Winchcombe 10km Results
For those not too familiar with this event, its life started as the Winchombe show hill climb before morphing into a 10 km race. It is a spectacular course – once leaving Sudeley Castle it bypasses Winchcombe Cricket club before tracing one of the Cotswold Way’s most infamous climbs up to Belas knap. Although the runners may catch their breath descending back down to Winchcombe, their legs are put to the test against the pull of gravity!
Tewkesbury fielded some of their best athletes with a spearhead of John Gundy, Ed Hardy and Chris Goscomb. New member Mark Parker joined the fray and the excellent Natalie Jenks was joined by the hard-working Rachel Brownett.
Quite predictably, the Tewkesbury spearhead surged strongly with Ed and Chris breaking from John on the climb. Although John did recover after the peak, he had a two minute gap to chase. Ed and Chris raced neck and neck until the finish and an exciting return to the castle grounds with Chris eventually taking 3rd ahead of Ed’s creditable 4th. John placed 7th.
Mark knew the terrain fairly well but havening spent two weeks snoozing on a sun lounger he had a rude awakening. Nevertheless he still had enough to contain 7th place girl Natalie who was in a very competitive female field.
Rachel pleased herself cutting inside the hour with a very respectable performance.
Chris - 41.40 minutes
Ed - 41.41
John - 43.37
Mark - 48.49
Nat - 51.20
Rach - 59.16