Weekend Endurance Roundup

While our men's team were contesting the National 6-Stage Road Relay last weekend, there was a lot of other action involving our distance squad. We had the Chingford League CC at Trent Park, and representation at events up and down the country as well as in Slovenia. Stephan Wenk's win at the Maidstone Half Marathon was the pick of the bunch.

As a resident of Maidstone and a 2nd claim Maidstone Harrier, Wenk was enticed into triumphing in front of a "home crowd". He led from the gun and, although he found the conditions far too cold for his liking (despite being Swiss!), came home first in 1:09.42, around 1min 45secs in front of second place and leading home a field of over 600. It was the first time he had cracked the 70 minute barrier, though he has not attempted many.

The Chingford League CC saw Bertie Powell take 4th place and James Stockings 5th of the 191 finishers. Powell is still making a slow recovery from a twisted ankle, while U17 Stockings ran it as a controlled effort. There was a good run from U20 Sam Benge in 23rd place. Then M50 Paul Stockings had a good one in 62nd, around 70" ahead of debutant George Lloyd, who was 79th. Johnny Wallis came in 93rd, with another two debutants, Ben Wright, in 107 and his partner Emily Godden in 152 (30th woman out of 54).

At the Cabbage Patch 10 in South London, Rob Cox took over 2 minutes off his PB as he ran a very pleasing 58.23. His Dad, 58-year old Dave, was just 15 seconds behind, which leaves him 5th on the UK M55 ranking for 2011. Lauren Stewart was 7th woman home, clocking a very nippy 60.02 which places her 26th in the UK senior women's rankings this year.

Steve Dawkins continued his fine form at the Ware 10. His 10 mile PB has tumbled down over his last two races and, after Sunday, stands at 63.37. He finished a lofty 13th out of 326 finishers.

At the Leigh-On-Sea 10K, Ed Messer continued his racing comeback with a 37 minute clocking. No lack of effort from the boy Messer, vomiting 400m from the finish line. Onwards and upwards!

During a week-long stay in his homeland Slovenia, Tomaz Plibersek tempo'd a 32.43 10K which was actually a PB for him and won him a bronze medal in his national championships. Much more to come from this boy who has only just started winter training.

New man M50 Alun Evans took 5th place in the Wanstead Flats Park Run 5K, clocking a useful 19.28 on what is not a fast course.

Harold Wyber, who clubs like Serpentine and Springfield Striders have lured into their ranks as a 2nd claimer, banged out a 7.7 mile leg in the Fell Running Association Relays in the Yorkshire Dales on behalf of said Striders. Anything which keeps this young man away from the pie shop is positive activity and our knowledgeable hero is currently on an upward curve, running-wise.

And, lastly (of those we know about), 2nd claimer Ray Dzikowski notched 6th place in the Surrey Masters CC, a run he was most pleased with. The boy Dzikowski, 48, is running well right now