News & Press Reports - 2024

The annual Tredworth 4.3 mile Road Race was transferred to Friday 27th December from the traditional flat course on Easter Monday. Ruth Brook, first female finisher and youngest ever female winner of the event, described the course as a “great out and back undulating course around the lanes of Elmore”. 

 

Owen Parry was always in the leading trio which dropped to a pair until the last climb towards the village hall when the winner pulled away giving Owen second place in  24:01, just 10 seconds behind the winner. Mike Hall was the next Glos AC runner, finishing strongly with 26:56 in 9th place. 

 

Ruth came one place behind. She had settled into a good pace behind Charlie Partridge of Severn AC but feeling strong on the hills had pulled away half way through the race only for Partridge to close on her. Ruth’s determination evident in the last uphill 400m she again pulled away by several metres for 10th in 27:16. Dave Gresswell suffering from a cold finished in 12th in 29:02. Martin Brook, showing a strong finish, completed the 4.3 miles in 32:27 for 30th place.

 

Sunday 15th December race updates:

 

Gloucester AC’s middle distance young athletes raced 10k on Sunday. Anthony Cruise travelled to Telford to race the UK’s “Statistically proven” fastest 10k course and was rewarded with a 2 min 12 second PB with 34:15 and a chip time of 33:59. In the same wave senior Maron Trump  produced a 34:04, chip time of 33:50.

 

Amber Spackman raced the Osprey 10k in Portland, Dorset and despite taking a wrong turn was first lady to finish and sixth overall in 43:10. Charlie Worsfold finished first overall with 34:43, a new course record.

 

Several of the squad received invitations to represent Gloucestershire at Cross Country. Molly Holland, Lili Sienna-Hodgson will both compete for the Schools in the Junior Girls SW CC Championships in Newquay in February. They will be joined by Intermediate girls Livvi and Evie Avery and Senior Ruth Brook. Callum Yates will race the Junior Boys, Joes Cruise the Inters and Anthony Cruise the seniors.

 

Following last weekend’s County championship, Lily Sienna-Hodgson, Evie and Livvi Avery race at Nottingham for GAAA in the Inter-counties Championship as U15G; Callum Yates joins as a U15B and Arthur Nield as a U17M whilst both Charlie Worsfold and Anthony Cruise lead the U20 men selection for the March date.

Gloucestershire County Championships and the Gloucestershire CC League race 3

 

A very windy Bushy Norwood Field at the University of Bath saw several Gloucester AC runners winning medals in the County Cross Country Championships which were held within the third Gloucestershire CC League and in conjunction with the counties of Avon, Somerset and Wiltshire.

 

First to race and gain a bronze medal was Molly Holland, part of the middle-distance young athletes training group in the U13girls 2.8k race with 10th place in 11:29. Owen Wood 31st (12:04) raced the boys event over the same distance with Johannes Mundy 33rd, not far behind in 12:12 for 33rd.

The U11G saw Bethany Harris, who’s focused on Sports Hall over the last month, came 20th (8:36) over 1.9k.

 

Running next the U11boys completed a team with Ben Jones gaining Silver in 4th (7:03,), Laurie Mundy 46th (8:24), Archer Hastings 50th (8:45), Etienne Saunders 52nd (8:46).

 

Callum Yates led the Under 15s home gaining 19th place  in 13:27 over the two lap course. As boys and girls raced together Livvi Avery was next home gaining county gold in 13:54. An improving Ethan Norris finished 15th boy with 14:05 and Evie Avery out sprinted training partner Lily Sienna-Hodgson for 7th place in 14:36 with Lily 2 seconds behind. Joe Cruise, running with an illness, completed the team as 40th boy in the same time as training partner Bella Smith, 17th girl in 15:34. Lilliah Wood completed the girls team with 38th place (26:55). A great result for the U15 girls and boys teams who both gained a silver medal in the Gloucestershire County Championships

 

Arthur Nield showed he was on the way back with 20th U17boys finishing strongly in 20th place with 20:29 over 5.7k.

