It was a family affair in the Netherlands last Sunday when Beverley Athletic Club member Jacqui Dickinson was joined by cousins Susan Oliver, Denise Thompson and Katie Winwright to run the Amsterdam marathon and half-marathon.
It was a near perfect day for running – sunny but not too warm and hardly any wind. Spectators lined the city streets to cheer on the athletes making it a memorable experience for all those taking part.
Jacqui ran very well in the half-marathon to finish in 2:11:07. Although not impressed by the city course she loved the finish in the Olympic Stadium. She was thrilled to see a large group from City of Hull AC as she approached the stadium and said “they gave me a loud cheer as I ran past which was brilliant.”
Denise was the first of the cousins to finish the marathon. She runs for City of Hull AC and is also a second claim member of Beverley Athletic Club. She finished in a commendable 4:45:20. Katie and Susan, both competing in their first marathon, finished in 5:26:28 and 5:47:55 respectively. Beverley resident Susan is now in her 50th year and running a marathon was one of the items on her to do list to celebrate her age!
There were notable performances from Beverley Athletic Club members, among them husband and wife Julie and Stuart Donald who ran the marathon and half-marathon respectively. Julie had an excellent run finishing in 3:34:14. She has competed in marathons all over the world but it was the first time that she had run in Amsterdam. She enjoyed the flat scenic course which follows a route around the city centre and then out into the countryside, past windmills and along the river Amstel. She was very proud of her husband Stuart who completed the half-marathon in 2:26:20.
Also in the half-marathon was Miranda Hunt. She had a brilliant run, recording a new personal best time of 1:48: 11 and beating her previous best by several minutes.
More than 35,000 athletes took part in the two events. The half-marathon was won by Alessandro Belotti of Italy in 1:08:27 and the first lady to finish was Megumi Kinukawa of Japan in 1:17:08. The marathon was won by Wilson Chebet of Kenya in 2:05:50. Tiki Gelana of Ethiopia took the ladies’ title in new course record time of 2:22:08.
Marathon finishing times:
Julie Donald 3:34:14; Denise Thompson 4:45:20; Katie Winwright 5:26:28; Susan Oliver 5:47:55.
Half-marathon finishing times:
Miranda Hunt 1:48:11; Jacqui Dickinson 2:11:07.
Reported by Kay Farrow
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