Pereira sets new personal best at Great Bristol Half Marathon
STRATFORD AC athletes have appeared in races near and far in recent weeks, from Cheltenham and Bristol to Blenheim Palace and even Lake Michigan in the USA.
Two club members contested the Great Bristol Half Marathon on Sunday, 23rd September.
In a race with more than 7,000 runners, Duncan Reading finished 717th overall in 1:35:03, just a couple of minutes shy of the personal best he set earlier this year. Thiago Pereira clocked a PB of 1:45:22 to finish 1,531st overall.
Matt Clowes won the race in 1:05:10, while Clara Evans was the top woman in 1:16:26.
Nearly 3,000 runners were in action at the Cheltenham Half Marathon on Sunday.
Stratford AC’s James Coy finished 380th in 1:37:59, just a few minutes short of his season’s best.
Cheltenham’s Ben Price was the winner in 1:09:50 with Rachel Felton finishing as the top woman in 1:20:07.
Three members of Stratford AC took part in the British Heart Foundation 10km at Blenheim Palace on Sunday 30 September.
Running alongside a family friend, Damian Wheeler clocked 52:15 and was the top Stratford AC finisher.
Tom Horbury, a relatively new member of Stratford AC, found the race hilly but enjoyable. He completed it in 1:01:26.
“The second hill just never stopped,” he said. “After that, it was a nice flat route — until there was another hill to climb. There were people in the hedge crying at the thought of another hill, there was one man sobbing for his mum, screaming ‘they said one hill, not half a dozen and a mountain’ but we all managed it.
“Despite the hills, it was a fantastic atmosphere and involved raising money for a good cause. The views were stunning when you got to the top of the hills.”
Annie Threadgill was happy to get through it in 1:07:19. “It was fun but hard and hilly,” she said. “I’m really pleased with my time.”
Oliver Ambrose won the race in 33:54, while Annabelle McCourt was the first woman to finish, clocking 41:07.
Over in the USA, Cindy Brittan ran the Traverse City 5km and recorded a PB of 34:29 to finish fifth in her category.
“It was a lovely sunny day, but very cold with beautiful Lake Michigan scenery. It was slightly undulating, but I had a great run.”
