Reading – Hampshire League 4 of 5

Odd weather conditions today, but I guess that should be expected at a Cross Country meet. The 4th race in the Hampshire League series was hosted by Reading AC, who in turn had a strong showing at the event with Chey Kemp leading from the start across the flat and in to the hills section. The lack of current league leader Zak Mahamed saw a steadier start speed to the race, the hills took there toll on a number of boys, most struggling up them, but Robbie with a problematic hamstring which has kept him from training for a week and is still tight and sore when stretched, not liking the down hills. Lachlan Wellington had powered through the hills section in to first place, steaming down the  steep hill back toward the fields saw an unfortunate marshaling or course error, and Lachlan headed off in the wrong direction, by the time he’d corrected he was back in second place with Chey Kemp back in front. The race didn’t finish there though, with numerous changes over the long finishing straight, Robbie trying to stick in but with no length to his stride his pace could simply not improve found himself pushed back to a 6th place finish by Dominic Willmore (Poole Runners), Chey Kemp also found the final part of the race hard going as Tom Bourne steamed passed everyone to finish first, with Lachlan Wellington second and Alex Rodrigues in 3rd.

Timings now in, top 10 below.

1 Tom Bourne Wimborne 13:02
2 Lachlan Wellington City of Portsmouth 13:08
3 Alex Rodrigues Camberley & District 13:12
4 Chey Kemp Reading AC 13:12
5 D Willmore Poole Runners 13:19
6 Robbie Coupland Aldershot, Farnham & District 13:23
7 Nick Wiltshire Reading AC 13:27
8 Marcus Shantry Aldershot, Farnham & District 13:34
9 Joe Kelliher Wimborne 13:38
10 Sean Pocknee Aldershot, Farnham & District 13:44