The Frome Half Marathon returned for the seventh year on Sunday 15th July. Over one thousand runners took to the streets of Frome for the 5K, 10K and half marathon races. Reflecting the popularity of this home fixture, Frome Running Club fielded a large contingent of athletes. Twenty-two runners in total lined up for the half marathon.
Jim Arnall-Culliford (MV40) was the first Frome club runner to finish, posting a time of 01:29:28 to finish 5th in category. He was closely followed by Gary Eagle (MV50), whose time of 01:32:42 earned him 3rd position overall. Peter Larman (MV50) crossed the line in 01:33:45 for 4th position in category while Ted Sprules (MV60) finished 1st in category with his time of 01:34:02. Jonathan Francis (MV40) finished in 01:34:36, followed by Keith Robinson (MV60), whose time of 01:36:47 earned him 2nd position in category. Next to finish was Nick Cooper (MV50), who crossed the line in 01:41:54. Hot on his heels was Katherine Uphill (FSEN) who was sixth in category with a time of 01:43:43. She was followed by Ian Holmes (MV50) in 01:43:09, Andrew Smallbone (MV50) in 01:47:27, Neil Munns (MV50) in 01:49:06 and Ben Spicer (MSEN) in 01:54:25. Peter Reed (M40) was next to cross the line in 01:56:44, followed by Rebecca Horsfall (FV40) in 01:59:43, Harry Ebdon (MV50) in 01:59:35, Martin Taylor (MV60) in 02:03:25, Pete Berryman (MV50) in 02:05:29, David White (MSEN) in 02:07:05 and Lorna Mudie (FSEN) in 02:10:45. Richard Riley (MV50) completed the course in 02:12:56, followed by Ruth Squires (FV40) in 02:18:55 and Sarah Perrett (FV40) in 02:20:21.
A further nine runners took part in the Frome 10K race. Julie Chilvers (FV40) was first to finish for the club in a time of 00:50:34. She was followed by Sarah Smallbone (FV50) in 00:52:42, who finished 2nd in category, Christopher Steele (MV50) in 00:56:10, Tessa Hibbert (FV40) in 01:00:55, Chris Chivers (MSEN) in 01:02:29, Jan Lake (FV50) in 01:04:10, Bruce Lockyer (MV50) in 01:06:39, Clare Dunning (FSEN) in 01:06:40 and Catherine Gregory (FSEN) in 01:19:47.
Peter Grist (MSEN) was the first Frome club runner to finish the 5K race in a time of 00:16:33 (4th in category), followed by Lee Stone (MV40) in 00:18:49 (4th in category), Joanne Fordham (FV40) in 00:22:17, Martin Ward (MV60) in 00:24:00 (2nd in category), Emma Evans (FV40) in 00:26:40, Alan Berry (MV70) in 00:49:01 (4th in category).
On Sunday 22nd June, more Frome runners made their way over to Bowerhill in Wiltshire for the Bowerhill Bomber 10K race. Ted Sprules was first to finish for Frome in 00:46:45, followed by Julie Chilvers, whose time of 00:55:32 earned her fourth woman, and Martin Ward, who crossed the line in 00:58:23.
Frome Running Club offers both on and off-road training and welcomes new members, whatever the ability. For more details, visit www.fromerunningclub. co.uk.
Emma Surridge.