 

The senior women and men over 65 raced 6.6k with over 3k of that being uphill. First home with a very pleasing run was Amber Spackman (45th; 28:08) followed by Grace Hinga  in 64th and a bronze medal W55 winner and Emma Stalberg 98th 32:24 and 2 minutes faster than last year over the same course. M75 Arthur Daley moved slowly through the field to complete the 3 laps in 34;37 for 117th place and first M75.

 

Charlie Worsfold ran a strong race to win the county Gold U20 medal in 23rd place with 35:20. Next home was Anthony Cruise gaining the U20 silver as the wind picked up (45th: 37:02). Andy Noakes was only Gloucester AC senior man coming 119 in 43:03 over the 10.3k course.

 

Gloucester athletics coach Bob Purcell is BBC West Sports' Unsung Hero

Bob Purcell has won the prestigious BBC award, click on the above for more details

Saturday 16th saw members of Gloucester Athletic Club’s middle distance young athlete training squad  racing at far flung venues.

 

Three girls represented East Wales at  Dolerw Park in Newtown Mid-Wales Molly Holland raced the U13 Girls 2520m event coming 8th in 9:19 only 24 seconds behind the winner. In the U15G 3420m race Lilly Sienna-Hodgson  came 5th with 14:00 and Bella Smith’s 15:24  gave her 25th place.

 

Anthony and Joe Cruise travelled to Alton Towers Staffordshire to race a 5k which was rather like the park in that it had lots of ups and downs. Anthony raced to 9th place in a PB of 17:18. Joe completed the undulating course in 19:19 taking 65 seconds off his PB.

 

Lead coach Arthur Daley (Men 75) raced for England Masters in Belfast. The first race was for  65+ men and women.  With the first 800 of the  3 lap 6k course being uphill he planned a steady start but after 400m finding himself alongside his strongest England M75 team mate and feeling good decided to push on up the last incline. Using the long downhill on each lap he  over took many runners of different age groups finishing first scorer for the team in 30:31 and 39th in the race.

On Thursday members of Gloucester Athletic Club’s middle distance young athlete squad  performed well at the City Secondary Schools Cross Country Trials at Plock Court with everyone being selected to represent the City District in the  County Championship.

 

Junior Boy Harry Overthrow vied for 3rd place for much of his  3k race coming in a fast finishing 4th.

 

Intermediate Boys Arthur Nield, Joe Cruise and Ethan Norris represented 3 different schools. Arthur and Joe only compete against each other in schools’ age groups and ran most of the 2 laps of Plock Court with Joe a few metres behind the older Arthur finish for  2nd and 3rd in that order. Ethan ran a steady first lap completing the flat course in 9th.

 

Ruth Brook whose senior Girls’ race over 2.57 miles was at late notice combined with the Intermediate Boys dominated the girls’ race showing speed and  high cadence at the start and finish for 1st place.

 

Anthony Cruise raced two very large laps. For the first mile he tracked James Agombar (Sir Thomas Rich/Cheltenham H) then pulled up alongside him only to lead from over the final mile. His mile splits were with a few seconds of each other showing how Anthony is learning the skill of even paced racing. Despite a late challenge he used his 800m speed to remain in front.

 

 

Gloucester Athletic Club’s middle distance young athlete squad  were busy competing in both Cardiff and Cheltenham on Saturday.

 

Molly Holland, representing Chepstow H, her cross country club, ran in the Gwent League U13G coming 11th in 10:39.

 

Livvi and Evie Avery competed in the British Athletics Cross Challenge U15G race run in conjunction with the Gwent League with Livvi coming 7th (11:14) having had a strong start, sustaining pace throughout and accelerating as in her race plan over the last 400m. Evie used a different tactic with a more graduated start then consistently moving through the field to finish 20th (12:04) and just in front of Lily Sienna-Hodgson.

 

Lily also moved though the field during the race was given a time of 12:06 and 7th place in the league. Both she and Bella Smith who ran a even paced run for 30th in 13:00 raced for  Chepstow Harriers in this competition.

 

Anthony Cruise U20 man represented the club in his first Birmingham Cross Country League race held at Pitville Park. His very even paced race saw him move through the  senior field to finish in the mid 20s (results not yet available) and second Gloucester runner. 

