Veteran Harrison getting better with age

Harrison ventured down the M40 to just outside Oxford hoping to repeat her 2001 victory which saw her record a time of 36:45.

Now in the W40 age group, the Hatton-based athlete stopped the clock at 36:05 to finish 22nd overall and well clear of 2011 winner, GB international Wendy Nicholls (Cirencester AC), who clocked 38:02.

It was Harrison’s fastest time for the distance for 30 months, with longer distances having been her main priority recently.

She said: “I was a bit disappointed not to break 36 minutes, but I am still trying to build up my background strength after a injury-hit summer.

“This is a step in the right direction and gives me confidence that I have not lost some of my basic speed.”

Darrell Bellinger from Oxford City AC was the race winner in 31:47.

Cold but sunny and dry conditions greeted competitors for the second Coventry 10k, held on a multiple lap course at the War Memorial Park.

Jon Mettyear was the first Kenilworth Runner to finish, coming home a fine 11th in 41:54.

He was followed by the battle of the Raaths, with Neil (55th in 47:28) coming home one second and one place ahead of Anton.

In the ladies’ race, Claire Goult claimed third place in 46:14 to earn herself her first-ever running trophy and a new PB.

Kenilworth Runners’ Colin Bricher took part in the 48th Wolverton 5 Mile Road Race, held in wet conditions at Willen Lake in Milton Keynes. In his first serious race in 11 months, Bricher ran well to finish 204th and third V65 in a time of 45:35.

The race was won by Anuradua Cooray of Vale of Aylesbury AC in 25:11.

As the region was battered by flood-inducing storms and heavy winds, Tom and Pauline Dable picked a good weekend to make their traditional pilgrimage to the warm and sunny climes of Benidorm to take part in the Benidorm Half Marathon.

With more than 3,000 entrants taking part, Tom ran strongly to finish in 1:51:30 and Pauline had a storming run to claim third place in her age group, clocking 2:03:24.

Kenilworth Runners’ Paul Andrew was the comfortable winner of the second race of the Threshold Winter Series 10k.

With his main rival, team-mate Phil Gould, an unfortunate absentee due to the floods, Andrew was untroubled over the hilly course, winning by more than 90 seconds in 36:33.

The ladies’ race was won by Zoe Chandler of Stratford AC in 41:42.

Four members of Kenilworth Runners headed to Italy to take part in the 29th Florence Marathon.

With over 10,500 entrants, the race is now considered Italy’s number two marathon after Rome and among the 20 most prestigious marathons in the world.

The route is crammed with the landmarks which make Florence such a popular tourist destination and benefits from being predominantly flat.

Sally Hicks was the first Kenilworth Runner home, clocking a highly impressive 4:09:06 to earn her 50th position in her age category.

Joan Mason ran fantastically to clock a chip time of 4:29:58.

This was just a few minutes outside her best set at Amsterdam last year and netted her ninth position in the VF60 age category (6,524th overall).

A few minutes behind Mason was Andreas Ruhnke, who ran well to clock 4:32:51.

Liz Hegan was the fourth Kenilworth Runner to finish, running a fine 4:49:13, earning her 114th position in her age category.