Last Wednesday evening, 38 Newport & District Running Club members lined up for the Harper Scarper, a 5k race which closes out Telford AC’s Sexarathon series each year. The race takes place in and around Harper Adams University, on a 1-lap “lollipop” style course which starts on campus and winds its way around the surrounding countryside. As such, it is quite a “local” race for NDRC members, and support for the green and purple-clad runners is always very strong.
David Clarke was the first Newport runner home, taking 34th place overall in a time of 17 minutes, 43 seconds. Ashley Moore followed, clocking 18:35 for 46th place, then it was Robin Guy, who ran a time of 19:09 for 64th overall. In 75th place was Matthew Walley, who ran a time of 19:36, and he was followed by David Brown, who was 107th in 20:47. Richard Bennett matched David’s time, finishing one place back, whilst Daniel Miles ran 21:26 for 118th position.
Phil Dolding took 127th in 21:48, with Aaron Nicholas 129th despite a chip time one second quicker than Phil. In 133rd, Andrew Wilmot clocked 22:07, just ahead of Simon Yap, who was 140th in 22:12. Oscar Johnstone ran a time of 22:50 for 154th place, whilst Emily Pope was 163rd, and first NDRC female finisher, in 23:06. Tom Pope finished 164th in 23:17, whilst Oliver Stokes was hot on his heels in 170th with a time of 23:23. Graham Roger (178th, 23:37) finishing just 10 seconds and 6 places ahead of Peter Johnstone.
Phil Link (188th, 23:58) and Kirsty Greenhead (189th, 23:57) finished together in another example of chip timing differing from finishing position, whilst Gary Mountford took 210th overall in 25:13. In 216th spot was Carrie Stokes in a time of 25:24, followed by Ralph Humphries, who was 222nd in 25:42, and Amy Hughes, who ran a time of 25:55 for 223rd. Nigel Ingram was 237rd with his time of 26:04, whilst Selwyn Plant took 251st in 26:44, just ahead of Marc Taylor, who ran 26:49 for 256th. Ben Roper took 273rd position in a time of 27:35, with Helen Mason hot on his heels, taking 277th in 27:47.
Simon Taylor followed, taking 285th overall in 28:07, and Mark McEvilly was next, his time of 28:34 securing 290th position. Annabel Bolton clocked 28:32 to finish 291st, whilst Tracy Hartridge was 298th in 28:53. Louise Patterson secured 310th place in 29:12, whilst Sharon Goulson took 334th in 30:44, and Liz Holbrook was 339th in 30:58. Anne Strowger’s time of 32:19 secured her not only 348th overall, but also first in her category in both the race and the series overall, whilst Lisa Yap finished 362rd in 34:24, and John Stokes was just 2 spots back in 35:30.
Newport & District Running Club 