 

Coach for all 6 runners Arthur Daley raced the M65+ 6.4k event held within the senior women’s race finishing 17th in 30:12 and first M75.

Gloucester AC athletes Evie and Livvi Avery,  competed at St. Edwards School  in the Cheltenham district schools cross country trials on Wednesday, 16th October

 

Both boys and girls years of 10/11 started together with the boys being put in front of the girls  Livvi and Evie raced to  move quickly  away from the pack and were mainly unhindered by the  lots of pushing and shoving as people battled for space.

 

The one full lap and one long lap  course was very muddy, and had the infamous steep Ashley Manor hill.

 

Livvi, despite battling a cold, managed to break away from the other girls and take the lead early on, increasing the lead at the bottom of the hill on the first lap. She finished in first place in the girls category and 3rd overall using a strong finishing kick. 

 

Evie ran a strong race and despite it being her first cross-country race of the season ran one of her best paced and tactically sound races  . She closed the gap with 2nd place on the last half of the last lap and battled with her friend Lucy Hillary (Western Tempo) , up until the last 400m, coming in 3rd girl.

The first cross country race of the season saw many of the young middle distance athletes in the Gloucester AC squad competing in the Gloucestershire Cross County League at Yate.

 

Racing over a very compact course which gave excellent spectator viewing Molly Holland  ran a strong race for 3rd place (14:25)  in the U13 girls 3k event.

 

The 5k race for U15 boys and girls saw Joe Cruise  cruise home for another 3rd place in 16:04 whilst Ethan Norris was only 24 seconds behind for 8th boy position. Livvi Avery felt she started a little too fast so suffered in the middle but rallied in the last half mile to move from  30m behind in 3rd place  to a well clear second girl in 16:44. Lily Sienna-Hodgson in her first year in the age group came in 4th in 16:55 and Bella Smith ran strongly for 10th in 18:42.

 

The next race over 5.8k saw a range of age groups competing. 

 

Arthur Nield in his first race as an U17th was 9th overall and 8th U17 man in 22:58. Ruth Brook making a welcome return to racing but not yet fully fit was the squad’s first woman to finish as 4th U17 in 26:59 followed by senior lady Amber Spackman in 27:12 for 12th senior.  Squad coach Arthur Daley who also acted as clerk of the course and starter raced as a M75 taking first (and last) place in that age group in 30:47.

 

Charlie Worsfold ran a well paced 9k race moving through the field to finish in  10 and 3rd under 20 man in 31:37 with Anthony Cruise  8th U20M in 34:11. Squad coach Martin Brook was 127th and 12M50 in 42:51.

The final track race of the 2024 season saw several Gloucester AC Middle Distance athletes  competing in a very windy Avon league at Yate on Sunday.

 

U15 Boys Harry Overthrow and Ethan Norris raced 1500m running the firs two laps in very even 70 per lap pace.  Ethan then using his usual fast finish pulled away for 7th place in 4:55.49 with Harry in 5:03.94.

 

Molly Holland ran a well paced U13G 1200m coming 4th in 4:11 taking 18 seconds off her personal best.

 

Three U15 girls competed in the 1500m.  Evie Avery raced her most tactically strong race of the season in very windy conditions gaining second place in 5:04.77. Lily Sienna-Hodgson raced a fast first lap then settled into a steadier pace for 4th  in 5:12.3 again a PB. Bella Smith used different tactics with a slower first 400m then a strong second lap for 6th in 5:32.21.

 

Barney Golledge (U17M) showed good tactical awareness in the open 3000m starting off at near PB pace then slowing and using an older and taller competitor as a wind break until the last 600m when he accealerated to the same pace for 11:15.25.

 

Arthur Nield (U17M) despite being ill in the lead up to the race experimented with the 400m running very strongly into the wind over the first 200m for 4th place with 57.94.

 

The previous day Middle Distance coach Arthur Daley raced in the English Masters CC selection race at Betley Court Farm near Crewe. Racing in the M75 age group he finished 53rd overall but second M75 in 24:04 gaining him selection for the England team in the Home International in Belfast in November.

