Striders’ Edwards canters to fifth at Hook Norton

Spa Striders at the Hook Norton Christmas Canter. Picture submitted

A beautiful, mild winter’s morning was enjoyed by the 17 Striders, with the seven-mile multi-terrain course taking runners across fields and into woodland, with some testing climbs, as to be expected in the Cotswold countryside.

The event also formed part of Striders’ winter series with valuable points at stake.

Edwards ran 46:52 to finish just over a minute behind race winner Paul Jegou (White Horse Harriers).

Fellow Strider Chris McKeown (47:29) had yet another strong performance to take eighth place, with Tom Gotts (52:33) pushing hard to finish 32nd overall out of a field of 240, closely followed by Simon Parsons (53:06) and Dan Stannard (53:27).

Striders’ ladies had equally impressive results, with Carolyn Wilkinson (54:14) battling injury to finish fifth female and second V45.

Fiona Edwards (54:27) and Kate Gadsby (54:33) pushed Wilkinson right to the line for sixth and seventh place, with Gadsby’s determination earning her first V35.

Nick Tawney led home the Leamington C&AC contingent in 51:38 for 25th place.

Selected others (Spa Striders unless stated): 42, Richard Steel (Kenilworth Runners, 53:07); 46, Graham Garlick (Leamington C&AC, 53:43); 56, Rich Sykes (54:35); 60, Caroline Whitehouse (55:10); 71, Andrew Bonjour (57:03); 73, Bethan Gwynn (57:13); 101, Dawn Clark (1:02:09); 106, Lucy Tugwell (1:02:38); 111, Andrew Mackenzie (1:03:43); 128, Anne Hurrell (1:05:20); 132, Daniel Whittington (Leamington C&AC, 1:06:34); 136, Claudine Piper (1:07:01); 185, Lisa Whittington (1:15:22).

Kenilworth Runners’ Neil Smith ran the Wolverhampton & Bilston Tukey Trot 5 mile in 34:59, finishing 68th out of 323 runners.