Kenilworth Half Marathon field find it impossible to keep up with Jones

In the men’s race, Jones of Coventry Godiva Harriers opened up an early lead and kept up a strong pace throughout to cross the line more than five minutes clear of his nearest rival in a course record time of 1:08:54.

He was followed by Kenilworth Runners’ Andrew Siggers who also ran a lonely race, finishing in a new personal best time of 1:14:06, exactly three minutes ahead of Paul Little (Droitwich AC), taking the Warwickshire Half Marathon title in the process.

The next Kenilworth Runner home was Richard Steele in 31st, who smashed his half-marathon best by four minutes to finish in 1:24:30. Mick Williams (2nd V55 in 1:29:10) and Simon Corley (1:33:25) completed the host club’s men’s team.

Of the male Spa Striders, Misael Mecias-Pedroso had an excellent run to finish 18th in 1:22:04, with Robert Thompson coming home inside the top 50 with a PB of 1:26:55.

The ladies’ race was a much closer affair with Harrison, who had run to the start line from her home in Hatton, finishing 22 seconds ahead of Eastleigh’s Hannah Howard in 1:20:54.

Harrison, who was tenth overall, also anchored Leamington C&AC to the ladies’ team victory alongside Zara Blower (1:33:06), Angela Chahal (1:36:46) and Faye Barr (1:37:02).

The result wrapped up the senior ladies’ award for Blower ahead of the final race in the series, the Rugby 10.

The third lady home was the evergreen Kate Wright from Stratford AC in 1:23:01.

Kenilworth’s Nardia Poole came home in fifth place in 1:27:16.

The first Spa Striders lady home was Carolyn Wilkinson in 1:28:35 (eighth lady overall) followed by Clare Hinton who achieved a PB of 1:32:35.

Clubmates Jo Kirby (1:35:05) and Helen Wilkinson (1:40:00) made up the remainder of the third-placed ladies’ team.

Jude Baum (1:46:22) won the FV55 category to wrap up the Warwickshire Road Race League series with a race to spare.

Selected results (Spa Striders unless stated, 717 finishers): 1, Ben Jones (Coventry Godiva Harriers, 1.08:54); 2, Andrew Siggers (Kenilworth Runners, 1:14:06); 10, Sue Harrison (Leamington C&AC, 1.20:32); 18, Misael Mecias-Pedroso (1:22:04); 31, Richard Steele (Kenilworth Runners, 1:24:30); 40, Chris Hitchman (C&AC, 1.25:10); 42, Brian Miller (C&AC, 1.25:21); 48, Robert Thompson (1:26:55); 52, Nardia Poole (Kenilworth, 1:27:16); 65, Imogen Peace (Kenilworth, 1:28:26); 70, Carolyn Wilkinson (1:28:35); 73, Michael Williams (Kenilworth, 1:29:10);74, Paul Edwards (1:29:10); 77, Hartwig Busch (1:29:18); 82, Tim Stooks (1:30:22); 89, Steve Roberts (C&AC, 1.31:14); 92, Greg Harris (1:31:43); 99, Paul Caruana (C&AC, 1.32:32); 101, Clare Hinton (1:32:32); 104, Zara Blower (C&AC, 1.33:06); 105, Steve Hundal (C&AC, 1.33:06); 109, Simon Corley (Kenilworth, 1:33:25); 112 Alex Montgomery (C&AC, 1.33:48); 127, Jo Kirby (1:35:05); 133, Tom Gotts (1:35:38); 138, Justin Mallard (1:35:47); 145 Angela Chahal (C&AC, 1.36:46); 148, Faye Barr (C&AC, 1.37:02); 161, Andrew Roach (1:38:33); 166, Rachael Siggers (Kenilworth, 1:39:17); 178, Helen Wilkinson (1:40:00); 181, Ivor Westmore (1:40:43); 184, Susie Stannard (1:40:48); 186, Fiona Ferguson (1:41:05); 197, Rich Sykes (1:41:27); 215, Caroline Whitehouse (1:42:31); 227, Bert Payne (C&AC, 1.43:53); 235, Justine Willis (Kenilworth, 1:44:16); 236, Kate Evans (1:43:39); 243, Pablo Giner (1:44:39); 246, Susan Cox (1:44:41); 247, Patrick Recker (1:44:53); 265, Jude Baum (1:46:22); 314, Andrew Pope (C&AC, 1.49:50); 288, Danielle Mohacsi (Kenilworth, 1:47:59); 323, Graham Roberts (C&AC, 1.50:33); 324, Tracey Murphy (1:50:17); 342, Ellie Coulthard (Kenilworth, 1:51:43); 344, Michalea de la Fosse (Kenilworth, 1:51:50); 397, Ruth Tennant (1:54:16); 464, Barbara Gunter (1:59:36); 495, Richard Bicknell (2:00:35); 496, Jackie Lindsay (2:00:34); 505, Larisa Cojocaru (2:01:54).