April 2009

 

For a complete results
listing view the
Results Index

Featured events this month:

Stratford Shakespeare Marathon - 26 April

53 Martyn Brunt M40 3:13:09
401 Phil Richmond M39 3:56:11
656 Alan Beeby M44 4:27:45

Full results at www.shakespearemarathon.org.uk

Stratford Shakespeare Half-Marathon - 26 April

139 Robert Simpson M58 1:35:26
499 Amanda Reay F42 1:49:03
569 Ulrike Hill F38 1:51:23
720 SharonThompson F38 1:54:22
1133 Helen Elizabeth F44 2:05:26

Full results at www.shakespearemarathon.org.uk

Flora London Marathon - 26 April

Men's Results

Photo of Northbrook AC London Marathon entrants

The London Marathon contingent carbo loading
at the Sherlock Holmes pub

1280 Howard Andersen M50 3:06:05
2373 Richard Hodge M18 3:19:14
3690 Clive Horton M45 3:30:24
3859 Adrian Powell M45 3:31:51
4182 Andrew Miles M40 3:34:20
4717 Paul McGurk M45 3:38:05
5004 Andrew Whitehouse M40 3:40:00
5105 John Wilson M18 3:40:47
10444 Paul McKeeney M40 4:10:25
13746 Robert Pool M18 4:28:15
16192 Jack Langman M70 4:53:05
19623 Tony French M60 5:05:55

Women's Results

1925 Catherine Warne W40 3:49:56
photo of Adrian powell at Flora London Marathon 2009

Northbrook supporters were out in force at Tower Bridge with the Club banner rooting for the Northbrook team,led home by Howard Andersen in 3:06:05.

Adrian Powell (pictured) was also happy with his time.

Batavieren Relay Race - 23 to 25 April

  Raiders 11th

Report: John Hosie

The problem with trying to write a race report on the Batavieren race is knowing where to begin, the next problem is knowing where to stop.

This is far more than a race, for those teams who have 1 runner for each leg, don't spend the previous 2 days in a mini-bus and have slept the night before running, it must be a very different experience to those who travel from England on the smelliest bus journey I've ever encountered, slept outside next to a fire eater, been woken by bag pipers and then had to run 3 legs. But, that's why we go and do it and that's what makes it unique.

On the running side, a number of us did 3 legs, yes they are short (most only 5 miles) but see above for the sleeping and transport issues. Nathan's three second places being the stand out effort. The running is interesting especially at night, thanks to Duncan who biked all night and then as soon as he got of the bike we gave him a leg to run. Tony Hoy, for driving huge chunks of the journey and still having to run 3 times. And from me to everyone who so generously gave me the glory leg, whilst glory (we were 11th overall) may have been in short supply, the last leg is a pretty amazing experience.

However the Batavieren is not just about running, its about fire eaters, 6 hours sleep, missing wing mirrors, yellow tokens, bag pipers, not having enough runners, human sat navs, punctures, missing Chunnel crossings, traffic jams, swearing at the Dutch, hand puppets, heads shoulders knees and toes, being doormen, cheese sandwiches, red bull, ham sandwiches, vaseline massages, cheese and ham sandwiches, one huge party, Dave "birdie song" Lee, crab races and a whole host of other things. I could explain most of this list, but if you were there then you may know what I mean, if you weren't then come and have a go next year.

But it's also about Barry Holmes, who puts a huge amount of organisation into the weekend, and without whom none of us would have been there. Barry - many thanks, see you next year, I have yellow tokens to get rid of!!!

Boston Marathon - 20 April 2009

  Tony Mackness 3:29:29

Corsham 10k - 19 April 2009

69 Richard Hands 42:18  
401 Angela Hands 56:53 PB

A very well organised race with over 500 runners, held in the small Wiltshire town of Corsham, led us running through both town and country areas. The route was fairly hilly, as expected, but the warm weather brought out the crowds and even St George and his dragon managed a good finishing time.

National 12-Stage Road Relays - 18 April 2009

Men's Team: total time 5:06:07

1 Paul Andrew 29:09 49
2 Jerry Trill 18:12 59
3 John Hosie 31:39 61
4 Pete Fellows 18:40 61
5 Nathan Holmes 31:05 62
6 John Wilson 19:13 63
7 Howard Andersen 33:20 63
8 Andrew Ralph 18:37 63
9 Mick O'Shea 31:32 63
10 Paul Costain 21:18 63
11 Richard Hodge 33:35 63
12 Mark Baker 19:47 59

Odd-numbered legs are 5.8 miles; even-numbered legs are 3 miles

National 6-Stage Ladies Road Relays - 18 April 2009

Ladies Team (incomplete):

1 Rebecca Smith 18:07 27

All legs are 3 miles

Full results at www.race-results.co.uk: men's 12-stage    women's 6-stage

Phillips Accounting Easter 5 - 12 April

7 John Hosie 29:54  
11 Mike Wheeler 31:56  
22 Nigel Bassnett 33:36  
25 Richard Hands 34:00  
31 Robert Sharratt 35:01  
38 Alan Beeby 36:14 ex NB
40 Bob Adams 36:26  
57 Loretto Denley 39:55 ex NB
58 Alex Marshall 40:18 ex NB
62 Tony French 40:53  

ex NB = ex-Northbrook

Report; John Hosie

As always a good race, although with a new downhill start the first mile was frighteningly quick, as was the distance that the leading 5 managed to put between me and them. The next 4 miles were spent battling with a child from Birchfield who frankly left me well behind.

