Record Turnout for Winchester 10K
Record Turnout for Winchester 10K
The 26th annual 10k road race took place last Sunday, 24th of February and saw just under 900 entrees, a record for the prestigious event.
Spring-like temperatures and little wind provided the race entrees with idyllic racing conditions on an undulating course that weaves past the city’s historic sights as well as through its rural surroundings.
Just before the race was due to start, all the competitors had congregated at the starting line, the tension in the air grew as the crowd fell silent and the timekeeper, Ken Littlejohn raised the starter gun. In the same instant that the clock changed to 10.30am Littlejohn shattered the silence with the starter gun; and the race began.
Local racer and fresh from his win at the Wokingham half marathon a fortnight before Toby Lambert fronted the leading pack from the off and was looking strong throughout the course, reinforcing his status as overwhelming favourite for the win. Lambert pulled away from the pack as they reached Kings Worthy but Aldershot and Farnham District runner Chris Bolt followed, and it became a two horse race for first place. The race drew to a close with a titanic battle to cross the finish line first with both Lambert and Bolt taking the lead over the last kilometre. But in the in the last 100m it was Chris Bolt who was in the lead and kept a cool head to cement a place on the winners trophy with a time of 31.14, 4 seconds faster than Lambert.
The Winchester 10k was special this year not only for the huge turnout of competitors but also for the large amount of women who entered. The field was made up of 286 women, over a third of the entire field. It was Joanna Rodriguez of Woking AC who came in first out of the women, with a time of 38.14. She won comfortably with Joanna Emery of Rugby and Northampton AC just over a minute behind her.
At the prize giving Chris Bolt had this to say for his win, “I’m very pleased to have won, especially against Toby (Lambert) who has been on great form at the moment”.
Race Director Roger Wakeling is now looking forward to the 27th Winchester 10k and said that “I hope we can have even more competitors next year, I would love for there to be over a 1000.”
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