Grand Prix spring Reports 2021
Fixtures 2021
Round |
Month |
Date and time |
Race |
1 |
February |
01/02/2021 - 28/02/21 |
Two circuits of Chelsfield |
2 |
March |
01/03/2021 - 31/03/21 |
Two circuits of Goddington Park |
3 |
April |
01/04/2021 - 30/04/21 |
Two circuits of Norman Park |
4 |
May |
01/05/2021 - 31/05/21 |
Two circuits of Jubilee Country Park |
RACE REPORTS
Round 1: CHELSFIELD Park 01/02/2021 - 28/02/2021
After a hugely successful Winter GP series, it was straight into the 4-round Spring series with Round 1 held during February at Chelsfield. The condition of this short, but with a tough first drag, course varied between good to soft to very icy or snow-covered, so it was important to choose your moment!
There are some new entrants to the series and some promotions and relegations based on the Winter championship results to further tighten the groups and enable some different faces to take the spoils.
Group 1 (6 runners)
Being the top group, there was no way of promoting Winter champion Kev Howarth further, so instead he now has a 30s handicap to overcome. Demonstrating that members don’t want anything artificial put in the way of good performances, reaction to this news tended to be that it wasn’t fair on him and they would rather others just tried harder! Howarth (09:29 before 30s added) rose to the challenge and ended up 8s quicker than 2nd-placed Andy Tippet (10:07) after his handicap had been added. Mark Griffin (10:17) was 3rd from three promoted runners – Matthew Pond (10:34) Group 3 Winter champion, Stephen Pond (10:47) Group 2 Winter champion and Oliver Hitch (11:08) Group 2’s Winter runner-up.
Group 2 (3 runners)
Just three of Group 2’s runners set times at Chelsfield, with Paul Whelan (11:33) on top as per the form guide as he had finished 3rd in the winter series behind Stephen Pond and Hitch who had both been promoted. Mark Franks (12:00) and Jason Hone (12:10) trailed in his wake.
Group 3 (6 runners)
Jeremy Benson (11:25) set the pace in this group, with all six runners covered by less than a minute and with very comparable times to those set by Group 2. In 2nd place was Carl Inman (11:33) who had claimed 3rd overall in the winter series. David Moore (11:45), formerly of Group 2, was 3rd from Stuart Hatcher (11:48), the promoted Jenny Leng (11:59) and Dave Groom (12:17).
Group 4 (6 runners)
Only one point had separated Jenny Leng from Paul Leng in the winter series but it enough to see Jenny promoted to the group above. Hopefully she will be delighted to see that hubby Paul (11:16) took the honours at Chelsfield in Group 4 with a quicker time than hers! Jeremy Townsend (11:47) has been moved down from Group 3 and was 2nd, from Claudette Shaw (11:53) back in the series after injury. Next up and setting an identical time of 12 minutes dead were newly promoted David Welfare and Chloe Haffenden, with Steve Burnett (12:46) 6th.
Group 5 (9 runners)
A good turnout in this group of nine runners with Scadbury winner Julian Edmonds (11:57) again on fine form to take the honours. Kate Eperon (12:12) was next up from Norman Park victor James Wall (12:19). Paul Strachan (12:27) was 4th from Martin Smith (12:32), up from Group 6, and Mark Burgess (12:36).
Group 6 (7 runners)
The top three from this group having been promoted, winter series 4th-placed Jackie York (12:32) rightly set the pace from Norman Park winner Stephen Robson (12:56) and Trevor Adams (13:13). Having dominated the Group 8 winter series, Alice Neal (13:37) was moved up two groups by the powers-at-be and took 4th at Chelsfield from Group 7 Winter champion Scott Haragan (13:49) and Nigel Hewson (13:55), who spends too much time performing for the camera!
Group 7 (8 runners)
Monica Lungu (12:32) had been promoted two groups following her Group 9 Winter crown but that didn’t stop her having an immediate impact as she took the win by 8s from Andrew Stubbs (12:40) who was also new to the group, having been in Group 6 previously. In 3rd was winter series runner-up Lianne Flynn (12:59) from Rob White (13:12), Ellen Ball (13:26) and Maxine Horsfield (14:32), promoted from Group 8.
Group 8 (11 runners)
All 11 in Group 8 recorded a time at Chelsfield, and Marie Lugar’s first foray into the delights of a GP series brought immediate results, her 13:52 just ousting Norman Park victor Louis Strover (13:54) for the victory. Neil Sutton, formerly of Group 7, and new entrant Vasilis Sakizlis recorded the same time of 14:25 in 3rd overall, from Sally Callaghan (14:41) and another new entrant Philip den Baes (14:47).
Group 9 (9 runners)
It was two runners who had been moved down from Group 8 that topped this group at Chelsfield, Nick Squires (14:33) leading the way from Olivia Senbanjo (15:04). Yolanda Martinez (15:17) was next quickest from a tight pack of Prema Reddy (15:36), John Perks (15:38) and Emma Horan (15:39).
Group 10 (6 runners)
As in Group 9, it was another runner that had been moved down a group that came out on top. This time it was Alison Draper (16:05) who was the beneficiary from Paula Richards (16:18) and Sharon Wroe (16:19) who were separated by just one second. Lou Stocks (16:53) was 4th quickest from Group 11 Winter Champion Barbara Carr (17:13) and Pherenice Worsey-Buck (17:22).
Group 11 (8 runners)
Kathy Strachan was yet another to fully grab the opportunity of being moved down a group, her time of 16:41 putting her quickest ahead of Alexandra Robins (16:54) and Norman Park victor Ann Adams (17:23). Christine Callinan (18:13) was 4th from David Goss (18:23) and Group 12 winter champion Paul Pester (18:38).
Group 12 (7 runners)
Chris Summers (18:33) had won the final round of the winter series and he was again on top at the Spring opener. Sue McAdam (19:01) was 2nd quickest from Anne Dunstan (19:05), formerly of Group 11. Mary Moore (19:37) was 4th from two runners with an identical time of 20:15 – Hannah Harrison and Lin Gillians making her series debut.
Report: Mark Burgess
Round 2 at Goddington Park in March has just finished and hopefully you should get the report a lot quicker than this one! Attention now turns to Norman Park, the first venue to be revisited in these mini-series. Here’s who should be setting the pace based on times set back in November:
Group 1: Kev Howarth (12:31)
Group 2: Paul Kelly (14:52)
Group 3: David Moore (15:09)
Group 4: Jeremy Townsend (15:41)
Group 5: Viral Tanna (16:25)
Group 6: Stephen Robson (17:02)
Group 7: Andrew Stubbs (17:39)
Group 8: Neil Sutton (18:26)
Group 9: Olivia Senbanjo (19:27)
Group 10: Alison Draper (20:39)
Group 11: Kathy Strachan (21:59)
Group 12: Ann Dunstan (23:42)
There are some new entrants to the series and some promotions and relegations based on the Winter championship results to further tighten the groups and enable some different faces to take the spoils.
Group 1 (6 runners)
Being the top group, there was no way of promoting Winter champion Kev Howarth further, so instead he now has a 30s handicap to overcome. Demonstrating that members don’t want anything artificial put in the way of good performances, reaction to this news tended to be that it wasn’t fair on him and they would rather others just tried harder! Howarth (09:29 before 30s added) rose to the challenge and ended up 8s quicker than 2nd-placed Andy Tippet (10:07) after his handicap had been added. Mark Griffin (10:17) was 3rd from three promoted runners – Matthew Pond (10:34) Group 3 Winter champion, Stephen Pond (10:47) Group 2 Winter champion and Oliver Hitch (11:08) Group 2’s Winter runner-up.
