Flood Stes New PB In Gainsborough 10k

Six members of Beverley Athletic Club travelled to Lincolnshire last Sunday to take part in the very first Gainsborough 10k. The race was organised by Gainsborough Running Club and attracted a field of just under 500 runners.

The course was advertised as being very flat and ideal for setting a PB and Beverley athletes made the most of it with a couple of new personal bests and the others very close to their best.

First home for Beverley was Ross Flood in only his second road race for the club. After a brilliant first season in the East Yorkshire XC League he attacked the road and completed the course in a new personal best time of 34:45 in thirteenth place overall. Flood’s target was to finish in less than 35 minutes and he was delighted with his performance.

“I found the pace tough but I fell in with a pack which helped to push me on,” he commented afterwards “and in the last couple of kilometres I pushed hard to try and finish in the best position I could.”

Steve Parkinson also recorded a new personal best, completing the 10k course in 41:26. He felt good in the first half of the race and managed to maintain his pace in the last long two-kilometre stretch to finish strongly.

He was cheered on by family and friends who live just outside Gainsborough. Parkinson was full of praise for the race describing it as “a superb event.” He noted that the roads were closed to traffic, the route was well marshalled and chip timing ensured accurate times were recorded.

After set-backs due to injury last year, Tina Wardropper has worked hard to get some pace back and at Gainsborough she was rewarded with her fastest 10k time for several years.

Angela Collins, Kristian Davis and Perry Holmes all took advantage of the flat course to record times close to their personal bests.
The circular route started at Morton on the outskirts of Gainsborough and long straight stretches of road took runners through the villages of East Stockwith and Walkerith. Heavy rain before and after the race didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of local people who came out to cheer on the runners.

There were 489 finishers and the winner was Iain Bailey of Sleaford Town Runners in 33:24. The first lady was Jenny Blizzard of Rotherham Harriers in 37:38.

Beverley Athletic Club  finishing times
Ross Flood 34:45; Steve Parkinson 41:26; Tina Wardropper 45:27; Kristian Davis 45:27; Perry Holmes 45:30; Angela Collins 47:33.

Reported by Kay Farrow