Good turnout for ESM on Sunday 2nd July for the fifth Ickenham 5 road race, already a firm favourite with some club members and a club championship race, reports Annette Galloway. In total 12 members ran, in a field of 261.
The race was a two-course lap starting and finishing in Swakeleys Park. There were some improvements made to the course from the previous year by reversing the route so the small incline became a small decline and cutting the grass on the start and finish area as many runners commented on. The course was mostly on footpaths in residential areas and was well marshalled throughout with some residents out supporting the race. The weather was hotter than participants would have liked but none the less ESM returned some great results with Lynn Wilson leading our women home and winning the W60 category, congratulations to Lynn.
Nick Steel was first home for the club in eighth – one place lower than last year but a bit quicker, so that’s OK! Mark Kencroft ran a PB for the distance just two places behind Nick, and only two seconds behind in terms of his chip time. Kevin Falvey ran a big PB; the only other 5-miler on his power of 10 record is the Perivale 5 at the end of last year, and he was nearly three minutes quicker, so that’s pretty good progress in less than a year with the club. Andy Leung doesn’t run too many 5-milers either, but he equalled his PB set at the Perivale 5 back in 2013.
The overall review of the race was that it was like a village fair: a very friendly and well organised event. The free jelly beans at the end were a winner for me!
Official results here. Thanks to Andy Leung for the photo – though Andy’s in it, so it was probably Laura who took it! The three on the right will be familiar to regulars at Northala Fields parkrun: Alex Revens, Nathan Sutton and Clare Hilton.
ESM results summary (actual finishing positions, but chip times)
Men: 8 Nick Steel 29:33; 10 Mark Kencroft (M40) 29:35; 28 Kevin Falvey 34:35; 41 Andy Leung (M40) 35:53; 87 Iskandar Mohammedi 41:58 (M40); 89 Gary Stringer 42:20 (M50); 93 Martin Wilson 42:52 (M60); 120 Philip Prince 46:42 (M60)
Women: 13 Lynn Wilson (W60) 39:35; 18 Louise Prince 41:51 (W40); 22 Annette Galloway 42:40 (W40); 86 Sughra Mohammedi 54:54