Bourton One Mile Challenge - 20 July
The Bourton One Mile Challenge attracted a record number of 168 entries on a perfect evening. Masses of supporters, locals and tourists lined Rissington Road to see the mix of ages, from over 75 year old veterans to children, race against each other over the one mile flat course to cross the line, lungs bursting in the centre of the picturesque village of Bourton-on-the-Water.
The race has steadily grown in popularity over its 13-year history and is now an acclaimed part of the County race calendar, being the County One Mile Championship and a specified race in the Gloucestershire County Road Race Series. This being the case, it always attracts a number of good quality competitors, but also gives “fun runners” the chance to compete in the same race.
Winner, Cal Winwood of home club, Bourton Roadrunners, planned his race to perfection, staying with the leading group to half way, edging ahead to the 3/4 mile mark and then blasting through to the finish 15 seconds ahead of 2nd place runner, Mark James of Severn AC, who also ran an excellent tactical race to pass class-runner, Mike Smith, also of Bourton Roadrunners, in the finishing stage and opening a 4 second gap.
The top 3 male times were: Cal Winwood 4:39; Mark James, 4:54 and Mike Smith 4:58.
Ladies winner, Shona Crombie-Hicks, again from Bourton Roadrunners, was delighted to finish in front of regular rival, Haley Winters of Gloucester AC, coming through strongly in the second half of the race to finish 6 seconds ahead. Future Star, Niamh Powell of Bourton, just 12 years of age took 3rd Lady Prize.
The top 3 female times were: Shona Crombie-Hicks 5:30; Haley Winters 5:36 and Niamh Powell 5:53.
The following were first prize winners in their respective age groups: MV40 Dave Rantell, Cheltenham & Co. 5:06; MV45 Derek Gardner, Swindon Harriers 5:09; MV50 Kevin Pye, Charnwood AC 5:22; MV55 Ed Munro, Almost Athletes 5:56; MV60 John Peacock, Evesham Vale 5:37; MV65 Dave Spackman, Gloucester AC 6:32; MV70 Ken Buckle, Cheltenham & Co. 6:58 and MU20 Jacob Pickering, Cheltenham & Co. 5:21.
The corresponding ladies were: LV35 Claire Harrison, Bourton Roadrunners 6:12; LV40 Kate Browning, Dursley & District 6:17; LV45 Miranda Foster, Almost Athletes 6:08; LV50 Karen Galpin, Almost Athletes 6:21; LV55 Alison Lane, Bourton Roadrunners 6:28; LV60 Liz Hulcup, Bourton Roadrunners 6:41 and LU20 Rachel See, Cheltenham & Co. 6:00.
Full race results are available to download.
A huge thank you to Travis Perkins for their sponsorship.
Highlights
Cal Winwood claims his first senior race win and County Gold medal at the Bourton 1 Mile Challenge, in a fine 4 minutes 39 seconds.
Shona Crombie-Hicks earned the ladies’s honour, in 5 minutes 30 seconds.
The top 3 male times were: Cal Winwood 4:39; Mark James, 4:54 and Mike Smith 4:58.
The top 3 female times were: Shona Crombie-Hicks 5:30; Haley Winters 5:36 and Niamh Powell 5:53.
A print-friendly version of the full race results is available to download.
A huge thank you to Travis Perkins for their sponsorship.
Other reports may be found on our recent race reports page.