Group 2 (3 runners)
Just three of Group 2’s runners set times at Chelsfield, with Paul Whelan (11:33) on top as per the form guide as he had finished 3rd in the winter series behind Stephen Pond and Hitch who had both been promoted. Mark Franks (12:00) and Jason Hone (12:10) trailed in his wake.
Group 3 (6 runners)
Jeremy Benson (11:25) set the pace in this group, with all six runners covered by less than a minute and with very comparable times to those set by Group 2. In 2nd place was Carl Inman (11:33) who had claimed 3rd overall in the winter series. David Moore (11:45), formerly of Group 2, was 3rd from Stuart Hatcher (11:48), the promoted Jenny Leng (11:59) and Dave Groom (12:17).
Group 4 (6 runners)
Only one point had separated Jenny Leng from Paul Leng in the winter series but it enough to see Jenny promoted to the group above. Hopefully she will be delighted to see that hubby Paul (11:16) took the honours at Chelsfield in Group 4 with a quicker time than hers! Jeremy Townsend (11:47) has been moved down from Group 3 and was 2nd, from Claudette Shaw (11:53) back in the series after injury. Next up and setting an identical time of 12 minutes dead were newly promoted David Welfare and Chloe Haffenden, with Steve Burnett (12:46) 6th.
Group 5 (9 runners)
A good turnout in this group of nine runners with Scadbury winner Julian Edmonds (11:57) again on fine form to take the honours. Kate Eperon (12:12) was next up from Norman Park victor James Wall (12:19). Paul Strachan (12:27) was 4th from Martin Smith (12:32), up from Group 6, and Mark Burgess (12:36).
Group 6 (7 runners)
The top three from this group having been promoted, winter series 4th-placed Jackie York (12:32) rightly set the pace from Norman Park winner Stephen Robson (12:56) and Trevor Adams (13:13). Having dominated the Group 8 winter series, Alice Neal (13:37) was moved up two groups by the powers-at-be and took 4th at Chelsfield from Group 7 Winter champion Scott Haragan (13:49) and Nigel Hewson (13:55), who spends too much time performing for the camera!
Group 7 (8 runners)
Monica Lungu (12:32) had been promoted two groups following her Group 9 Winter crown but that didn’t stop her having an immediate impact as she took the win by 8s from Andrew Stubbs (12:40) who was also new to the group, having been in Group 6 previously. In 3rd was winter series runner-up Lianne Flynn (12:59) from Rob White (13:12), Ellen Ball (13:26) and Maxine Horsfield (14:32), promoted from Group 8.
Group 8 (11 runners)
All 11 in Group 8 recorded a time at Chelsfield, and Marie Lugar’s first foray into the delights of a GP series brought immediate results, her 13:52 just ousting Norman Park victor Louis Strover (13:54) for the victory. Neil Sutton, formerly of Group 7, and new entrant Vasilis Sakizlis recorded the same time of 14:25 in 3rd overall, from Sally Callaghan (14:41) and another new entrant Philip den Baes (14:47).
Group 9 (9 runners)
It was two runners who had been moved down from Group 8 that topped this group at Chelsfield, Nick Squires (14:33) leading the way from Olivia Senbanjo (15:04). Yolanda Martinez (15:17) was next quickest from a tight pack of Prema Reddy (15:36), John Perks (15:38) and Emma Horan (15:39).
Group 10 (6 runners)
As in Group 9, it was another runner that had been moved down a group that came out on top. This time it was Alison Draper (16:05) who was the beneficiary from Paula Richards (16:18) and Sharon Wroe (16:19) who were separated by just one second. Lou Stocks (16:53) was 4th quickest from Group 11 Winter Champion Barbara Carr (17:13) and Pherenice Worsey-Buck (17:22).
Group 11 (8 runners)
Kathy Strachan was yet another to fully grab the opportunity of being moved down a group, her time of 16:41 putting her quickest ahead of Alexandra Robins (16:54) and Norman Park victor Ann Adams (17:23). Christine Callinan (18:13) was 4th from David Goss (18:23) and Group 12 winter champion Paul Pester (18:38).
Group 12 (7 runners)
Chris Summers (18:33) had won the final round of the winter series and he was again on top at the Spring opener. Sue McAdam (19:01) was 2nd quickest from Anne Dunstan (19:05), formerly of Group 11. Mary Moore (19:37) was 4th from two runners with an identical time of 20:15 – Hannah Harrison and Lin Gillians making her series debut.
Report: Mark Burgess
Round 2 at Goddington Park in March has just finished and hopefully you should get the report a lot quicker than this one! Attention now turns to Norman Park, the first venue to be revisited in these mini-series. Here’s who should be setting the pace based on times set back in November:
Group 1: Kev Howarth (12:31)
Group 2: Paul Kelly (14:52)
Group 3: David Moore (15:09)
Group 4: Jeremy Townsend (15:41)
Group 5: Viral Tanna (16:25)
Group 6: Stephen Robson (17:02)
Group 7: Andrew Stubbs (17:39)
Group 8: Neil Sutton (18:26)
Group 9: Olivia Senbanjo (19:27)
Group 10: Alison Draper (20:39)
Group 11: Kathy Strachan (21:59)
Group 12: Ann Dunstan (23:42)
Round 2: GODDINGTON PARK 01/03/21 - 31/03/21
Round 2 of the GP Spring Series took place at Goddington Park during March and followed the Orpington parkrun route apart from missing out the usually muddy section around the rugby pitch.
Group 1 (4 runners)
He has been beaten! Following an undefeated winter campaign, Kev Howarth was finally relegated off the top spot, albeit still setting the fastest time before his Spring series handicap of 30s was added. Mark Griffin (10:37) was the man to do it, finishing 14s ahead of Howarth (10:21 + 00:31 = 10:51) on adjusted times. Oliver Hitch (11:23) was 3rd from Andy Tippet (11:35).
Howarth (38 points) may have suffered his first loss but he retains the championship lead from Griffin (36), up from 3rd, Tippet (33), Hitch (29), Matthew Pond (15) and Stephen Pond (14).
Group 2 (3 runners)
It was as you were in Group 2, with the three runners finishing in the same order as they had done at the previous round. Paul Whelan (11:31) was almost a minute quicker than 2nd-placed Mark Franks (12:28) who had a similar advantage over Jason Hone (13:23) in 3rd.
Unsurprisingly, Whelan heads the Group 2 table on 40 points from Franks (36) and Hone (32). Hopefully Emma Crawford, Paul Haylock and Paul Kelly will surface soon and boost the numbers in this group.
Group 3 (6 runners)
Carl Inman (11:39) has always been there or thereabouts in Group 3 since the GP series commenced in November, and at Goddington he finally took his first win. Stuart Hatcher (11:49) also produced his best result in either series in 2nd from David Moore (11:57). Round 1 winner Jeremy Benson (11:58) was 4th from Jenny Leng (12:23) and Dave Groom (12:30).
Inman’s victory lifts him into 1st place in the series on 38 points, with Benson (35) dropping to 2nd. Hatcher (33) is 3rd from Moore (32), Leng (28) and Groom (26).
Group 4 (7 runners)
Numbers were up by one in this group with Chloe Weaver joining the fray, albeit not troubling the top order on this occasion. First round winner Paul Leng (11:58) enjoyed success once more, with Jeremy Townsend (12:14), Claudette Shaw (12:34) and David Welfare (12:40) next up and also equaling their first round results. Chloe Haffenden (12:52) and Steve Burnett (13:14) completed the top six.
Leng’s two victories see him sat at the top of the table on 40 points from Townsend (36) and Shaw (32). Welfare (30), Haffenden (29) and Burnett (26) complete the top six.
