Festival first for Combstock as Hope continues fine start to Kenilworth life

Emerson Combstock hits the front straight from the off in the Kenilworth Festival 10k, with Bryan Miller and Daniel Stannard in close attendance. MHLC-11-05-13 Kenilworth Hilly May34

Combstock clocked 38.06, with a fine run of 39:23 from new Kenilworth Runners member Kev Hope giving him second.

First lady to finish the punishing 10k course held on the hills of Abbey Fields was Karen Photiou, who clocked 44:46.

The third lady home was another new Kenilworth Runners member - Danielle Mohacsi - who finished in a fine 49:27.

Leamington C&AC’s Bryan Miller was seventh in 41:59, with Spa Striders’ Daniel Stannard ninth in 43:43.

Selected other finishers (Kenilworth Runners unless stated): 10, Jimmy Atkins (44:46); 14, Stuart Lee (Spa Striders, 46:07); 15, Simon Radcliffe (Spa Striders 46:23); 33, Danielle Mohacsi (49:27); 54,Tom Dable (52:50); 71, Sara Monahan (57:21).

The race, which forms part of the Kenilworth Festival, also saw a three-person relay race over the 10k course.

First team to finish was Two Dads and a Ringer, coming home in 44:09.

Forty pupils, parents and staff from Crackley Hall school formed the largest team taking part in the Festival Fun Run.

Dodging gusty winds and rain the line up saw youngsters from Nursery to Year 5 chase Kenilworth Runners men’s captain Phil Gould, dressed as Scooby Doo, across the mile-long course through Abbey Fields.

First Crackley runner across the line was seven-year- old Will Robertson, who clocked 8min 28sec to finish 14th.

He was closely followed by team-mates Madoc Williams (8:30) and Jamie Smith (8:32).

The race was won by Princethorpe College’s Matthew Rush in 6:34 with team-mate Mollie Dibb romping home as first female finisher in 6:57.

St Nicholas School were the winners of the School’s Challenge, with George and Luke Browne finishing first and second in the approximately one-mile long race, with another St Nicholas pupil, Thomas Murphy, coming home third.

Grace McGrory of Crackley Hall school was the first girl over the line in 7:46.

Other Crackley Hall finishers: 4, Vianney Dubois (7.22); 7, Ciaran Smith (7:33); 11, Sebastian Dibb (7:47); 30, Sam Warne (9:09); 34, Sophie Rush (9.58).

 The first port of call of a three-week holiday for Kenilworth Runners’ Dave Pettifer was the Chester Half Marathon.

Despite a chest infection in the week leading up to the race (plus the London Marathon and the Silverstone 10k in his legs) Pettifer was happy with his time of 1:35:19, which earned him 428th overall and a superb fourth in the V60 category.