 

Callum Yates (U15 boy) had a trio of 4th places; 300m with 43.35, 100m in 12.59 and  hammer throw in 17:08.

 

Together with Harry Overthrow and Ethan Norris from the group and Theo Dennett  the U15B relay team was first in the 4 x 300m in 3:00. Middle distance group members Molly Holland and Bella combined with club members Rayna Iheme-Madukairo and Ruby King to come 5th in the U15G  4 x 100m relay.

After an afternoon of thunderstorms and very heavy rain in Gloucester the Friday before the relays there were fears that the event would be called off. But Sutton Coldfield escaped the worst of the storms and the racing was on. One men's and one women's teams left the rain of Gloucester to make the trip to Sutton Park to race the best in the region over 6 and 4 stages respectively. 

 

With last minute changes to the team and the running order the women started their race at 1330. The 4 legs were run over 4.33km on a undulating course.  First out was Grace Hinga, who was keen to lead the team out, who covered the distance in 18:26. Grace handed over to Nicola Waters, a late replacement in the team. Nicola was keen to get her leg out of the way early to get to Kingsholm in time for the kick off of the rugby. Nicola finished her run in 23:53.

 

Due out next was Emma Stalberg, but disaster struck during her warm up as she felt something go ping in her calf. The team made a quick decision to switch Amber Spackman from 4th to 3rd and for Emma to run 4th (to ensure Amber got a run in case Emma was forced to abandon her stage). Due to the late change in running order Amber missed the change over from our 2nd runner by about 10 seconds. Not letting this change her race, Amber showed maturity in not panicking and not trying to go out too fast. She ran a very respectable time of 19:09 (including the 10 seconds due to the delayed change over).

 

Not wanting to let the team down and despite her injury Emma chose to run the 4th stage. Emma went out a conservative pace and worked her way into the race, running the leg in 19:04 bringing the team home with a total time of 1:20:42 for 43rd overall. Despite the injury her time was 90 seconds faster than 2023 and a 3 minute improvement on her 2022 time showing what consistent training can do.

 

Moving to the men, who raced over 5.88km in a course broadly the same as the women, but with the addition of a out and back at the jamboree stone.

 

Stage 1 was run Charlie Worsfold. In a week where Charlie's training was curtailed by illness he managed to run the team's fasted leg of the day clocking an impressive 19:14. Owen Parry, who was initially due to run 3rd, stepped up to 2nd shortly before the race started. Owen was held by the official for a short period after Worsfold had finished, adding seconds to his and the team's time. Owen raced around the course in an official time of 20:31.

 

Charlie Coles, who delayed moving himself to university by a day to compete in this race, took over in 3rd. With his easy running style belying his pace came home in 20:37. Next out was Luke Hine. Defying conventional wisdom of not trying anything new on race day, Hine ran in shoes purchased at the event. The unfamiliar shoes suited him and he ran a solid 20:38. In 5th place was Andy Noakes, running his first Autumn Relays. With consistent pacing Andy finished his leg in 23:19. The final runner was the team manager, James Walters, who ran a 22:05. The men's team finished in 40th position with a time of 2:06:04.

 

Team manager Walters said "Thank you to everyone who made the trip to Sutton Coldfield for the race, especially those who changed their plans at short notice. I am glad that the promised thunderstorms came to nothing more than a few claps of thunder and a heavy shower".

 

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Four members of the Senior Distance training group braved the stormy weather on Sunday morning to take part in the Oldbury 10 mile race.

 

Although the worst of the rain had eased a little before the 10:30am start, the roads were still soaked with large puddles. The course itself is very flat (you could say too flat!) and the camber, and broken surface, of the county lanes is not the best surface.

 

However, the temperature was fine, and very little wind, so guess few other excuses not to run well!

 

All four had a time of around 1hr 15mins as a target to get near, or better.

 

At the gun (or hooter), it was Steve Robbins who set off the quickest with a series of 7 min miles for the first 3 miles. Christina Horak and Dave Gresswell followed at a slightly more conservative 7:20 place, with Robert Buckley at around 7:30 pace as he tried to get his ultra distance legs up to speed.

