Corfe Mullen Carnival Races – 7 June 2011

Young WACers impress over one mile and 5k.

The Corfe Mullen Carnival races saw a big turnout of red vests this year. We were well represented in the juniors’ race, and for the seniors there were club championship points at stake. The sun shone, but there was a stiff old breeze, which kept the temperature down, and also made the second half of each lap quite a challenge.

The juniors went off first – those under-14 – running a one mile lap. Of the 112 competitors on the start line, 15 of them were WACers. Even though the youngest WACer was only eight years-old, every single one of them finished comfortably in the top half of the field – a fantastic achievement.

Those following our track and field season would not have been surprised by Piers Copeland’s race win. Piers banged in a great mile, in a time of 5:25. Our next ‘red’ home was the fast-improving Tom Bourne in fifth place in 5:59. In close company with Tom, and awarded the same time, were the winner and runner-up of the girls’ race – both WACers, Grace Copeland and Abbie Hine. Abbie had the led the girls’ race for most of the way, but Grace is a very determined character who will push all the way to the finish line, she just nicked it from Abbie at the death. We fielded a particularly strong girls’ team and went on to take six of the top ten places in the girls’ race (well done to Grace, Abbie, Maddie Williams, Alivia Gillard, Ella Hearne and Bethan Burley).

The eleventh placed girl, Alex Daplyn, is one of our very latest recruits. This was her first race in her brand new red vest. She is only nine years-old and she covered the mile in 7:08, very impressive, she is clearly one to watch. Our youngest runner of all was Max Meadwell. He has become a regular at Ed’s speed sessions on a Tuesday. Max is just eight years-old and he came oh, so close to breaking the seven minute mile on the night. Keep an eye on his progress too.

Our juniors had done fantastically well in their age-groups:

Boys aged 8 – 1^st Max Meadwell

Boys aged 9 – 3^rd Freddie Williams

Boys aged 10 – 3^rd Ed Shield

Boys aged 11 – 1^st Tom Bourne

Boys aged 13 – 1^st Piers Copeland

 

Girls aged 9 – 1^st Grace Copeland, 3^rd Jessica Bourne

Girls aged 10 – 2^nd Alex Daplyn, 3^rd Ellie Stark

Girls aged11 – 1^st Bethan Burley, 2^nd Pippa Hine

Girls aged 12 – 1^st Maddie Williams, 2^nd Alivia Gillard

Girls aged 13 – 1^st Abbie Hine, 4^th Ella Hearne

Five of the six junior trophy winners at Corfe Mullen.
From left to right: Regan Cooper (Poole Runners),
Lewis Golden (Bournemouth AC),
and then WACers Piers Copeland, Grace Copeland and Abbie Hine.

Two of last year’s junior medallists – Sharon Hutchings and Ryan Walbridge had moved up into the senior race this time around and would be covering the longer distance of 5km.

After all that excitement the senior race was set to go. The inclusion of the event in our club championships clearly made a difference as we had excellent numbers (almost 30) on the start line.

The Magnificent Seven’. There’s a declaration of intent here, our
photographer has captured our top two women on the night as well as
our top five men. They have claimed their places on the front row of the
start line at Corfe Mullen and await starter’s orders.
From left to right: Lynn Hutchings, Sharon Hutchings, Callum Kennedy,
Graeme Furley, Ryan Walbridge, Richard Swindlehurst and David Long.
If you look carefully you can pick out a few more WACers in the background,
these include our third placed woman – Chloe Morris, as well as Simon Bourne,
John Hutchings, Andy Olden, Paul Teck and Dave Wild.

