BANBURY FIVE
Kiernan White of Hercules Wimbledon snatched the Banbury “5” on Tuesday and Banbury Harriers took the local honours with Tom Offord and their ladies team.
Over 350 started this fourth leg of the East Midland Grand Prix in near perfect conditions for running. The down stretch along the Queensway produced a positive start from Chris McCarthy from Kenilworth Runners. He was followed close behind by Woodstock Harrier James Bolton and Series leader Andrew Siggers also in the Kenilworth colours.
The leaders turned uphill and out towards Broughton and into the second mile with McCarthy still in front and followed by the other two. Twenty metres behind and closing came White and further back and just in the top ten places Offord.
The narrow run along Wykham Lane found the same four pulling away from the main pack. As they progressed towards the Bloxham Road turn the order changed at the front Siggers and Bolton had taken over and only a few metres behind White tracked them with McCarthy slipping back. Offord was still running strongly in 12th place and the race for the ladies prize was almost certainly in the hands of Leamington’s Sue Harrison a former winner. The leaders entered Bloxham Road and now inside the final two miles with Siggers still leading closely tracked by Bolton and White. They entered the final half mile and White moved alongside the other two. The line approached and he took to the front to win by two seconds in 25minutes 58seconds. Bolton claimed second place and set the platform for Woodstock to claim the team prize.
The two Kenilworth runners followed third place going to Siggers keeping his Series title on course
. Completing the top six was David Green of Kettering and Craig Palmer of Ampthill and in 13th place Offord. Of the other finishers newly formed Banbury Soles Steve Round finished 53rd, also from Banbury Harriers Pete Newell 63rd, Tom Biegel 79th and Cherwell’s Darren Nichol 87th.
. Completing the top six was David Green of Kettering and Craig Palmer of Ampthill and in 13th place Offord. Of the other finishers newly formed Banbury Soles Steve Round finished 53rd, also from Banbury Harriers Pete Newell 63rd, Tom Biegel 79th and Cherwell’s Darren Nichol 87th. Harrison easily took the ladies prize and Caitlin Bradley in 62nd place and fifth lady combined with Ros Kelling and Patrice Duffy to gain the ladies team prize.
