A busy month of races to report from the month of May, along with some personal successes on both road and track. The Silverstone 10k started the East Midlands Grand Prix Series. With 15 Silson runners at Banbury, let us hope we can maintain the momentum throughout the forthcoming series of road races. Training continues to be popular at the Stowe School track on Friday evenings.
Kettering Open Meet Monday May 2nd
This early season track race is notorious for producing good performances, with athletes travelling a long way to compete. Silson athletes acquitted themselves really well, having only trained on the track for the first time on April 22nd. Chris Wood being only 1 second off a 1500 pb.
400 meters. Rory Hammond 69.
800 meters. Rory Hammond 2.41, James Clarke 2.48, Georgia Corcoran 2.48, Julie Hammond 2.53.
1500 meters Chris Wood 4.28, Julie Hammond 5.50
Chiltern Ridge Ultra Saturday 7th May
Paul Holmes and Toby Heley competed in the Chiltern Ridge Ultra. The single loop course took them from Hemel Hempstead to Whipsnade before taking sections of the Ridgeway, Chiltern Way and Ashridge Estate. Paul Holmes completed the course in 5.40 and Toby 5.51. Paul Holmes achieved a 5k and 50k pb in the space of 6 days.
Silverstone 10k Monday May 9th
The Silverstone 10k returned since 2019 and leading the East Midlands Grand Prix Series for the first time since 2018. Preparation started late, leading to uncertainty over entry numbers. Across the country race entries have been lower, post covid. In addition there would be no Schools Challenge and no entries on the night. To issue 700 numbers was a great success. For the first time entries were paperless and easier to manage. Well done to those who all helped.
John Fowler
I would also like to add my thanks to everyone who helped to make a 10k a great success. It was lovely to see so many new members and experienced volunteers working together to put the race on and, afterwards, to read many complementary words from happy participants.
Helen Heley
Buckingham Half Marathon Sunday May 15th
Seven Silson runners took part in this testing half marathon, although conditions had cooled from the previous day. Richard Popiel was the first Silson runner to finish, also claiming the vet 60 prize. James Clarke chose a tough race to be his first half marathon. Results 32nd Richard Popiel 1.38, 36th Simon McDowell 1.38, 41st Paul Holmes 1.41, 46th Dan Kenealy 1.42, 72nd Kris Black 1.49, 121st Dave Jarrett 2.04, 134th James Clarke 2.05.
County Track Championships, Corby, Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th May
Three golds, two silver and two bronze medals were Silsons best ever medal tally at the Northants County Championships. Helen Heley’s championship best performance of 20.00 in the vet ladies 5000, will be very close to winning the performance of the weekend award. Helen lowered the previous record by 28 seconds.
Results 5000 meters Chris Wood 17.25 (gold) Helen Heley 20.00 (gold) Julie Hammond 20.31 (silver) Hannah St Ledger 20.47 1500 meters Chris Wood 4.28 (gold) Julie Hammond 5.36 (gold) 800 meters Rory Hammond 2.41 (silver) 400 meters Rory Hammond 69 (bronze)
EMGP Banbury 5 Tuesday May 24th
This popular road race, despite it’s undulating nature can produce some fast times. Silson was well represented in both male and female categories. Both Helen Heley and Hannah St Ledger won their respective female age categories.
Results 78th Helen Heley 32.30, 100th Toby Heley 33.37, 112th Hannah St Ledger 34.02, 116th Dan Kenealy 34.18, 122nd Richard Popiel 34.38, 126th Paul Holmes 34.50. 155 Greg Ball 36.18, 166th Sarah Kaye 36.54, 251st Dave Jarrett 41.57, 261st James Clark 48.40, 267th Sam Snell 43.05, 269th Grace Coleman 43.15, 277th Brian Keers 44.06, 290th Sarah De Boer 46.55, 300th Abby Snell 49.56.
June Race Fixtures
Tuesday 7th Harborough 5 EMGP
Tuesday 14th Kettering Open Track Meeting
Tuesday 21st Weedon 10k EMGP
Wednesday 29th Corby 5 EMGP
Training
Friday Evenings 6.30pm Stowe School. Please note during June only we have 2 Wednesday sessions due the Jubilee weekend and the British Grand Prix. Wednesday June 1st and Wednesday June 29th will take the place of that week’s Friday training sessions.
For the Sunday runs please follow Silson Facebook.
To include race reports in the July newsletter, email silsonsecretary@gmail.com by June 25th.
Graham Linnell