Group 5 (8 runners)
It is always difficult to predict who will do well in Group 5 as those who are quick one month are slow the next and vice-versa. Promoted from Group 6 following his Winter series title, Jamie Trillow (12:26) had been slowest at the Chelsfield opener but any concerns he was now in the wrong group were brushed aside at Goddington as he took the victory! Trillow was just one second quicker than Martin Smith (12:27) – another to have been promoted from Group 6. Nat Jacques (12:35) was 3rd from Mark Burgess (12:43), Paul Strachan (12:46) and Chelsfield victor Julian Edmonds (12:56).
Despite only finishing 6th, Edmonds (33 points) retains a slim championship lead over Smith (32), Trillow (30) and Strachan (29). James Wall, Burgess and Jacques are tied for 5th, just one point further back.
Group 6 (7 runners)
Proving he can actually run quickly when he is not leaping into the air, Nigel Hewson (13:56) produced his best performance of the two GP series so far to take the win. Whether he set it on his 60th birthday when helium balloon assisted is unknown. Sam Hickling (13:58) was only two seconds behind and also produced his best performance so far. Group 8 Winter champion Alice Neal (14:04) was 3rd from Stephen Robson (14:05), Scott Haragan (14:15) and Chelsfield winner Jackie York (14:17).
There is now a three-way tie for the lead in this group between York, Hewson and Robson, all on 33 points. Neal (31) is 4th from Hickling (30), with Haragan and Trevor Adams tied for 6th on 28 points.
Group 7 (8 runners)
Andrew Stubbs (12:32) had been moved down to this group from Group 6 and, following coming in as runner-up at round one, he went one better at Goddington to take the victory. Lianne Flynn (13:29) and Ellen Ball (13:35) also improved their positions to take 2nd and 3rd respectively. Chelsfield winner Monica Lungu (14:17) was next quickest from Robert Rolfe (14:20) and Maxine Horsfield (14:27).
Stubbs (38 points) now leads the championship from Lungu (35) and Flynn (34). Ball (30) in 4th heads a trio all on 26 points and tied for 5th – Horsfield, Rob White and Rolfe.
Group 8 (8 runners)
Two wins from two starts for Marie Lugar (14:22) in this group, with Neil Sutton (14:45) and Liz Delamain (14:50) completing the podium. Louis Strover (15:04) was 4th from Philip den Baes (15:13) and Richard Worrall (15:18).
Lugar (40 points) holds a commanding lead in the series from Sutton (34) and Strover (33). Delamain and Vassilis Sakizlis, both with a 3rd and a 7th, are in joint 4th with 28 points from den Baes (27) in 6th.
Group 9 (9 runners)
Only 6th at Chelsfield, Emma Horan (14:34) set the pace at Goddington to take the victory from Olivia Senbanjo (14:50), runner-up both times out. Round 1 winner Nick Squires (15:31) was 3rd from Siggy Robson (15:36), Prema Reddy (15:38) and John Perks (16:07).
Squires and Senbanjo share the Group 9 series lead with 36 points each. Horan (33) is 3rd from Reddy (29), and then it is Perks, Robson and Yolanda Martinez in 5th equal on 27 points.
Group 10 (4 runners)
Alison Draper was another to make it two wins from two, her 15:51 comfortably clear of Lou Stocks (16:10) in 2nd. Sharon Wroe (17:01) was 3rd from Barbara Carr (18:14) in 4th.
Draper (40 points) holds a 7-point advantage over 2nd-placed Lou Stocks (33), with Wroe (32) just one point further back. Carr (29) is 4th from Paula Richards (18) and Pherenice Worsey-Buck (13).
Group 11 (8 runners)
Kathy Strachan won once more in Group 11, her 17:27 too good for Ann Adams (17:57) in 2nd. Christine Callinan (18:10) was 3rd from Alexandra Robins (18:17), Rachel Sutton (18:38) and Jubilee Park winner Liz Squires (18:39).
Strachan (40 points) tops the table in Group 11 from Adams (34), Robins (33), Callinan (31) and David Goss (26) in 5th. Squires and Sutton are inseparable in 6th on 25 points apiece.
Group 12 (6 runners)
Anne Dunstan (19:12) improved two places from Chelsfield to take the victory, with round 1 winner Chris Summers (19:20) slipping a place to 2nd. Winter series runner-up Hannah Harrison (20:35) was 3rd from Mary Moore (20:36), Sue McAdam (20:41) and Auriol Hewson (23:18).
Chris Summers (38 points) retains his championship lead, while Dunstan (36) and McAdam (32) swop places behind him. Harrison and Moore are tied for 4th on 30 points from Hewson (25) in 6th.
Report: Mark Burgess
Photos: Mostly Kev Howarth
Round 3 at Norman Park is about to finish, with the championship finale set to kick off at Poo Alley on May 1st!
Group 1 (4 runners)
He has been beaten! Following an undefeated winter campaign, Kev Howarth was finally relegated off the top spot, albeit still setting the fastest time before his Spring series handicap of 30s was added. Mark Griffin (10:37) was the man to do it, finishing 14s ahead of Howarth (10:21 + 00:31 = 10:51) on adjusted times. Oliver Hitch (11:23) was 3rd from Andy Tippet (11:35).
Howarth (38 points) may have suffered his first loss but he retains the championship lead from Griffin (36), up from 3rd, Tippet (33), Hitch (29), Matthew Pond (15) and Stephen Pond (14).
Group 2 (3 runners)
It was as you were in Group 2, with the three runners finishing in the same order as they had done at the previous round. Paul Whelan (11:31) was almost a minute quicker than 2nd-placed Mark Franks (12:28) who had a similar advantage over Jason Hone (13:23) in 3rd.
Unsurprisingly, Whelan heads the Group 2 table on 40 points from Franks (36) and Hone (32). Hopefully Emma Crawford, Paul Haylock and Paul Kelly will surface soon and boost the numbers in this group.
Group 3 (6 runners)
Carl Inman (11:39) has always been there or thereabouts in Group 3 since the GP series commenced in November, and at Goddington he finally took his first win. Stuart Hatcher (11:49) also produced his best result in either series in 2nd from David Moore (11:57). Round 1 winner Jeremy Benson (11:58) was 4th from Jenny Leng (12:23) and Dave Groom (12:30).
Inman’s victory lifts him into 1st place in the series on 38 points, with Benson (35) dropping to 2nd. Hatcher (33) is 3rd from Moore (32), Leng (28) and Groom (26).
Group 4 (7 runners)
Numbers were up by one in this group with Chloe Weaver joining the fray, albeit not troubling the top order on this occasion. First round winner Paul Leng (11:58) enjoyed success once more, with Jeremy Townsend (12:14), Claudette Shaw (12:34) and David Welfare (12:40) next up and also equaling their first round results. Chloe Haffenden (12:52) and Steve Burnett (13:14) completed the top six.
Leng’s two victories see him sat at the top of the table on 40 points from Townsend (36) and Shaw (32). Welfare (30), Haffenden (29) and Burnett (26) complete the top six.
Group 5 (8 runners)
It is always difficult to predict who will do well in Group 5 as those who are quick one month are slow the next and vice-versa. Promoted from Group 6 following his Winter series title, Jamie Trillow (12:26) had been slowest at the Chelsfield opener but any concerns he was now in the wrong group were brushed aside at Goddington as he took the victory! Trillow was just one second quicker than Martin Smith (12:27) – another to have been promoted from Group 6. Nat Jacques (12:35) was 3rd from Mark Burgess (12:43), Paul Strachan (12:46) and Chelsfield victor Julian Edmonds (12:56).
