Clunbury Hill Race – Purslow Show

Race Reports

A fine total of 14 Croft Ambrey runners, including juniors and family members took part in the Purslow Hill Race on a beautiful late summer afternoon.

With 21 Ludlow members also taking part this was almost an unofficial ‘head to head’ between the two clubs, providing over half of the 69 finishers.

Stacey Morgan, currently in training for the gruelling Snowdonia marathon led the Croft runners home in 3rd place overall, the winner being top athlete Will Levett, now of Tunbridge Wells but formerly a local runner. Stacey had better watch out as a gang of Croft juniors (with some waiting for their 15th birthdays to become fully paid up club members) were snapping at his heel. Scott Jones won the medal for first Junior male, followed by Jasper Robinson taking silver and Will George in bronze position (great running lads). Sam Harper picked up a prize as second lady overall in a course that well suited her plucky, determined style and strength on the hills. Beth George was 2nd U16 female, very well done. As for me (Neil) there was a glimmer of improvement, after sharpening up my hill work on the Cornish coastpath.

If you haven’t done this race, have a go next year. It’s only 3.7 miles but 650 feet of ascent make it a nice challenge. The race begins with a fast canter across the Purlow showground, skirting the village of Clunbury in a gentle incline before climbing steeply up onto the ridge that lies southeast of the village. Most of the 650 feet of ascent takes place in little more than a mile, where summer training sessions on Bircher Common pay dividends. Spectators with good eyesight can watch the runners from the showground,  as they make their way grimly along the skyline before racing headlong downhill towards the finish.

1-IMG_20160829_163812574_HDR Scott with his winners trophy

Below are the overall finishing positions and times of those who ran valiantly under the Croft Ambrey banner:

posn.SurnameForenameClubCategoryTimePosition in category
1LevettWillTunbridge Wells HarriersSM22.091
3MorganStaceyCroft AmbreySM23.513
6JonesScottCroft AmbreyBOY U1628.281st boy
11RobinsonJasperCroft AmbreyBOY U1629.312nd boy
12GeorgeWillCroft AmbreyBOY U1629.393rd boy
13GeorgeAndrewCroft AmbreySM29.4
14HarperAlecCroft AmbreyBOY U1629.55
20GeorgeThomasCroft AmbreyBOY U1631.14
25TaylorNeilCroft AmbreySM32.23
27RobinsonAshleyCroft AmbreySM32.45
29HarperSamanthaCroft AmbreySF32.542nd Lady
31GunnerGaryCroft AmbreySM33.163rd Lady
42DaviesTomCroft AmbreySM35.341st U16
44GeorgeBethCroft AmbreyGIRL U1636.05!st girl
65DaviesAlisonCroft AmbreyF44.35

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