Our first runner home was ‘bionic’ Graeme Furley. Graeme was 8^th overall and it was fitting that he led the team home as the next two WACers in were Callum Kennedy and Ryan Walbridge who he has committed so much time to working with in training sessions. He’s been doing such a great job that they almost caught him! As mentioned earlier Ryan ran in the junior race in 2010 where he finished second. He took the step up in distance in his stride, this was a superb performance. Callum and Ryan led in a group of red shirts, Callum was 13^th and five of the next six finishers were in Wimborne red, with David Long able to claim bragging rights over his dad, Roy. Significant age group performances were Richard Swindlehurst (1^st 40-44), Roy Long (2^nd 45-49), Jerry Shield (3^rd 45-49).

For the women Sharon Hutchings and Chloe Morris stepped into the senior race for the first time. Sharon had won the juniors’ race in both 2009 and 2010 and Chloe competed in the juniors in 2010 where she claimed the bronze medal. How would they fare over the longer distance? Both of these athletes have been having chalking up PBs on the track this season, so there was reason to be optimistic.

Stepping up from winning the juniors’ race in 2009 and 2010, to claiming second woman overall in the senior race is a fantastic achievement. Sharon led the Wimborne women home, her stiffest competition coming from mum, Lynn (who had been 3^rd lady back in the 2010 race, and this time around – 2011 – Lynn improved on her 2010 time and won her age-group, F45-49). Chloe also stepped into the seniors’ race with some style. She was third Wimborne lady home, having come out best in a sprint for the line with our fourth-placed runner Nicki Roe. Completing our lady’s top five was Charlotte Bourne. Charlotte is the same age as Sharon and Chloe, and her performance came as little surprise to those of us who witnessed her superb 3000m run on the track in the South West League recently. There were solid performance from all our other ladies too: Jools Maskell, Di Stark, Julie Mead, Kim Brackley, Wendy Kennedy, Becca Skeats and Julie Gosling (showing her best form for years).

All in all a great night’s racing at a very friendly and very well-organized race. Many thanks to the Corfe Mullen Carnival Committee, and Poole Runners who provided many of the race officials and marshals.

Wimborne results were:

Junior 1 mile race (112 runners)

1 – Piers Copeland – 5:25
5 – Tom Bourne – 5:59
6 – Grace Copeland – 5:59 (1st girl)
7 – Abbie Hine – 5:59 (2^nd girl)
11 – Maddie Williams – 6:27
14 – Alivia Gillard – 6:32
21 – Ella Hearne – 6:57
23 – Bethan Burley – 6:58
25 – Max Meadwell – 7:02
27 – Alex Daplyn – 7:08
28 – Freddie Williams – 7:12
34 – Pippa Hine – 7:18
39 – Ellie Stark – 7:25
45 – Ed Shield – 7:37
46 – Jessica Bourne – 7:37

Senior race 5k (217 runners)

8 – Graeme Furley – 17:41 (3^rd in age-group M20-39)
13 – Callum Kennedy – 17:55
14 – Ryan Walbridge – 18:02
15 – Richard Swindlehurst – 18:09 (age-group winner M40-44)
16 – David Long – 18:15
17 – Roy Long – 18:18 (2^nd in age-group M45-49)
19 – Jerry Shield – 18:43 (3^rd in age-group M45-49)
43 – Rich House – 20:44
45 – Sharon Hutchings – 20:47 (2^nd lady)
48 – John Hutchings – 20:54
54 – Andy Olden – 21:05
58 – Lynn Hutchings – 21:13 (age-group winner F45-49)
59 – Graham Whiffen – 21:15
61 – David Brylewski – 21:20
63 – Paul Teck – 21:30
76 – Gerry Hutchings – 22:06 (second in age-group M60-64)
83 – Ian Kennedy – 22:27
88 – Simon Bourne – 22:45
95 – Chloe Morris – 23:02
96 – Nicki Roe – 23:04
106 – David Wild – 23:32
107 – Charlotte Bourne – 23:32
124 – Jools Maskell – 24:43
125 – Di Stark – 24:43
134 – Julie Mead – 25:12
139 – Kim Brackley – 25:38
147 – Wendy Kennedy – 26:14
158 – Rebecca Skeats – 26:55
162 – Julie Gosling – 27:30