Bassingham Bash

A dozen of Grantham Running Club's members made the short trip to Bassingham last Saturday afternnon for a a fast 5 mile race over flat roads in quiet Lincolnshire Countryside. The course may have been fast but the weather was not, a 2:00pm start in the blazing sun was always going to be an issue. The race organisers decision to go, once again with a gun to chip finish timing system made the start more compromised than was necessary with runners pushing forward to get position before the gun.

Representing GRC were a mix of experienced five milers and some making their debut at this distance either stepping up from parkrun or back from the 10k. As always this event attracted a quality field which was best illustrated by the fact that Linton Taylor, who holds the outright record at Belton parkrun was only able to achieve third place! 

Rob picks up first prize in his new category

First home for the green and black was Rob Howbrook in 34:17, two minutes adrift of his 2017 time but pleased to find any kind of form after three weeks of climbing in Canada had left him lacking in outright speed. Rob's time was good enough to secure him first prize in his age category. Next home was Robert McArdle in 37:01 dropping some 30 seconds on where he would liked to have been. First lady was Maxine Noble with a stunning run to finish in 40:14. Second lady back was Sinead McDonnell in 42:31, a full minute slower than last time and all lost in the oven that was mile four when she was reduced to almost a walk as the high hedges created a windless sun trap.

Paul Jepson was third man home for the club in

Tracy and Sylv at the start with Vicki in the background

43:57 followed by Sylv Hull whose 48:06 gave an indication of how much the heat was effecting the runners as it was over three minutes behind her season's best set on a cooler day a few weeks back. Coping better with the heat was Tracy Webb  with arguably her best ever race to finish in 48:47 just in front of Victoria Ball in 49:12. Not far behind were Edina Burns in 54:33 and Claire Fritz in 55:48.

The final pair of Julia Hallam and Louise Kennedy completed the course in 56:36 and 57:00 respectively, a great time for Louise underlining the progress she has made in 2018.

As a bonus Witham Runners, who organised the race, gave out free ice creams at the end to help the runners cool down. 

Position	Time	Name		Category		Grading	Ranking
45	34:17	Rob Howbrook		MV60		77.37%	97
70	37:01	Robert McArdle		MV55		71.04%	313
105	40:14	Maxine Noble		FV50		68.13%	184
124	42:31	Sinead McDonnell		FV45		61.08%	N/A
141	43:57	Paul Jepson		MV60		62.54%	N/A
174	48:06	Sylv Hull		FV35		51.69%	N/A
178	48:47	Tracy Webb		FV50		56.19%	N/A
184	49:12	Vicki Ball		FSen		49.19%	N/A
201	54:33	Edina Burns		FV35		45.54%	N/A
208	55:48	Claire Fritz		FV40		45.75%	N/A
211	56:36	Julia Hallam		FV35		43.70%	N/A
212	57:00	Louise Kennedy		FV40		44.79%	N/A