We had 18 runners out contesting the May Handicap event 3 of whom (Bracken Dawson, Dan Hoare and Tim Anderson) were making their first appearance of the year and taking us to 40 different contestants in 2025.
Once again conditions were near perfect and with there being no local elections and no wheelie bins some fast times were on offer and indeed 14 runners (77% of the field) were able to meet or beat their handicap. Either we’re all improving or it’s the shoes or the handicapper should be sacked! 11 runners enjoyed a thrilling elbows out blanket finish.
No doubting the winner though, Bracken Dawson. On his 31st and farewell appearance at the handicap Bracken was a real man on a mission with red streaked hair super shoes and signing off in style with a new PB of 6’22, boom! Only Dan Hoare (6’32) able to stay with him and take second with both passing and pushing Tim Anderson (7’44) into third.
Fastest on the night overall was Bracken (new PB 6’22 and improving to #36 on the honours board) with Dan Hoare (new PB 6’32, improving to #54), Pete Sansome (6’41), Jack Sansome (6’57) and James Bailey (7’00) the other sub-7 speedsters. Sarah Witt (7’33 equalling her event PB at #27 on the ladies list), Liz Marshall (7’36 and now within 10s of her event PB from 2019) and Karen Hazlitt (7’54) were our sub-8 females.
The overall standings are still just an indication at this stage since there are still 7 events and 3 discards to factor into the series. It all to play for but James Bailey has his nose in front with Jonny Herron, both Goodwins and Liz Marshall currently filling the top 5. More importantly at this stage each event is a standalone bit of fun in itself (we’ve had 5 different race winners so far this year) so please feel free to come along and get yourself into the mix next month.
After 5 events we still have 9 athletes still on track for one of our coveted (and beautifully engraved) 12 out of 12 medals for 2025.
New to this and wondering what it is all about? A monthly handicap race (on the first Thursday of the month) around an urban 1.14-mile loop in the Harestock area of Winchester. That means that the next race in the 2025 series will be on 5th June. More info here: Harestock Handicap