 

After halfway, Chrissie started to pull away from coach Gresswell, with some 7:15 miles, while Gresswell slipped back to 7:30 pace.

 

Meanwhile Steve was slowing a bit, and Rob was speeding up. It was all coming together!

 

By 8 miles Chrissie had a good 300m lead on Gresswell, and was on the heals of Steve for a short time, before passing him, and leading the Glos AC pack.

 

Gresswell started to slow badly at 8 miles, while Rob continued to speed up, and was now not far behind.

 

With one mile to go (which felt very long), all four pressed on, with Chrissie finishing first for the club in a time of 1 hr 12:36. Steve was not far behind, finishing his first race in 3 years, in a time of 1 hr 13:27.

 

Gresswell was next back, and despite slowing, managed to squeeze in under his target time with 1hr 14:52.

 

Rob had Gresswell in his sights for the last mile, but ran out of road to catch him, and finished in 1hr 15:49.

 

So a good morning out, and just about finished the race before the bad weather took hold again!

 

Most of Gloucester Athletic Club’s Young Middle Distance Athletes focused on training over the weekend.

 

A couple travelled to the ECCU National Cross Country Championships at Weston Park, near Telford. First to race over a hilly 3k course was Callum Yates (U13B) who came 46th in 11:45.

 

Livvi Avery (U15G) maintained her position throughout  the twisting 4k course to finish 25th in 16:11.

 

Emma Stalberg was the only senior to race 8k in 42:03 for 126th place showing a great improvement over the last 12 months.

 

Group coach Arthur Daley took part in his first 5000m race on the track since 2021 recording 24:10:56 the bronze medal in the British Masters 5000m M70 championship at Birmingham University track.

Gloucester AC Young Middle Distance athletes were active throughout this week.

 

The first meeting was the Gloucester Open Meeting on Tuesday. U15 B Callum Yates ran a strong 600m in 1.37.1 for 6th place in the fastest heat. Ethan Norris (U15) ran a tactically sound race in his first 600m in the following race winning after a fast finish in 1:45.3 whilst Harry Overthrow (U15) who had lead for 500m achieved a personal best by 5 seconds with second place in 1:46.4.

 

 Phoebe Golledge (U15G) showed her improved running form to lead the third 600m race but was overtaken by Lucas Clarke-Savage again in the last 150m for him to finish first in 1:58.8 - a PB  - and Phoebe second in 1:59.5. Belle Stoneman ran a solid race for third in 2:04.4

 

Lucas also came fourth in the U15B Javelin with24.92m.

 

Arthur Nield (U17M)  and Livvi Avery (U15G) ran close to each other in the first mile race; both showed good tactics with Arthur pulling away over the last 300m to finish in 5:00 and Livvi first female finisher in 5:04.7. Ebie Avery (U15) ran a remarkably well and even paced race for 5;32.Both Arthur and Livvi won the Ron Freeman Memorial Shield as fastest GAC miler with Livvi picking up the highest age graded award with a  score of 91%.

 

The second mile race saw group coach Martin Brook (M50) achieve 5:57.4 mile with a very fast last lap giving him a 2 second personal best.

 

Anthony Cruise (U20M) ran his first 3000m race with great sense of pacing coming third in 9:11.0. His brother Joe (U15) also ran his first 3000m and aided by the pacer won the second 3000m event in 10:04.6.

 

Three of the group represented the club in the final Midland league meeting at Birmingham University on Saturday.

 

Seren Jones (W20) ran her first track race of this season having focused on her A levels.  Understandably nervous she ran two steady laps of the 1500m  in 82 secs then accelerated to finish in 5:02. Anthony Cruise (M20) ran in the men’s 1500m running fairly even paced laps for 4:10 just outside his PB. Group coach Arthur Daley (M70) ran in the same race – his first track race in over two years – to finish in 6:58.83 and placing him 25th in the national age group rankings.

 

Charlie Coles (U20) was another runner returning to racing after A levels producing a very even paced 3000m with a tussle for 4th place giving him a very fast 300m finish for a PB in 9:20.

