Aldershot Road Relays 24 Sept 2022
Aldershot Road Relays – 24th September, Rushmoor Arena, Aldershot
Our road racers were out in force at the end of September in the Aldershot Road relays, hunting in some categories, for qualification to the highly sought-after National Road Relays.
At the start line and in the warm up area, you could hear nervous murmurings about an ‘Undulating route’, and a ‘Fast course’… and other euphemisms, indicating that this was going to be a hard fought relay and tough running…
In all, 40 members competed for the Club (an outstanding turnout), on a cool and mostly dry day, on the well-established Rushmoor Arena course, in what turned out to be a very high-quality field, including a number of Olympians and Inernationals, on a crowded day in the calendar.
Our U15 Boys team was led out by Louis Moore, who ran an outstanding opening leg to record 10:14 over one lap of the roughly 2.6 km loop, securing the 25th fastest leg out of 151 finishers – a tremendous run. Louis was ably supported by strong runs from the fast-improving Damon Walker (11:38) and Reggie Rock (11:17), who anchored the team to a 28th place finish.
Our Senior Women fielded three complete teams of 4, finishing 11th team, 27th team and 44th team. There were speedy runs from Charlotte Buckley (22:28), Kate Olding 22:05 (38th fastest overall out of 194 runners), Steph Ainlie 23:21; Chloe Baker 22:24, and Lisa Da Silva 22:32.
In preparation for the London Marathon and other road races later this winter, Victoria Carter admirably supported the Club, by running not just one, but two complete, consecutive legs for the B and C women’s team!
Not to be outdone by Victoria’s super-human effort, Manuel da Silva also inspiringly competed two legs: one for the Senior Men’s Team, and another kicking off the first leg of the Vets A team.
The Senior Men’s team of 6, ran consistently and superbly over the 5.8 km course. Started by Dan Mulryan, clocking a rapid 18.08, the fastest Club man on the day and 19th fastest overall out of 416 finishers in total.
Outstanding subsequent legs from Michael Ferguson (18:21), Michael Cameron (19:01), Will Perkin (19:27), Ollie Newton (19:50), and Toby Clyde (19:20), brought the team home in 16th place, securing their place in the National Road Relays! Mission accomplished!
As the final legs were completing, the heavens opened, but thankfully, most of our athletes missed the rain.
The Senior Men’s B team finished in 53rd, and our C team in 64th.
Strong results too from our two men’s Vets teams, who finished 8th and 16th teams overall. These included outstanding runs from Andrew Mitchell (21:43) (the 22nd fastest vet, out of 72 finishers), and Gordon Low who completed his leg in under 22 minutes (21:59).
Well done to all who competed, team managed, officiated, chauffeured, and supported on the day!
Up the Valley!
Full TVH results below
U15 Boys – 28th Team
Louis Moore, 10:14 (25th fastest leg – from 151 runners); Damon Walker 11:38; Reggie Rock 11:17
Senior Women
11th Team
Charlotte Buckley 22:28; Kate Olding 22:05 (38th fastest overall out of 194 runners); Steph Ainlie 23:21; Chloe Baker 22:24
27th Team
Lisa Da Silva 22:32; Victoria Carter 24:46; Fran Lou 27:07; Jess Dring-Morris 24:18
44th Team
Nadia Whittaker 27:56; Diana Kennedy 31:50; Victoria Carter 26:22; Vivien Lesti 30:30
Senior Men
16th Team
Daniel Mulryan 18:08 (19th Fastest leg overall out of 416 finishers); Michael Ferguson 18:21; Michael Cameron 19:01; Will Perkin 19:27; Oliver Newton 19:50; Toby Clyde 19:20
53rd Team
Conor Kissane-Wood 19:22; Conall Green 22:04; Botond Safar 22:07; Basil Rock 22:52; Louis Hodge 21:33; Jacques Corby-Tuech 22:19
64th Team
Fahad Abdi 21:56; Mohamed Abdullahi-Binow 21:38; Lawrence Tse 29:20; Manuel da Silva 22:08; Fahad Abdi 22:42; Mohamed Abdullahi-Binow 22:57
Senior Men Vets 40+
8th Team
Manuel Da Silva 21:49 (23rd fastest out of 72 finishers), Stephen Norris 24:06, Andrew Mitchell 21:43 (22nd fastest out of 72 finishers), Gordon Low 21:59
16th Team
Robert Datnow 22:35, Simon Nixon 27:04, Richard Hooley 26:14 , Simon Rubens 27:20