Despite only finishing 6th, Edmonds (33 points) retains a slim championship lead over Smith (32), Trillow (30) and Strachan (29). James Wall, Burgess and Jacques are tied for 5th, just one point further back.
Group 6 (7 runners)
Proving he can actually run quickly when he is not leaping into the air, Nigel Hewson (13:56) produced his best performance of the two GP series so far to take the win. Whether he set it on his 60th birthday when helium balloon assisted is unknown. Sam Hickling (13:58) was only two seconds behind and also produced his best performance so far. Group 8 Winter champion Alice Neal (14:04) was 3rd from Stephen Robson (14:05), Scott Haragan (14:15) and Chelsfield winner Jackie York (14:17).
There is now a three-way tie for the lead in this group between York, Hewson and Robson, all on 33 points. Neal (31) is 4th from Hickling (30), with Haragan and Trevor Adams tied for 6th on 28 points.
Group 7 (8 runners)
Andrew Stubbs (12:32) had been moved down to this group from Group 6 and, following coming in as runner-up at round one, he went one better at Goddington to take the victory. Lianne Flynn (13:29) and Ellen Ball (13:35) also improved their positions to take 2nd and 3rd respectively. Chelsfield winner Monica Lungu (14:17) was next quickest from Robert Rolfe (14:20) and Maxine Horsfield (14:27).
Stubbs (38 points) now leads the championship from Lungu (35) and Flynn (34). Ball (30) in 4th heads a trio all on 26 points and tied for 5th – Horsfield, Rob White and Rolfe.
Group 8 (8 runners)
Two wins from two starts for Marie Lugar (14:22) in this group, with Neil Sutton (14:45) and Liz Delamain (14:50) completing the podium. Louis Strover (15:04) was 4th from Philip den Baes (15:13) and Richard Worrall (15:18).
Lugar (40 points) holds a commanding lead in the series from Sutton (34) and Strover (33). Delamain and Vassilis Sakizlis, both with a 3rd and a 7th, are in joint 4th with 28 points from den Baes (27) in 6th.
Group 9 (9 runners)
Only 6th at Chelsfield, Emma Horan (14:34) set the pace at Goddington to take the victory from Olivia Senbanjo (14:50), runner-up both times out. Round 1 winner Nick Squires (15:31) was 3rd from Siggy Robson (15:36), Prema Reddy (15:38) and John Perks (16:07).
Squires and Senbanjo share the Group 9 series lead with 36 points each. Horan (33) is 3rd from Reddy (29), and then it is Perks, Robson and Yolanda Martinez in 5th equal on 27 points.
Group 10 (4 runners)
Alison Draper was another to make it two wins from two, her 15:51 comfortably clear of Lou Stocks (16:10) in 2nd. Sharon Wroe (17:01) was 3rd from Barbara Carr (18:14) in 4th.
Draper (40 points) holds a 7-point advantage over 2nd-placed Lou Stocks (33), with Wroe (32) just one point further back. Carr (29) is 4th from Paula Richards (18) and Pherenice Worsey-Buck (13).
Group 11 (8 runners)
Kathy Strachan won once more in Group 11, her 17:27 too good for Ann Adams (17:57) in 2nd. Christine Callinan (18:10) was 3rd from Alexandra Robins (18:17), Rachel Sutton (18:38) and Jubilee Park winner Liz Squires (18:39).
Strachan (40 points) tops the table in Group 11 from Adams (34), Robins (33), Callinan (31) and David Goss (26) in 5th. Squires and Sutton are inseparable in 6th on 25 points apiece.
Group 12 (6 runners)
Anne Dunstan (19:12) improved two places from Chelsfield to take the victory, with round 1 winner Chris Summers (19:20) slipping a place to 2nd. Winter series runner-up Hannah Harrison (20:35) was 3rd from Mary Moore (20:36), Sue McAdam (20:41) and Auriol Hewson (23:18).
Chris Summers (38 points) retains his championship lead, while Dunstan (36) and McAdam (32) swop places behind him. Harrison and Moore are tied for 4th on 30 points from Hewson (25) in 6th.
Report: Mark Burgess
Photos: Mostly Kev Howarth
Round 3 at Norman Park is about to finish, with the championship finale set to kick off at Poo Alley on May 1st!
Round 3: NORMAN PARK 01/04/21 - 30/04/21
As we near the end of the Spring GP series, it was a return to Norman Park in April for round 3 of 4 – the venue that had hosted the first round of the Winter series back in November.
Group 1 (2 runners)
Just the two recorded a time this month as numbers have dropped off from the six who contested the Chelsfield opener. Missing on this occasion, both due to injuries, were series leader Kev Howarth and 3rd-placed Andy Tippet. Goddington victor Mark Griffin (13:47) was comfortably quicker than Oliver Hitch (15:05) to take his second win of the campaign.
Griffin (56 points) and Hitch (47) now head the series and, as all four rounds count, just have to record a time at Jubilee Park’s to secure the top two places. Howarth (38) and Tippet (33) drop to 3rd and 4th respectively, with Matthew Pond (15) and Stephen Pond (14) completing the top six having only contested the series opener.
Group 2 (3 runners)
It was like Groundhog Day again in this group as yet again there were just the three competitors and, for the third round running, they finished in the same order! Paul Whelan (15:05) was again the class act, albeit 6s slower than he had managed in November, from Mark Franks (15:12) and Jason Hone (15:48).
Whelan heads the table on a maximum 60 points from Franks (54) and Hone (48). As the only three in this group to have taken part, they are guaranteed to take the top three places and, as long as they all record a time at Jubilee Park, will finish in that order.
Group 3 (6 runners)
This group produced more excitement than the top two groups, with Carl Inman and David Moore recording an identical class-topping time of 15:05 to share the victory and each claim 20 points. Both had improved their times since November – Moore by 4s and Inman by 15s. Stuart Hatcher (15:09) was only 4s slower in 3rd, from Jeremy Benson (15:18), Dave Groom (15:51) and Jenny Leng (16:16).
Inman tops the table on 58 points and should be crowned champion unless he has a bit of a shocker at the final round. Ready to pounce if that were to happen are Moore (52), Benson (50) and Hatcher (49), with Leng (41) and Groom (40) next up.
Group 4 (5 runners)
Jeremy Townsend (15:37) came good at this round to take his first GP series victory having placed 2nd at the previous two rounds. Steve Burnett (15:47) had a great round too, improving to 2nd following two 6th places. David Welfare (16:12) was 3rd from Chloe Haffenden (16:28) and Paul Leng (17:03) – the series leader having an off day after winning the first two rounds.
It’s tight at the top of the championship table with just two points separating Townsend (56) and Leng (54). Victory for either at the last round would see them crowned champion. Welfare (46) holds a slim advantage in 3rd overall over Haffenden and Burnett tied on 44 points, and then it is Claudette Shaw (32) in 6th.
Group 5 (8 runners)
There was another new name at the top in the hotly contested Group 5, with Paul Strachan improving by almost 30s on his November time to take the win with a 16:05. James Wall (16:08) was only 3s slower in 2nd while Julian Edmonds (16:12), Martin Smith (16:16) and Nat Jacques (16:20) were also not far away. Goddington victor Jamie Trillow (16:54) was 6th.
The top six are separated by just 7 points going into the final round. Strachan’s timely win ties him at the top of the table on 49 points with Chelsfield victor Edmonds. Smith (47), Wall (46), Trillow (43) and Jacques (42) complete the top half dozen.
Group 6 (5 runners)
As in Group 5, we had our third different winner in as many rounds in this group. Alice Neal (17:32) improved by almost 2 minutes over her time in November to take the win and thrust herself into title contention. Scott Haragan (17:56) in 2nd had his best result so far, from Nigel Hewson (18:13) and Jackie York (18:15) who had each won one of the previous rounds. Sam Hickling (18:41) in 5th was the only other Group 5 to contest the Norman Park round.
