Training run bags McCarthy a surprise PB

Planned as a training run for the forthcoming Amsterdam Half Marathon, McCarthy was delighted to come home third in 1hr 13min 57sec, breaking his personal best by just under two minutes.

The race had more than 1,100 finishers and was won by Paul Lockwood of Wakefield District Harriers in 1:10:28.

Runners team-mate Roger Homes headed close to the Welsh border to take part in the Wye Vale Trail Half Marathon, where he produced a strong showing to finish 13th overall in a time of 1:39:19, earning him the first V50 prize.

Four members of Kenilworth Runners took part in the new-look Stratford’s Big 10K.

On a hot, sunny morning which ultimately left the organisers short of water, it was new club member Ben Linfield who was the first Kenilworth Runner home in an excellent tenth position, clocking 38:57.

Dave Ramus’ bid to break 40 minutes will have to wait as he clocked 40:42, but brother Steve was pleased to set a new PB of 41:05.

Fellow Kenilworth Runner Warren Bell finished 42nd in 41:52.

Caroline Whitehouse led home a trio of female Spa Striders in 46:30, with Suzi Graham clocking 51:06 and Julie Heaton 54:30.

In a well attended race with 787 finishers it was Joshua Fullard of Centurion who established the new course record with 36:02, with Namir Batavia second in 36:42.

Paddy Roddy finished sixth in 17:53 at Coventry parkrun, one place ahead of fellow Kenilworth Runner Phil Fusi (18:03).

Further down the field there was a new PB for David Pettifer, taking a massive 36 seconds off his previous best with 20:30. Gary Morgan also set a new PB of 20:56.

Selected others: 18, Mick Williams (19:09); 73, Gary Dilnot (22:45).

Three members of Kenilworth Runners finished in the top ten at the Leamington parkrun but they were all beaten by one lady and her dog as Elaine Sherwin was pulled along by her faithful friend to victory in 17:45.

Pete Bryan was fifth in a new course PB of 18:17, followed by Alex Atkinson (19:10) in sixth and Clive Pearce (19:59) in eighth.

There was also a new course PB for Barry Elkington (21:56).

Misael Mecias-Pedroso was the first Spa Strider home in seventh in 19:56, with Justin Mallard producing a personal best of 20:45 to come in 15th.

Selected others (Spa Striders unless stated): 21, Peter Hill (21:16, PB); 25, Andy Roach (21:35, PB); 64, Darren Gillman (23:59); 86, Simon Mottershead (Kenilworth Runners, 25:01); 102, Giles Conway (26:27); 113, Frank Walsh (Kenilworth Runners, 27:07); 114, David Murray (27:15); 117, Pauline Dable (Kenilworth Runners, 27:28); 120, Emma Caplin (28:28); 130, Felicity Conway (29:58).

Spa Striders’ Mike Ellis made a welcome return to competition with an excellent 11th place at the Southam Triathlon.

The 39-year-old completed the 400m swim, 20k cycle and 5k run in 1:08:22.

He was followed home by fellow Striders Hartwig Busch (1:16:05), Dawn Clark (1:18:04), Jerry Shapley (1:18:29), Ben Parkinson (1:19:54), Justin Mallard (1:25:51) and Barbara Gunter (1:34:06).

Three Leamington C&AC athletes helped the Midland Masters to victory at the Inter-Area Challenge at Solihull.

Christine Taylor (W35) finished second in the the 80m hurdles in a PB of 15.1 and later claimed second in the triple jump with 8.66m.

Phil Clayton battled a headwind to finish fifth in the M50 200m in 29.3, while Monica Williamson was runner-up in the W50 3,000m.

Taylor and Clayton then ran the 200m legs in the medley relays, with Taylor part of the successful W35 team.