CHAMPAGNE, CHAMPIONS AND CHALLENGES GALORE AT BEVERLEY AC.

What a great month it has been for Beverley AC with so many outstanding performances by many club members, it’s difficult to know where to start!

The celebrations begin with the final results of the City of Hull Champagne League. This popular series of local races has now finished and was well supported by Beverley members throughout the duration, with several being awarded prizes. Many congratulations to Club member and men’s Captain, Rob Sparkes who was the overall league winner. Yellow jersey winners were Carol Botterill (FV40), Sam Allen (FV50) and Kay Farrow (FV65). Carol Cooke was 4th overall on points. Several members who competed in all 10 races of the League were presented with a commemorative T-shirt and those proudly wearing theirs are Rob Sparkes, Sam Allen, Paul Allen, Doug Sharp, Andy Johnson, Carol Botterill, Elaine Julian, Allison Hayward, Kay Farrow, Anji Ward and Carol Cooke.

The popular South Cave 10k saw a great turnout by members with Beverley winning the Ladies team prize through great performances by Caroline Garvey, Laura Emms, and Annie Townsend. Other Beverley results were: Josh Green (00:39:39), Caroline Garvey (00:42:59), William Pike (00:43:44), Laura Emms (00:44:51), Victoria Green (00:46:00), Annie Townshend (00:47:35), Ben Atkinson (00:48:08), Ken Pearson (00:48:29), Richard Uttley (00:50:45), Carol Botterill (00:50:51), Paul Furness (00:52:20), Fiona Oakes (00:52:56), Robert Mayson (00:55:13), Nicola Riley (00:58:22), Elaine Julian (00:58:23), Helen Ryan (00:58:25), Kay Farrow (01:02:28), Usha Chapman (01:04:37), Alison Benson (01:05:08), Cat Williamson (01:13:08), Julia Peplow (01:14:16), Hollie Oxtoby (01:21:47), Chris Gibson (01:21:49).

A couple of other local 10k races also proved popular with Beverley athletes – in the Howden Ashes 10k, Billy Pike was first Beverley runner home in 00:43:30, followed by Kay Farrow in 01:02:24 (1st V65) and Usha Chapman in 01:07:28 and the Run for All York 10k saw Robert Mayson finish in 00:53:29, Elaine Lang in 00:56:14, Genevieve Joffe-Robinson in 00:58:40, Usha Chapman in 01:04:12 and Emily Atkinson in 01:06:57.

And yet more excellent results starting with an exceptional distance and an outstanding performance by Peter Watkinson, who celebrates becoming a member of the illustrious 100 Marathon Club, a club whose members have all completed 100 marathons or more. Peter recently qualified with his excellent performance in the recent Farndale marathon. He completed his first marathon, the Hull to Grimsby marathon in 1985. Despite saying never again, Peter went on to run marathons both in the UK and abroad, including New York, Amsterdam, the Isle of Man and Lanzarote as well as 28 London marathons, which he continues to run, now qualifying by running excellent times which rewards him now with the coveted Good for Age place. Peter commented: -

“Finally got my hundred marathons … and what a stunning course to do it at [Farndale]. All my results have been verified and confirmed by the 100-marathon club including 28 London marathons. I have a lot of happy memories and have travelled the word and I have met a lot of nice people so I will keep on running.”

Many congratulations Peter on your well-deserved achievement!

From running 100 marathons totalling more than 2,620 miles to running The Lakeland 100, the 105 mile ‘Ultra Tour of the Lake District’, which is considered to be the most spectacular trail race within the UK. Ian Boardley recently completed this circular route encompassing the whole of the Lakeland fells, with 6300m (20,000+ feet) elevation in 31:11:39.

Members found many more off road and trail events to enjoy including the Commondale Beacon, a 5 mile fell race with1000 feet of elevation which was completed by Richard Parkin in 59:05 or the Farndale Hardmoors Half Marathon,