Neal (51) has leapt into the championship lead and could end up adding the Group 6 Spring series to the Group 8 Winter title she has already bagged. Hewson (49) and York (48) are close enough to believe that they can deny her, while Haragan (46), Hickling (44) and Stephen Robson (33) are next up.
Group 7 (8 runners)
Andrew Stubbs (16:01) is another to have improved massively since November, his time of 16:01 over a minute and a half quicker than his 17:39 in the autumn, and over a minute quicker than his nearest rival at Norman Park, Ellen Ball (17:04). Ball was herself almost over a minute quicker than 3rd-fastest Lianne Flynn (18:01). Chelsfield winner Monica Lungu (18:15) was 4th from Maxine Horsfield (18:24) and Robert Rolfe (18:41).
Championship leader Stubbs (58 points) could mathematically not win the title but it would need his performances to fall off a cliff for it to happen. Flynn and Lungu are tied on 50 points apiece and are realistically battling for 2nd overall, with Ball (48) also in the mix. Horsfield (40) and Rolfe (39) complete the top six.
Group 8 (7 runners)
Third at Round 1, 2nd at Round 2 and a winner at Norman Park, Neil Sutton (18:10) has improved at every round and is now in contention for the title. Louis Strover (18:14) was only 3s slower in 2nd to add to his runner-up spot at the opening round. Winner of the first two rounds, Marie Lugar (18:32) was 3rd from Richard Worrall (19:09), his best result so far, Vassilis Sakizlis (19:33) and Philip den Baes (19:36).
Lugar’s six-point advantage after two rounds has been cut down to just two, with Lugar on 56 points and Sutton on 54, and Strover (51) not far off in 3rd. Sakizlis (42) is 4th from Liz Delamain and den Baes tied in 5th on 40 points.
Group 9 (8 runners)
A second victory in a row for Emma Horan (18:47), another to go substantially quicker at Norman Park in 2021 compared to last year. Chelsfield winner Nick Squires (19:27) was 2nd from Olivia Senbanjo (19:39), the two of them sharing the series lead coming into this round. Siggy Robson (19:54) was 4th for the second round in a row, with Yolanda Martinez (20:25) 5th and John Perks (21:04) 6th.
The top three are separated by just two points with Squires (54) holding the advantage over Horan (53) and Senbanjo (52) going into the final round. Robson (42), Martinez (41) and Perks (39) are almost as tight in their battle for 4th place.
Group 10 (4 runners)
Three wins from three for Alison Draper (20:11) to cement her lead at the top of the championship table. Sharon Wroe (20:48) took 2nd, her best result so far, from Lou Stocks (21:45) and Barbara Carr (23:07).
Barring a major disaster, Draper (60 points) should soon be picking up the Group 10 winner’s trophy, while the real battle takes place for the runner-up spot between Wroe (50) and Stocks (49). Carr (44) in 4th is well clear of Paula Richards (18) and Pherenice Worsey-Buck (13).
Group 11 (8 runners)
Alexandra Robins recorded her first victory In Group 11, her 22:20 too good for Ann Adams and Christine Callinan who recorded an identical time of 22:49. Championship leader Kathy Strachan (22:52) was only 3s slower, with Liz Squires (23:42) and Rachel Sutton (24:09) next quickest.
Strachan retains her championship lead, but her advantage is down to just two points over 2nd-placed Robins and three over 3rd-placed Adams (52). Callinan (49) is 4th from Squires (39) and David Goss and Sutton tied in 6th on 38 points.
Group 12 (6 runners)
Six competitors in this class and they finished in exactly the same order as they had at the previous round! So, a second victory in a row for Anne Dunstan (23:15) from Chelsfield winner Chris Summers (26:23), Hannah Harrison (27:07), Mary Moore (27:58), Sue McAdam (28:13) and Auriol Hewson (29:06).
Dunstan and Summers are tied on 56 points apiece going into the final round, with Summers hoping that the 3-minute advantage she had over him at Norman Park was a one-off and that the 8s difference at the previous round is more indicative of their respective abilities. Harrison and McAdam are similarly tied together in 3rd on 46 points, with Moore (45) just one point behind and Hewson (38) 6th.
Report: Mark Burgess
Photos: Kev Howarth & Carl Inman
The final round at Jubilee Park only has a couple of weeks left to run so it won’t be long before we know who will be crowned our Spring champions!
Group 1 (2 runners)
Just the two recorded a time this month as numbers have dropped off from the six who contested the Chelsfield opener. Missing on this occasion, both due to injuries, were series leader Kev Howarth and 3rd-placed Andy Tippet. Goddington victor Mark Griffin (13:47) was comfortably quicker than Oliver Hitch (15:05) to take his second win of the campaign.
Griffin (56 points) and Hitch (47) now head the series and, as all four rounds count, just have to record a time at Jubilee Park’s to secure the top two places. Howarth (38) and Tippet (33) drop to 3rd and 4th respectively, with Matthew Pond (15) and Stephen Pond (14) completing the top six having only contested the series opener.
Group 2 (3 runners)
It was like Groundhog Day again in this group as yet again there were just the three competitors and, for the third round running, they finished in the same order! Paul Whelan (15:05) was again the class act, albeit 6s slower than he had managed in November, from Mark Franks (15:12) and Jason Hone (15:48).
Whelan heads the table on a maximum 60 points from Franks (54) and Hone (48). As the only three in this group to have taken part, they are guaranteed to take the top three places and, as long as they all record a time at Jubilee Park, will finish in that order.
Group 3 (6 runners)
This group produced more excitement than the top two groups, with Carl Inman and David Moore recording an identical class-topping time of 15:05 to share the victory and each claim 20 points. Both had improved their times since November – Moore by 4s and Inman by 15s. Stuart Hatcher (15:09) was only 4s slower in 3rd, from Jeremy Benson (15:18), Dave Groom (15:51) and Jenny Leng (16:16).
Inman tops the table on 58 points and should be crowned champion unless he has a bit of a shocker at the final round. Ready to pounce if that were to happen are Moore (52), Benson (50) and Hatcher (49), with Leng (41) and Groom (40) next up.
Group 4 (5 runners)
Jeremy Townsend (15:37) came good at this round to take his first GP series victory having placed 2nd at the previous two rounds. Steve Burnett (15:47) had a great round too, improving to 2nd following two 6th places. David Welfare (16:12) was 3rd from Chloe Haffenden (16:28) and Paul Leng (17:03) – the series leader having an off day after winning the first two rounds.
It’s tight at the top of the championship table with just two points separating Townsend (56) and Leng (54). Victory for either at the last round would see them crowned champion. Welfare (46) holds a slim advantage in 3rd overall over Haffenden and Burnett tied on 44 points, and then it is Claudette Shaw (32) in 6th.
Group 5 (8 runners)
There was another new name at the top in the hotly contested Group 5, with Paul Strachan improving by almost 30s on his November time to take the win with a 16:05. James Wall (16:08) was only 3s slower in 2nd while Julian Edmonds (16:12), Martin Smith (16:16) and Nat Jacques (16:20) were also not far away. Goddington victor Jamie Trillow (16:54) was 6th.
The top six are separated by just 7 points going into the final round. Strachan’s timely win ties him at the top of the table on 49 points with Chelsfield victor Edmonds. Smith (47), Wall (46), Trillow (43) and Jacques (42) complete the top half dozen.