I've included a few ex-Northbrook runners on the results, just for info.

Belvoir Half-Marathon - 12 April 2009

43 Rebecca Smith 1:24:53 PB 2nd lady

Report: Rebecca Smith

Perfect running weather today - cool, light drizzle, no wind to speak of - and I made the most of it. The course wasn't quite a flat as I was expecting (or maybe that was simply tired legs in the second half of the race) but I worked hard and am very pleased with my first sub 1:25 half (now I need to find myself a new target).

Centurion Grand Prix - 5 April

1 Nathan Holmes 27:25  
14 Rebecca Smith 31:36 1st woman

Report: Nathan Holmes

Falling on the same weekend as the 12-stage the field for this race was a bit weaker than previous months, but it still felt good to record a win and both Becky and I were very pleased with our times after racing the day before. I know a lot of people PB'd at the Regency 10k too; maybe there's something to be said for back-to-back races!

Series Results (best 4 races from 6):
Nathan Holmes - 2nd man
Rebecca Smith - 3rd woman

Paris Marathon - 5 April

  Brian Hewetson 4:29
  Claudie Combelas 4:27

Brian and Claudie's first Marathon

Blackpool Marathon - 5 April

68 Dave Halford 3:17:30

Regency 10k - 5 April

39 Stuart Keen 39:16  
44 Richard Hodge 39:31 PB
53 Paul Stead 40:05  
70 Alix Critchley 40:53 PB
79 James Joyce 41:14 PB
104 Richard Hands 42:25  
322 Charles Jones 47:04  
360 John McKenna 47:51  
455 Ulrike Hill 49:05 PB
459 Andrew Houston 48:47 PB
560 Corinna O'Connor 50:15  
881 Helen Elizabeth 54:25  
989 Joanne Moyse 55:38  
1045 Abbe Humphreys 56:34  
1052 Angela Hands 57:00 PB
1053 Brian Knox 57:00  
1111 Julie Nunn 58:02  
1139 Claire Mason 57:45  
1185 Diane Keen 59:18  

Northbrook Ladies (Alix Critchley, Ulrike Hill & Corinna O'Connor) took 3rd team place.
Northbrook Men (Stuart Keen, Richard Hodge, Paul Stead & James Joyce) took 4th team place.

Report: Stuart Keen & Alix Critchley

Weather scorching hot (2 years ago) or heavy snow (last year), this race continues to grow from strength to strength, and so it should. With a testing 5k off-road stretch around Newbold Comyn golf course to the 2nd 5k of mainly flat tarmac roads & paths through Leamington's parks; this race has something for everyone. With today's weather being just about perfect for running, it was a cracking day for a run - lovely sunshine and great support in places on the course, especially coming out from the off-road stretch of Newbold Comyn onto the more running friendly tarmac roads of Leamington. We even had our own Northbrook mobile support biker in the form of Cath Fenn. A lot of very good times were recorded, helped on by the supporting crowds, with six Northbrook PB's. Alix Critchley was over the moon with her finishing time.

Mrs Keen (Diane) gallantly ran a sub 1hour 10k after deciding at 3am and hacking her lungs up with a cold that she wasn't going to do it!! It was an excellent turnout from Northbrook again, which also showed in the team results with the ladies taking 3rd place. A cracking event which was well organised, well marshalled and without any of the snarl-ups at the finish line as per last year's race due to race chips being introduced.

1714 runners finished, and all Northbrook's finished in under the hour!

Midland Counties 12-Stage Road Relays - 4 April

Men's A Team: total time 4:29:24, 22nd position

1 Paul Andrew 29:51 20
2 Martyn Brunt 17:03 22
3 Paul Stead 18:32 26
4 Nathan Holmes 29:59 23
5 Jason Nicholson 18:42 24
6 Tony Hoy 18:12 25
7 Mick O'Shea 31:13 29
8 Pete Fellows 18:41 25
9 Richard Hodge 18:27 26
10 John Hosie 32:30 26
11 Stuart Keen 18:43 26
12 Howard Anderson 17:31 22

Men's B Team (incomplete):

1 Andrew Ralph 35:43 56
2 Paul Costain 21:24 56
3 John Ralph 22:46 56
4 Steve O'Shea 41:17 56
5 JerryTrill 18:38 55
6 Mark Baker 20:02 55
7 Richard French 36:48 55

Legs 1, 4,7 and 10 are 5.8 miles; other legs are 3 miles

Midland Counties 6-Stage Road Relays - 4 April

Ladies' Team: total time 2:05:10, 14th position

1 Rebecca Smith 18:15 12
2 Amanda Deavey 19:10 13
3 Alix Critchley 19:53 12
4 Sarah McNaney 22:19 15
5 Corinna O'Connor 23:56 14
6 Cathrine Fenn 21:37 14

All legs are 3 miles

Report: Nathan Holmes, Howard Anderson & Mark Baker

A welcome return to fine weather at Sutton Park brought out good runs from both the men's and women's teams. With a finishing 22nd position the men qualified for the National for the first time in several years, with Howard putting it beyond doubt by bringing us back into the top 25 on last leg, and the women (who don't have to qualify) finished well into the top half of the field, both of which bode well for the Hilly Hundred in a few weeks' time.

Legs 1, 4,7 and 10 are 5.8 miles; other legs are 3 miles

The National Road Relay Championships take place at Sutton Park on 18 April 2009.

Full results at www.race-results.co.uk: men's 12-stage    women's 6-stage