to admire the masts and funnels of Brunel's S.S.Great Britain, moored in the harbour, as thousands of runners set out towards the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Kenyans Tewodros Shiferaw and Simon Tonui made a charge for the front but then came Phil Wicks, running alone in 3rd, about 200 metres down as they headed out alongside the River Avon after four miles. Simon Jones had plenty of company in around 10th - as did Mark Miles, 40 metres down on Simon.
Having reached the turn at 4.5 miles Billy Farquharson of Notts AC joined Phil in sprightly fashion and seemed inclined to press on ahead of him if he could; they remained locked together for the next few miles. Simon was duelling with Dave Mitchinson of the Beagles and then as Mark came through there seemed to be a flood of Notts AC vests, while our local rivals Thames Hare & Hounds were also well forward. Will Cockerell was sweeping up and keeping an eye on familiar Thames men around him - Phil Sly, Andy Weir, John McFarlane and Simon Wurr.
Back into the city and the ups and downs and cobbled roadways began to take their toll and the Kenyans were slowed to around 5:15 per mile. Farquharson had gone back now but Winchester's Toby Lambert was intent on making an impression and he'd closed right down on Phil who had to push hard at the end to get away again.
It was 23 year-old Phil's first serious assault on the 13.1 mile event so not surprising that he notched up a huge personal best. As quoted after the race:
"This was my debut half marathon so it was always going to be a personal best time for me today but I am really pleased. I really enjoyed the race. The course was tough at the end as there were lots of twists and turns but I am delighted to be the first Brit home.
There were great conditions today. I was able to run with some other Brits and was able to pull away in the last 800m so that was great. I came to run the qualifying time for the World Championships and just missed out but I’m still pleased.”
Also 23 - but with a great deal of experience at half marathons, Simon Jones was equally delighted with his sub-66, chopping half a minute from a mature personal record but he'd run extraordinarily hard to do it - and claim Dave Mitchinson's scalp - feeling somewhat unwell as he entered the finish.
What can you say about Milesey? Only a few weeks of running behind him and his late decision to run clinched the team golds. And a gutsy run from Will Cockerell too, fighting hard to step into the three should anyone up ahead fail.
Men. 1 T Shiferaw (Kenya) 1:03:01; 2 S Tonui (Kenya) 1:03:08; 2 P Wicks 1-UKA, 1-ERRA (Belgrave) 1:04:43; 4 T Lambert (Winchester) 1:04:54; 5 B Farquharson (Notts AC) 1:05:22; 6 H Chepkwony 1:05:32; 7 S Jones (Belgrave) 1:05:58; 8 D Mitchinson (Newham &EB) 1:06:11; 9 G Raven (Sale H Manchester) 1:06:17; 10, B Hope (Woodford GwEL) 1:07:22; ... 14 M Miles 1:07:48; 29 W Cockerell 1:10:54; 255 C Hobbs 1:27:37.
ERRA & UKA Champs. 1 Belgrave H 3:18:29; 2 Notts AC 3:20:28; 3 Thames H&H 3:28:06.
Open Team Race. Result not yet known.
Restored from the club's earlier website, belgraveharriers.com, and published here as originally written.