Group 6 (5 runners)
As in Group 5, we had our third different winner in as many rounds in this group. Alice Neal (17:32) improved by almost 2 minutes over her time in November to take the win and thrust herself into title contention. Scott Haragan (17:56) in 2nd had his best result so far, from Nigel Hewson (18:13) and Jackie York (18:15) who had each won one of the previous rounds. Sam Hickling (18:41) in 5th was the only other Group 5 to contest the Norman Park round.
Neal (51) has leapt into the championship lead and could end up adding the Group 6 Spring series to the Group 8 Winter title she has already bagged. Hewson (49) and York (48) are close enough to believe that they can deny her, while Haragan (46), Hickling (44) and Stephen Robson (33) are next up.
Group 7 (8 runners)
Andrew Stubbs (16:01) is another to have improved massively since November, his time of 16:01 over a minute and a half quicker than his 17:39 in the autumn, and over a minute quicker than his nearest rival at Norman Park, Ellen Ball (17:04). Ball was herself almost over a minute quicker than 3rd-fastest Lianne Flynn (18:01). Chelsfield winner Monica Lungu (18:15) was 4th from Maxine Horsfield (18:24) and Robert Rolfe (18:41).
Championship leader Stubbs (58 points) could mathematically not win the title but it would need his performances to fall off a cliff for it to happen. Flynn and Lungu are tied on 50 points apiece and are realistically battling for 2nd overall, with Ball (48) also in the mix. Horsfield (40) and Rolfe (39) complete the top six.
Group 8 (7 runners)
Third at Round 1, 2nd at Round 2 and a winner at Norman Park, Neil Sutton (18:10) has improved at every round and is now in contention for the title. Louis Strover (18:14) was only 3s slower in 2nd to add to his runner-up spot at the opening round. Winner of the first two rounds, Marie Lugar (18:32) was 3rd from Richard Worrall (19:09), his best result so far, Vassilis Sakizlis (19:33) and Philip den Baes (19:36).
Lugar’s six-point advantage after two rounds has been cut down to just two, with Lugar on 56 points and Sutton on 54, and Strover (51) not far off in 3rd. Sakizlis (42) is 4th from Liz Delamain and den Baes tied in 5th on 40 points.
Group 9 (8 runners)
A second victory in a row for Emma Horan (18:47), another to go substantially quicker at Norman Park in 2021 compared to last year. Chelsfield winner Nick Squires (19:27) was 2nd from Olivia Senbanjo (19:39), the two of them sharing the series lead coming into this round. Siggy Robson (19:54) was 4th for the second round in a row, with Yolanda Martinez (20:25) 5th and John Perks (21:04) 6th.
The top three are separated by just two points with Squires (54) holding the advantage over Horan (53) and Senbanjo (52) going into the final round. Robson (42), Martinez (41) and Perks (39) are almost as tight in their battle for 4th place.
Group 10 (4 runners)
Three wins from three for Alison Draper (20:11) to cement her lead at the top of the championship table. Sharon Wroe (20:48) took 2nd, her best result so far, from Lou Stocks (21:45) and Barbara Carr (23:07).
Barring a major disaster, Draper (60 points) should soon be picking up the Group 10 winner’s trophy, while the real battle takes place for the runner-up spot between Wroe (50) and Stocks (49). Carr (44) in 4th is well clear of Paula Richards (18) and Pherenice Worsey-Buck (13).
Group 11 (8 runners)
Alexandra Robins recorded her first victory In Group 11, her 22:20 too good for Ann Adams and Christine Callinan who recorded an identical time of 22:49. Championship leader Kathy Strachan (22:52) was only 3s slower, with Liz Squires (23:42) and Rachel Sutton (24:09) next quickest.
Strachan retains her championship lead, but her advantage is down to just two points over 2nd-placed Robins and three over 3rd-placed Adams (52). Callinan (49) is 4th from Squires (39) and David Goss and Sutton tied in 6th on 38 points.
Group 12 (6 runners)
Six competitors in this class and they finished in exactly the same order as they had at the previous round! So, a second victory in a row for Anne Dunstan (23:15) from Chelsfield winner Chris Summers (26:23), Hannah Harrison (27:07), Mary Moore (27:58), Sue McAdam (28:13) and Auriol Hewson (29:06).
Dunstan and Summers are tied on 56 points apiece going into the final round, with Summers hoping that the 3-minute advantage she had over him at Norman Park was a one-off and that the 8s difference at the previous round is more indicative of their respective abilities. Harrison and McAdam are similarly tied together in 3rd on 46 points, with Moore (45) just one point behind and Hewson (38) 6th.
Report: Mark Burgess
Photos: Kev Howarth & Carl Inman
The final round at Jubilee Park only has a couple of weeks left to run so it won’t be long before we know who will be crowned our Spring champions!
Round 4: Jubilee Country PARK 01/05/21 - 30/05/21
The final round of the Spring GP series was held at Jubilee Park during the month of May. The two-lap course was a different one to that used during the Winter series but was equally hard to navigate correctly so there were plenty of tales of runners taking wrong turns!
With every round counting, all the group titles were up for grabs, although for some just turning up would be enough to secure the top spot. A number of runners tied for the top positions and, with no tie-breaks in operation, will each be rewarded with their own trophy at the awards ceremony.
Group 1 (3 runners)
Winter champion Kev Howarth was back having not set a time at the previous round, but, with all rounds to count and the top two in attendance, he would be out of contention for the series win. Mark Griffin (17:45) has been the in-form runner in this group since his win at Goddington Park in March and Jubilee Park would be no different as he took his third consecutive victory. Howarth (18:04 + 30s handicap) was next quickest from Oliver Hitch (18:48) – the only other runner in this group apart from Griffin to post a time at each round.
Griffin (76 points) is crowned the Group 1 champion from Hitch (63), Howarth (56), Andy Tippet (33), Matthew Pond (15) and Stephen Pond (14).
Group 2 (3 runners)
Only 3 runners have contested this group that has been dominated by Paul Whelan. With three wins already under his belt, Whelan could afford to take it easy at the final round and secure the title, and that’s what he did – perhaps trying to disguise his achievements and avoid an automatic promotion into Group 1. Nice try! Jason Hone (20:09) was comfortably quickest at Jubilee Park, 47s quicker than Mark Franks (20:56) who in turn was 9s clear of Whelan (21:05).
No surprises in the championship with Whelan’s three wins and a 3rd place giving him 76 points and the title. Franks’ perfect set of four 2nd places saw him seal the series runner-up spot with 72 points from Hone (68).
Group 3 (5 runners)
Carl Inman led this group by 6 points coming into the final round and would be crowned champion unless he didn’t register a time or suffered a shocker. David Moore was pushing Inman the closest in the championship and did all he could do to oust him by setting the fastest time (20:50) to take the win and 20 valuable points. Dave Groom (20:53) was 2nd quickest, his best result of the series, from Chelsfield victor Jeremy Benson (20:54), just one second slower. Inman (20:58) could only manage 4th, with Jenny Leng (21:50) 5th.
Fourth place was just enough for Inman (73 points) to take the class honours by a solitary point from Moore (72). Benson (66) claimed the final podium place from Groom (58), Leng (55) and Stuart Hatcher (49).
Group 4 (5 runners)
It was even tighter in this group with just two points separating Jeremy Townsend and Paul Leng at the top of the table. A win for either of them would be enough to clinch the title. Townsend was the runner in form having won the previous round at Norman Park and he was not to be denied at Jubilee Park, his 20:21 too good for Leng (20:46) – both setting better times than all the supposedly quicker Group 3s. David Welfare (21:04) was next up in 3rd and, crucially for him, faster than Chloe Haffenden (21:23) and Steve Burnett (21:38), his rivals for the final spot on the championship podium.
