RACE RESULTS
April 24th 2012
Three Oak Park members took on the challenge of the 2012 Virgin London Marathon on April 22nd 2012. First to finish for the club was Ian Wood who was just over the 3 hour mark by 1 minute and 29 seconds. Second Pacer home was Clive Howseman with a time of 3-48-34. David Ryder then added another marathon to his long list of international runs when he finished in 4-12-33. well done to all three athletes for their impressive performances.
20th June 2011
On May 1st, Martin Gwillam, AKA the Aldridge Arrow, whilst visiting relatives in Canada, entered and completed the Vancouver Half Marathon. Coming in 5145 position out of 6531 finishers, Martin took the Pacers vest over the line in 2-30-54 putting him in 72nd place in his age group. Well done Martin.
Two major races in the area took place on Sunday June 12th 2011. Three Club members entered the local Aldridge 10K, whilst two runners ventured a little further afield, and competed in the Potters Arf (half Marathon). None of the runners were put off by the heavy downpours of rain, as they battled around the undulating courses of both events. In Aldridge Neil Stretton was the first Pacer to cross the finish line in 55th place with a time of 42-14. Harry Williams then came home with a time of 45-47, putting him in 121st overall place. In 419th overall place out of the 444 finishers was Martin Gwillam in 71-36. An impressive achievement by all three especially considering the weather conditions. Whilst the Aldridge event was taking place, up in the Potteries Ian Wood, and Geoff Farmer where putting Oak Park’s name down in the finishing list of the Annual Potters Arf. First home for the club was Geoff, in 64th position, with a time of 1-29-09, and in less than a minute Ian, followed him home with a time of 1-30-05, putting him in 75th place out off the 1235 No of runners who completed the 13.1 mile course. Well done to all five members who took part in the two races.
10 June 2011
Only six days after completing the London Marathon, David Ryder ran in the Old Mutual Two Oceans Ultra Marathon. Known as the Worlds Most Beautiful Marathon, the race now in its 42nd consecutive year is an ultra marathon over 56K, that’s right 56K or 34.8 miles to us dinosaurs. With an entry of 13,500 runners this test of endurance commenced at 06-25 on Easter Saturday April 23rd at Cape Town in South Africa. This is the 4th time David as competed in this gruelling event and now is the proud holder of 4 bronze medals and certificates for his achievements. An impressive time of 5-48-01 put him in 3305th place overall, 2739th gender position, and 939th in his age group.
One can only marvel as David continues to add Marathon after Marathon to is never-ending list.
Two Oak Park Pacers were amongst the 200 finishers in the Westbridge 5 on June 5th 2011. First home for the Club was Ian Wood with a time of 32.03 in 33rd place overall. Only 29 seconds separated him from Geoff Farmer, who crossed the line in 41st position overall. An impressive performance by both athletes, with Geoff picking up an award for coming first in his age group.
Well done to both of them.
5 May 2011
April 17th was the day of the 2011 London Marathon. On this hot sunny day, 2 runners from Oak Park Pacers set off on this 26 mile course around the English capital. Both athletes having done this event many times before, knew what to expect along the way. First home for the Club just outside the three-hour time by only 2 minutes 28 was Ian Wood in 1220 position overall. David Ryder was the other member to finish,adding another run to his list of completed marathons, rapidly approaching the 200 level. David finished in 3-56-34. Thomas Tomes a member of the bowling club who meet at Brownhills Comp School on a Tuesday evening, also ran the marathon. Tom who joined Rex, Martin, and Godfrey for runs on club nights, finished in 6-15-25, and raised £1200.00 for his chosen charity.
Well done to all three athletes for achieving what a lot of people, including runners, can only dream about.
23 March 2011
Sunday the 20th March was the day the annual Stafford Half took place.
Four Oak Park Pacer’s were among the 1949 athletes who completed this gruelling 13.1 mile course starting from Stafford town centre.
After slow start due to the multitude of runners, jostling for position, Ian Wood was the first Pacer to cross the line in 50th position with a time of 1.24.24, putting him 7th in his age grouping. Second club runner was Neil Stretton in 123rd overall place, and second in his age category, with a time of 1.29.35. Geoff Farmer took third Oak Park finishing position in 1.36.17, putting him in 299 overall placing. The fourth Pacer in the event was Richard Matthews, who completed the course in 1.43.19, finishing in 523rd position overall.
Well done to all four runners who represented the club in such fine form.
16 March 2011
On Sunday March 13th the 2011 Stafford 20 Mile race took place.
Three Oak Park Pacer’s were among the 270 athletes who completed this gruelling 20 mile race around Staffordshire countryside.
First home for the Club was Ian Wood in 30th place, with a time of 2.14.08.
In 55th overall position, and first in his age group was Oak Park harrier of the year Geoff Farmer, who completed the course in 2.23.52, followed by Neil Stretton, second in his age group, with a time of 2.24.35.
This intrepid performance by the “Walsall Three” gained the Club 8th place in the team ratings.
Well done to all three athletes.
