Summer Solstice 10K

The mass start with Aaron taking an early lead he would not relinquish

The tenth running of the Long Bennington Summer Solstice 10K on Friday 21^st June was hailed as

the best edition of the Grantham Running Club hosted race to date as 846 finishers enjoyed perfect conditions and ‘the best goodie bag of all the races over the year’ on an evening when the official course record was broken and numerous personal bests were set.

The 10K course, which has remained mostly unchanged since the race was first held in 2010, is gently undulating for the opening half of the race as it heads to out of Long Bennington towards Staunton in the V The race’s second left turn sees competitors face a short, fairly steep climb past the Staunton Arms Pub followed by a long drag up to Normanton Lane before runners are rewarded with a quick, slightly downhill, run back to the finish at Long Bennington.  The course is susceptible to winds but conditions on the night could hardly have been better for racing: virtually still with light cloud cover and temperatures in the mid teens Celsius. 

ale.

Sarah wins her home race

An in-form Aaron Scott, representing JLF Racing, returned to Long Bennington for the first time since winning the Solstice back in 2016 and dominated from the start, winning the race in 30:52 and in so doing smashing the previous course record of 31:30, set by Shane Robinson in 2015, by 38 seconds. Runner up was Grantham local Jake Robinson of Lincoln Wellington AC, who clocked 32:02, with Sean Fitzpatrick of Kent AC third in a lifetime best 32:39.

In the women’s race Grantham Running Club’s very own Sarah Chynoweth claimed her second road race victory of 2019 in an excellent 40:57 - the third fastest ever 10K time by a Grantham Running Club member. Former Grantham Athletics Club member Suzannah Fleming, now of West End Runners, was second in 41:16, with experienced campaigner Melissa Neal of March AC third in 42:11.

Race director Ben Mason taking a hands on approach

Notwithstanding the large number of club members who volunteered their services to allow the smooth running of the event, Grantham Running Club was fortunate enough to allow 64 members, plus a number of those who took completed the club’s 10 Weeks to 10K programme, to take part in one of the region’s largest club hosted road races. First GRC runner home was Chris Limmer, whose season’s best 37:03 saw him finish ahead of Joaquim Jeronimo, who broke 38 minutes for the first time in a very fine 37:46 – the first of nineteen GRC runners to set a personal best in the race.

Some of the helpers who worked for up to 17 hours on the day to stage the race

The other GRC runners who set a 10K personal best (according to Run Britain data) in the race were: Jamie Walpole (39:04); Daniel Ancliffe (39:17); Ian McBain (41:24); Jack Dodwell (43:32); Sam Dodwell (43:53); Stewart Pick (44:45); Rick Dobbs (50:58); Rachel Pattison (55:09); Rachel Varela (55:13); Kate Marshall (57:26); Sylv Hull (57:14); Howard Rudder (59:51); Paula Ebbins (1:01:23); Sara Pask (1:01:59); Amanda Hetherington (1:03:43); Diana McDonald (1:03:33); Alexandra Platt (1:04:30); and Gillian Cardus (1:08:14).

Once again GRC provided four pacers: Jonny Palmer, Stefan Latter, Matt Kidd, and Penny Hodges, who ably helped guide runners towards sub-40, 50, 60, and 70 minute performances. Race Director Ben Mason and Volunteer Coordinator Andrew Pask were full of praise for the sixty or so volunteers who helped with all aspects of the race’s operation, including setting up the course, car parking duties, race number distribution, marshalling, manning of water stations (which utilised biodegradable cups), finish area support, and clearing up the venue once the race was done and dusted. 

The now traditional momentos

Jonny was one of the pacers

Finishers of the race were presented with a bespoke medal and the now customary commemorative half pint glass with a choice of ale or cider provided by The Grainstore Brewery and the Oldershaw Brewery respectively. Official race photographs were made freely available courtesy of Richard Hall. Pre and post race refreshments were kindly provided by the Long Bennington Brownies unit and it was reported that the local hostelries and fish and chip shop were doing a roaring trade

well into the evening, quenching the thirsts and appetite of spectators and runners alike!

Subject to official confirmation the next Long Bennington Summer Solstice 10K will take place on Friday 19^th June 2020 with entries set to open in the New Year.

Grantham Running Club Results:

Name	Chip Time
Chris Limmer	37:03
Joaquim Jeronimo	37:46
Matthew Williamson	38:08
Jamie Walpole	39:04
Daniel Ancliffe	39:17
Richard Payne	39:45
Gav Meadows	40:13
Joe Diggins	40:17
Sarah Chynoweth	40:57
Sam Clark	40:58
Ian McBain	41:24
Jack Dodwell	43:32
Sam Dodwell	43:53
Stewart Pick	44:45
Russell Maksymiw	44:58
Paul Kelly	45:09
Hannah San Jose	47:38
Daniel Howson	47:59
Matt Fryer	49:05
Phillip Crowcroft	49:46
Richard Smith	50:05
Nicola Cottam	50:35
Maxine Noble	50:42
Rick Dobbs	50:58
Paul Jepson	51:05
Nev Chamberlain	52:27
Claire Williams	52:51
Dale Towning	53:03
Wayne Baxter	53:11
John Nevard	53:36
Peter Storey	53:48
Nichola Webster	54:25
Rachel Pattison	55:09
Rachel Varela	55:13
Sylv Hull	57:14
Kate Marshall	57:26
Claire Martin	58:18
Emma Weatherhill	58:19
Carole Pigott	59:28
Howard Rudder	59:51
Alison Clark	01:01:14
Paula Ebbins	01:01:23
Sara Pask	01:01:59
Lisa Thomas	01:02:06
Suzanne Hardy	01:02:20
Diana McDonald	01:03:33
Amanda Hetherington	01:03:43
Jo Oliver	01:03:47
Amy Jameson	01:03:55
Tracey Gell	01:03:55
Vicky Platts	01:04:25
Alexandra Platt	01:04:30
Shona Ward	01:06:11
Emma Fleet	01:06:14
Fiona Vaughan	01:06:18
Emma Church	01:06:28
Samantha French	01:06:35
Simon Hartley	01:07:00
Louise Kennedy	01:07:19
Gillian Cardus	01:08:14
Judi Allsop	01:08:43
Vicky Willan	01:08:55
Kirsty Truesdale	01:09:30
Vivien Durham	01:18:39