Townsend (76 points) takes the Group 4 title with two wins and two 2nd places from Leng (72) – two wins, a 2nd and a 5th. Welfare (62) secures 3rd spot with his string of 3rd and 4th places from Haffenden (59), Burnett (58) and Claudette Shaw (32).
Group 5 (7 runners)
This group has been unpredictable throughout with round winners one week then performing less well the next, and vice versa. As a result, the top six were separated by just 7 points going into the final round with all to play for. Martin Smith (20:45) was the fourth different winner in as many rounds, just one second quicker than James Wall (20:46). They were comfortably clear of Julian Edmonds (21:23) in 3rd, Paul Strachan (21:28) 4th and Mark Burgess (21:59) and Nat Jacques, just one second apart in 5th and 6th.
Smith had only been in championship 3rd coming into the final round, but his timely victory was enough to see him crowned champion on 67 points from a crowded podium of Edmonds (65) in 2nd, and Wall and Strachan sharing 3rd with 64 points each. Jamie Trillow and Jacques finished joint 5th on 55 points.
Group 6 (4 runners)
Group 6 was another with an uncertain series outcome as Alice Neal (51 points) held a slender points advantage over Nigel Hewson (49), Jackie York (48), Scott Haragan (46) and Sam Hickling (44) coming into the final round. Haragan (23:06) took his first victory of the series to make it 4 different winners from the 4 rounds. Hewson (23:35) was 2nd quickest from York (23:49) and Neal (24:29).
Once these positions were plugged into Excel, it was Hewson (67) who clinched the title by just one point from Neal and Haragan in joint 2nd on 66 points and York only 2 points further back in 4th. Injured for the last round, Hickling (44) was 5th from Stephen Robson (33) 6th.
Group 7 (6 runners)
Ellen Ball (21:47) has improved at every round, a 5th at the opener followed by a 3rd, a 2nd and, yes you guessed it, a win. She left the rest of the group trailing at Jubilee Park, her time over 2 minutes quicker than that of 2nd-placed Monica Lungu (23:49). Lianne Flynn (24:17), Maxine Horsfield (25:11), Rob White (25:14) and Laura Finch (26:46) completed the top six.
Championship leader Andrew Stubbs (58 points) had been well clear in the title race and would have been assured of the title had he set a time. However, Stubbs was injured, and the spoils would be shared elsewhere for Ball and Lungu both notched up 68 points and will each receive a winner’s trophy. Flynn (66) takes 3rd with Stubbs (58) dropping out of the podium places to 4th. Horsfield (55) and White (52) complete the top six.
Group 8 (7 runners)
Just 5 points separated the top three coming into the final round, with Marie Lugar (56 points), Neil Sutton (54) and Louis Strover (51) all in the frame for the title. Strover (24:10) set the Jubilee Park pace, with Philip den Baes (24:44) and Richard Worrall (24:58) having their best results of the campaign to take 2nd and 3rd respectively. Lugar (25:26) was 4th from Vassilis Sakizlis (25:37) with Sutton (26:46) down in 6th.
Strover’s timely win combined with his rivals having their worst day at the office means he shares the championship win with Lugar, both having scored 71 points. Sutton (67) retains 3rd overall from den Baes (58), Sakizlis (56) and Worrall (54).
Group 9 (7 runners)
This was another tight group with Nick Squires (54) just one point ahead of Emma Horan (53) who in turn was also only one point clear of Olivia Senbanjo (52). After an indifferent first round Horan has been the class Group 9 act and so it proved once more at Jubilee Park as she took her third win in a row with a 24:18. Squires (25:38) was 2nd from Yolanda Martinez (26:36), John Perks (27:03), with his best result of this campaign, Senbanjo (27:39) and Terry Stocks (27:41).
The extra two points for a win over a 2nd place was crucial in this group, with Horan’s win enough to clinch the title by just one point, her 73 points topping Squires’ 72. Senbanjo (66) joins them on the podium from Martinez (57), Perks (54) and Stocks (48).
Group 10 (4 runners)
Alison Draper already had one hand on the championship trophy having won all the earlier rounds. Sharon Wroe was her nearest rival, but a 10 point gap would only be closed if Draper didn’t contest the final round. Wroe (26:34) did what she could and took a comfortable win, but, unfortunately for her, the runner with the 2nd best time was Draper (27:33). Lou Stocks (29:05) and Barbara Carr (31:47) were the other Group 10s to record a time.
With three wins and a 2nd place, Draper (78) deservedly takes the title having achieved the highest points score across all the groups. Wroe (70) takes 2nd and Stocks (65) 3rd. Carr (59), Paula Richards (18) and Pherenice Worsey-Buck (13) complete the top six.
Group 11 (6 runners)
Just a 2-point advantage for series leader Kathy Strachan over Alexandra Robins going into the final round and they were close to each other at Jubilee Park too with just 3 seconds separating them – Strachan (29:37), Robins (29:40). Christine Callinan (30:38) was 3rd quickest from Ann Adams (31:07), Liz Squires (31:23) and David Goss (32:14).
Strachan’s third win from four rounds gave her 75 points and the championship title. Robins (71) and Adams (67) join her on the podium, from Callinan (65), Squires (53) and Goss (51).
Group 12 (4 runners)
This class was down on numbers but the joint championship leaders, Anne Dunstan and Chris Summers, both set times in their efforts to secure the title. Dunstan had won the second and third rounds, but it was Round 1 victor Summers who triumphed again at the last round, his 31:59 just 11 seconds quicker than Dunstan’s 32:10. Mary Moore (37:01) was next up from Auriol Hewson (39:38).
Summers’ two wins and two 2nd places just betters Dunstan’s two wins, a 2nd and 3rd so he takes the title – 76 points to 74. Hannah Harrison and Sue McAdam were tied in 3rd prior to this round but did not take part, leaving the door open for Moore (61) to grab the final spot on the podium. Hewson (53) takes 4th with Harrison and McAdam joint 5th on 46 points.
Report: Mark Burgess
So, it’s all over. The Winter and Spring GP mini-series have kept many of us sane and occupied during these difficult times. A big thanks to Richard Dunstan for organising these great competitions, and to Sonia Chou for sorting out all the times and scores and for putting them in a format that even this writer can understand! Congratulations to the champions and indeed everyone that has participated and made it such a success.
With every round counting, all the group titles were up for grabs, although for some just turning up would be enough to secure the top spot. A number of runners tied for the top positions and, with no tie-breaks in operation, will each be rewarded with their own trophy at the awards ceremony.
Group 1 (3 runners)
Winter champion Kev Howarth was back having not set a time at the previous round, but, with all rounds to count and the top two in attendance, he would be out of contention for the series win. Mark Griffin (17:45) has been the in-form runner in this group since his win at Goddington Park in March and Jubilee Park would be no different as he took his third consecutive victory. Howarth (18:04 + 30s handicap) was next quickest from Oliver Hitch (18:48) – the only other runner in this group apart from Griffin to post a time at each round.
Griffin (76 points) is crowned the Group 1 champion from Hitch (63), Howarth (56), Andy Tippet (33), Matthew Pond (15) and Stephen Pond (14).
Group 2 (3 runners)
Only 3 runners have contested this group that has been dominated by Paul Whelan. With three wins already under his belt, Whelan could afford to take it easy at the final round and secure the title, and that’s what he did – perhaps trying to disguise his achievements and avoid an automatic promotion into Group 1. Nice try! Jason Hone (20:09) was comfortably quickest at Jubilee Park, 47s quicker than Mark Franks (20:56) who in turn was 9s clear of Whelan (21:05).
