Tewkesbury runners scoop impressive veteran titles.

January signalled the start of the some excitingly competitive road races in Gloucestershire. 

Firstly, in Cheltenham at the Linda Franks 5m (LF5) race, a bumper field of ~270 5-mile racers hit the urban roads and pavements. The front end of the race was packed with high quality athletes – even the course record was smashed in 23:37 minutes! 

For Tewkesbury Running Club, the in-house competition was very smashing with Alan Whitby taking the headlines with a remarkable performance; Whitby was carrying an ankle niggle yet cruised over the finish line in 32:12 minutes – not just winning the V65 title but also outran the best placed V60 runner by half a mile! Tony Foy followed as V65 second place in 33:45 mins. In between was Antonio De Abreu finishing in 32:56, with Jon Mansfield leading the club home in 31:15 mins. 

Many eyes were on the TRC ladies as Hannah Moon marked her first competitive road race since her achilles was torn back in March 2024. Moon had the superb Sue Baldwin and in-form Sarah Dennis to run the first couple of miles with, after which Baldwin pulled away leaving Moon and Dennis to both work hard and claim their best times for the 5 miles. 39:20, 39:40, and 40:01 respectively. 

Stephane Plisson started the year with a fine 43:34 minute run. Emily Meadows was pleased with her 44:41 mins, before Tonia Whitebeam was ecstatic with her finishing time of 44:53 mins. 

This year’s Boddington 10 mile race attracted a sell-out field of runners. With heavy rain during the early morning and again in the late morning, the 09:00 hrs start fitted perfectly in the weather break – the roads were wet, however, it was not actually raining – thankfully.  

Returning 12 months after her 10-mile PB on the same course, Hannah Moon had been cruelly taken out of the sport (all sports actually), with a snapped achilles tendon. This same event was a valid test of how much fitness she had lost during the many months of slow rehab? As it happened, Moon ran a controlled pace, just off her LF5 pace a week earlier, and set herself a new 10-mile PB of 1hr 24 mins 14 secs (1:24:14). An exceptional performance, leading the Tewkesbury ladies home with a glowing example of belief and patience. 

Not as keen on the longer distances, Sue Baldwin ran a more conservative pace and followed Moon in 1:27:09. Sarah Dennis dropped-out before the start due to illness (not due to the concerning rain clouds). Emily Meadows completed the 4-lap course in 1:33:22 ahead of Tracy Tailford in 1:37:54, averaging <10 m/m. Stephane Plisson followed in 1:38:39, after a brave run whilst under-the-weather. 

Cameron Pay and Pete Davies, a familiar pair run the event together before Pay edged ahead pleased to be 95% better since his foot break. Davies finished in 1:43:39, less than two minutes behind his partner in running – but in a little pain. 

However, it was another veteran victory which must take the headlines – Tony Foy, took the V65 title with a fine run in 1:12:44. Gifted Foy is enjoying a purple patch with his running of late.  

Leading the Tewkesbury team home was going to be Alec Vincent or Jon Mansfield; Mansfield set-off at pace that Alec ran in 2024 to finish in 1:05:06. Vincent, on the other hand, declared on the start-line that his recent skiing activities and associated partying had affected his fitness. He finished in a hard fought 1:07:29, which was a relatively decent performance. 

Both the LF5 and Boddington events had wonderfully welcome support over the course from fellow TRC members – thanks to those who cheered, waved, jumped, and yelled.