The top three, from left, Simon McMorran, second, winner Paul Cameron and third-placed Simon Randall. Picture by Peter Boam.
PICTURE GALLERY
ATHLETICS IT WAS a great day for the IW Road Runners at this year’s Brading 10km race — with their runners taking all three podium places.
Paul Cameron, who has made a triumphant return to form, was the clear winner in 35.29, with Simon McMorran producing a huge PB on the course of almost 90 seconds, to come second in 36.35.
Third and first senior male, was Simon Randall in 37.57, meaning they romped home with the team prize as well.
McMorran, who also won the vet 50 prize, said: "We’d have to check through the records but I would say this has been the club’s best day at this event by a long way! I cannot believe my time, I hoped for 38 minutes but to do it in 36.34 is huge for me."
Cameron, of Newport, also won the vet 40 prize. He said: "It felt really good. I was aiming for a good time and it looks like I’ve got it. It’s great to be back, its been far too long."
The club also took the second team place thanks to great runs from Stuart Backhouse (fifth), Andrew Macarthur (eighth) and Eric Smith (ninth).
The top woman in the race, representing Reading, was IW-born Jackie Perrin, 45.
She moved from Totland to go to college on the mainland, but still returns to racing here when visiting her family. She came an impressive seventh overall, in a great time of 39.37.
She said: "It’s the first time I’ve done this race but I’ve done the West Wight Three Hills race, which I love, a good few times. I was happy with my time, considering how hilly the course is — it was a killer actually — so I feel good."
The first IW club member to cross the line was Ryde Harrier Sarah Kavanagh, who had only run the event once before, two years ago. She far eclipsed her debut time, finishing in 44.26, and said: "It was a fab course, just as you would expect in an IW race, so very challenging. I was just glad the wind died down. I can stand lots of rain but I hate high winds."
Third in the women’s race was Wight Tri member Nina French, 24th overall, in a time of 45.03.
The women’s team event was won by Ryde Harriers, with Kavanagh’s great result coupled with that of Tracey Dillon and Sally Roberts.
Second was Wight Tri, with IW Road Runners third.
In all, 83 runners completed the course.
Organisers thanked Wightlink for sponsoring the runners’ ferry travel, the Red Cross for providing first aid cover, timekeepers and volunteers.
l For West Wight Road Runners, the event doubled up as their club championship race.
Paul Judge won the club event, knocking two minutes off his time from last year by finishing 12th overall in 40.45, followed by Gareth Knight in 44.05, who was 22nd.
Ian Jolliffe did well in 46.21. Dan Williams (51.46), Eric Critchison (57.05) and Brian Amy (58.29) also competed.
For the women, Chris Amy won in 54.24, with Cherry Owens finishing in 1.00.42.
Reporter: sport@iwcpmail.co.uk
• Pictures from our online gallery www.iwcpgallery.co.uk below.
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