No surprises in the championship with Whelan’s three wins and a 3rd place giving him 76 points and the title. Franks’ perfect set of four 2nd places saw him seal the series runner-up spot with 72 points from Hone (68).
Group 3 (5 runners)
Carl Inman led this group by 6 points coming into the final round and would be crowned champion unless he didn’t register a time or suffered a shocker. David Moore was pushing Inman the closest in the championship and did all he could do to oust him by setting the fastest time (20:50) to take the win and 20 valuable points. Dave Groom (20:53) was 2nd quickest, his best result of the series, from Chelsfield victor Jeremy Benson (20:54), just one second slower. Inman (20:58) could only manage 4th, with Jenny Leng (21:50) 5th.
Fourth place was just enough for Inman (73 points) to take the class honours by a solitary point from Moore (72). Benson (66) claimed the final podium place from Groom (58), Leng (55) and Stuart Hatcher (49).
Group 4 (5 runners)
It was even tighter in this group with just two points separating Jeremy Townsend and Paul Leng at the top of the table. A win for either of them would be enough to clinch the title. Townsend was the runner in form having won the previous round at Norman Park and he was not to be denied at Jubilee Park, his 20:21 too good for Leng (20:46) – both setting better times than all the supposedly quicker Group 3s. David Welfare (21:04) was next up in 3rd and, crucially for him, faster than Chloe Haffenden (21:23) and Steve Burnett (21:38), his rivals for the final spot on the championship podium.
Townsend (76 points) takes the Group 4 title with two wins and two 2nd places from Leng (72) – two wins, a 2nd and a 5th. Welfare (62) secures 3rd spot with his string of 3rd and 4th places from Haffenden (59), Burnett (58) and Claudette Shaw (32).
Group 5 (7 runners)
This group has been unpredictable throughout with round winners one week then performing less well the next, and vice versa. As a result, the top six were separated by just 7 points going into the final round with all to play for. Martin Smith (20:45) was the fourth different winner in as many rounds, just one second quicker than James Wall (20:46). They were comfortably clear of Julian Edmonds (21:23) in 3rd, Paul Strachan (21:28) 4th and Mark Burgess (21:59) and Nat Jacques, just one second apart in 5th and 6th.
Smith had only been in championship 3rd coming into the final round, but his timely victory was enough to see him crowned champion on 67 points from a crowded podium of Edmonds (65) in 2nd, and Wall and Strachan sharing 3rd with 64 points each. Jamie Trillow and Jacques finished joint 5th on 55 points.
Group 6 (4 runners)
Group 6 was another with an uncertain series outcome as Alice Neal (51 points) held a slender points advantage over Nigel Hewson (49), Jackie York (48), Scott Haragan (46) and Sam Hickling (44) coming into the final round. Haragan (23:06) took his first victory of the series to make it 4 different winners from the 4 rounds. Hewson (23:35) was 2nd quickest from York (23:49) and Neal (24:29).
Once these positions were plugged into Excel, it was Hewson (67) who clinched the title by just one point from Neal and Haragan in joint 2nd on 66 points and York only 2 points further back in 4th. Injured for the last round, Hickling (44) was 5th from Stephen Robson (33) 6th.
Group 7 (6 runners)
Ellen Ball (21:47) has improved at every round, a 5th at the opener followed by a 3rd, a 2nd and, yes you guessed it, a win. She left the rest of the group trailing at Jubilee Park, her time over 2 minutes quicker than that of 2nd-placed Monica Lungu (23:49). Lianne Flynn (24:17), Maxine Horsfield (25:11), Rob White (25:14) and Laura Finch (26:46) completed the top six.
Championship leader Andrew Stubbs (58 points) had been well clear in the title race and would have been assured of the title had he set a time. However, Stubbs was injured, and the spoils would be shared elsewhere for Ball and Lungu both notched up 68 points and will each receive a winner’s trophy. Flynn (66) takes 3rd with Stubbs (58) dropping out of the podium places to 4th. Horsfield (55) and White (52) complete the top six.
Group 8 (7 runners)
Just 5 points separated the top three coming into the final round, with Marie Lugar (56 points), Neil Sutton (54) and Louis Strover (51) all in the frame for the title. Strover (24:10) set the Jubilee Park pace, with Philip den Baes (24:44) and Richard Worrall (24:58) having their best results of the campaign to take 2nd and 3rd respectively. Lugar (25:26) was 4th from Vassilis Sakizlis (25:37) with Sutton (26:46) down in 6th.
Strover’s timely win combined with his rivals having their worst day at the office means he shares the championship win with Lugar, both having scored 71 points. Sutton (67) retains 3rd overall from den Baes (58), Sakizlis (56) and Worrall (54).
Group 9 (7 runners)
This was another tight group with Nick Squires (54) just one point ahead of Emma Horan (53) who in turn was also only one point clear of Olivia Senbanjo (52). After an indifferent first round Horan has been the class Group 9 act and so it proved once more at Jubilee Park as she took her third win in a row with a 24:18. Squires (25:38) was 2nd from Yolanda Martinez (26:36), John Perks (27:03), with his best result of this campaign, Senbanjo (27:39) and Terry Stocks (27:41).
The extra two points for a win over a 2nd place was crucial in this group, with Horan’s win enough to clinch the title by just one point, her 73 points topping Squires’ 72. Senbanjo (66) joins them on the podium from Martinez (57), Perks (54) and Stocks (48).
Group 10 (4 runners)
Alison Draper already had one hand on the championship trophy having won all the earlier rounds. Sharon Wroe was her nearest rival, but a 10 point gap would only be closed if Draper didn’t contest the final round. Wroe (26:34) did what she could and took a comfortable win, but, unfortunately for her, the runner with the 2nd best time was Draper (27:33). Lou Stocks (29:05) and Barbara Carr (31:47) were the other Group 10s to record a time.
With three wins and a 2nd place, Draper (78) deservedly takes the title having achieved the highest points score across all the groups. Wroe (70) takes 2nd and Stocks (65) 3rd. Carr (59), Paula Richards (18) and Pherenice Worsey-Buck (13) complete the top six.
Group 11 (6 runners)
Just a 2-point advantage for series leader Kathy Strachan over Alexandra Robins going into the final round and they were close to each other at Jubilee Park too with just 3 seconds separating them – Strachan (29:37), Robins (29:40). Christine Callinan (30:38) was 3rd quickest from Ann Adams (31:07), Liz Squires (31:23) and David Goss (32:14).
Strachan’s third win from four rounds gave her 75 points and the championship title. Robins (71) and Adams (67) join her on the podium, from Callinan (65), Squires (53) and Goss (51).
Group 12 (4 runners)
This class was down on numbers but the joint championship leaders, Anne Dunstan and Chris Summers, both set times in their efforts to secure the title. Dunstan had won the second and third rounds, but it was Round 1 victor Summers who triumphed again at the last round, his 31:59 just 11 seconds quicker than Dunstan’s 32:10. Mary Moore (37:01) was next up from Auriol Hewson (39:38).
Summers’ two wins and two 2nd places just betters Dunstan’s two wins, a 2nd and 3rd so he takes the title – 76 points to 74. Hannah Harrison and Sue McAdam were tied in 3rd prior to this round but did not take part, leaving the door open for Moore (61) to grab the final spot on the podium. Hewson (53) takes 4th with Harrison and McAdam joint 5th on 46 points.
Report: Mark Burgess
So, it’s all over. The Winter and Spring GP mini-series have kept many of us sane and occupied during these difficult times. A big thanks to Richard Dunstan for organising these great competitions, and to Sonia Chou for sorting out all the times and scores and for putting them in a format that even this writer can understand! Congratulations to the champions and indeed everyone that has participated and made it such a success.