Toby Spencer of Coventry Godiva won the Banbury Five in convincing fashion on Tuesday, this the fourth race in the East Midland Grand Prix series. The local club honours went to Banbury Harrier’s Tom Offord in a highly satisfactory twelfth place of 400 plus finishers.
The field set out from Browning Road and from the off Spencer accompanied with Godiva team mate Harvey Speed and the Kenilworth Runners duo of Richard Simkiss and Chris McCarthy plus Enfield and Haringey’s Alex Jones soon pulled away from the pack
The quintet raced down the Queensway and turned uphill towards Broughton. Spencer picked up the pace on reaching the two mile point and took Speed and Simkiss with him. This being Spencer’s first race in the series in 2014 but the other two having contested the previous races were battling for the overall title.
The three turned at Broughton along Wykham Lane at this point Spencer increased the pace and pulled away. He opened a lead that he would not relinquish and increased the gap, leaving the other two battling for second place.
Spencer turned back at Bloxham Road and headed for the finishing line, increasing his lead all the time. He crossed the line in 25minutes 11seconds, this 52seconds in front of Simkiss who had pulled clear of Speed. McCarthy followed in fourth place and with two other Kenilworth runners in the top ten they collected the team prize.
Offord finished strongly in 27minutes 54seconds his twelfth place one place higher than his recent run in the Rugby Six.
Mark Woodus of Brackley & District finished in 32nd place, with Cherwell Runners Jack Zuliani in 45th place. Ian Thomas also of Cherwell Runners finished 48th to collect the veteran 50 man’s third prize
The ladies race went to overall series leader Rachel Cave of Higham Harriers in a time of 30minutes 22seconds and 49thoverall. Banbury Harriers Ros Kelling finished 115th to win the veteran 50 first lady prize.
Mike
As you can see below Bruce was also first in the M65 age group and this gave him the club record. ros also beat her previous club record in the W50 age group.
| position | position in gender | position in age group | number | name | age group | time | club |
| 12 | 12 | 11 | 1784 | Tom Offord | MS | 27:54 | Banbury Harriers |
| 111 | 102 | 54 | 1703 | Adam Crofts | MS | 32:46 | Banbury Harriers |
| 115 | 10 | 1 | 1740 | Rosanna Kelling | F50 | 32:51 | Banbury Harriers |
| 135 | 120 | 1 | 1680 | Bruce Hendrie | M65 | 33:44 | Banbury Harriers |
| 164 | 142 | 9 | 1707 | Phil Coy | M55 | 34:49 | Banbury Harriers |
| 187 | 162 | 22 | 1693 | Garin Wilby | M40 | 35:32 | Banbury Harriers |
| 204 | 178 | 25 | 1749 | Paschal O'Sullivan | M40 | 36:16 | Banbury Harriers |
| 220 | 186 | 4 | 1660 | Glyn Pritchard | M65 | 36:44 | Banbury Harriers |
| 305 | 73 | 22 | 1786 | Becky Pull | FS | 41:26 | Banbury Harriers |
| 363 | 103 | 18 | 1655 | Sue Moon | F40 | 45:44 | Banbury Harriers |
The above photo of Tom was by Barry Cornellus.
