Gibbet Hill 10k 10th July 2019
Organised by Haslemere & Border AC. I made it 14 Baffineers who wended their way up the A3 to Haslemere. Apologies if I have missed anyone.This was a mixed terrain race on a hot Wednesday night. The first 6k or so was uphill and nearly all on tracks with loose stones and tree roots. There were glimpses of the beautiful Devil's Punch Bowl scenery but most I think had their eyes firmly fixed on the ground in front of them trying to avoid trip hazards. I, in fact had my first race fall around 6k. My trailing leg, getting weary of the steep inclines, just hit a tree root and I did what I suspect was a somewhat spectacular mid-air spin, landing on my left hand and hip but still proudly clutching my Baffins water bottle! As soon as I realised I was mostly OK (bruised hand, hip and pride) I got up and re-started the race. No-one saw this as the person behind was about 20 seconds adrift round a corner. The race eventually finished with a good long downhill stretch on tarmac and then grass.
No PBs on this course but some great performances from our runners. I'm sure even more will be back next year, especially the Trail Division and a great evening was topped by a pint in the Apple Tree Pub. All in all a lovely smallish local race put on by the local club. Thanks to the drivers for the lifts. I have included the first male and female times for comparison. The amazing James Baker was 2 minutes ahead of another good local Denmead runner, Julian Manning who himself was a minute ahead of third place. Their times are 2 to 3 minutes slower than their season's bests and others, including mine were 6 to 7 minutes off, such is the difficulty of the course.
1 James Baker Chichester Runners & AC Male VM40 35:50
13 Ruby Wyles Guildford & Godalming AC Female SW U20 42:33
52 Brett Rumfitt BFC Male SVM55 48:23
83 Louise Griffin Vegan Runners UK Female VW40 52:54
91 Jason Smith BFC Male VM45 53:59
92 Colin Southwell BFC Male UVM60 54:02
107 Tom Heard BFC Male SM 56:20
132 Janice Wellstead BFC Female UVW60 61:01
150 Laura Burns BFC Female SW 64:42
166 Lisa Duke BFC Female SVW50 69:23
167 Joshua McPheat BFC Male SM 69:24
177 Terrie Brown BFC Female SVW50 71:01
181 Alex Yorke BFC Female VW40 71:39
182 Emily Spencer BFC Female SW 71:44
189 Kevin Friery BFC Male UVM65 76:02
190 Alison Southwell BFC Female SVW50 76:02