 

The final meeting of the week saw athletes competing in the Avon League at the Blackbridge track on Sunday.

 

New member Molly Holland (U13G)  took the early lead in the  800 finishing 3rd in a Personal Best of 2:44.3.

 

A trio of U15B raced their 800 in very humid conditions. Joes Cruise was second in 2:17.7, Harry Overthrow  6th in 2:26.1 and a fast finishing Ethan Norris one place behind in 2:27.8.

 

Barney Golledge raced  a mixed age group 3000m showing nice pace judgement whilst producing very even laps for 11:06.

Several senior , master and young athletes successfully raced the Haresfield 5k promoted by Gloucester Athletic Club.

 

First to Gloucester runner to finish was Charlie Worsfold with a 25 second PB of 16:03 in 4th race place and County U20M Champion. Two places behind was M40 Owen Parry taking the county silver medal in 16:34, a 7 second PB. In 21st place was Ryan Hearn with 18:24 setting a new PB in his first road 5k. Charles Wu was 30th in 18:45 taking 22 seconds off his PB.  Michael Hall, whose Pelican Inn donated prizes finished  38th in 19:13 achieving a 1 second improvement in his PB.

 

Emma Stalberg W45 raced 21:34 for 67th place showing consistency being only a few seconds slower than her race in Bath on the previous Wednesday.  Amber Spackman running her first open road race set a PB with 22:04 (72nd) and first Under 20 woman so gaining a gold medal in the county championship.

 

Chris Davis was 82nd in83rd place with 23:01 and Lucas Clark-Savage in his first road race was first U15B and county champion with 26:17 for 106th place.

 

Livvi Avery raced a very windy 3000m in the Charnwood Open meeting gaining 2nd place with 10:39.82 only 0.5 of a second behind her PB.

Gloucester Athletic Club’s U20 man Anthony Cruise had the unexpected but thrilling experience of winning a local road race.

 

Anthony had entered the Westonbirt House 10k hoping for competition to take him to a fast time but as competitors were walked to the start line by the race pacers he realised that there seemed to be no one else who looked likely to match him for pace.

 

Leading from the start he was joined for the first 3 miles by Jack Derrick from Westbury Harriers. Having never been in the lead in a road race before Anthony has a range of novel decisions to make; he decided to increase cadence and pace uphill after the 5k drink station and pulled away to win by almost 2 minutes in 36:05.2 a few seconds behind his PB.

Gloucester Athletic Club’s Middle Distance Young Athletes were out in force in the Cheltenham Harriers open meeting on Wednesday 17th July.

 

First to run was Anthony Cruise (U20M) in the A heat. Despite being ill for the two days before the race running the first and third 200s faster than the others he achieved a 2 second person best for 3rd place in 2:02.00.

 

Heat B saw Joe Cruise (U15B), who had an issue with his shoes, finish in 2:18.91.

 

Livvi Avery  raced her first 800m for 2 years  leading form the start she set a fast pace  with her last lap faster that her first. She finished in 2: 16.16 taking 19 seconds off her personal best and placing her 25th in the UK.

 

Ethan Norris placed 4th in 2:22.3. Evie Avery after a fast first 200 ran an even paced race to finish in 6th 2:23.73

 

Heat D saw 3 of the training group racing. Arthur Nield (U17M) started very quickly and closing rapidly on the winner showed potential for the shorter middle distance races and possibly 400m. He was closely followed by a more confident Callum Yates. All three athletes set personal bests. Arthur’s and Callum’s being 8 seconds faster and Harry a large 5 secs.

 

Coach Martin Brook raced in heat E running very even paced 200m splits for 2:39.45. As a M50 that places him in the top 100 in the UK.

 

Phoebe Golledge (U15G) and Lucas Clarke-Savage (U15B) raced in heat G with both athletics setting a steady initial pace. Both set personal bests with Lucas accelerating over the last 200 taking 11 seconds off (2:41.32) and Phoebe 2 for 2:45.58.

 

Barney Golledge (U17M) ran his first 5000m and achieved a steady paced race overtaking in the last 600m for 19:19.03.

Olivia Avery from the middle distance group of Gloucester Athletic Club represented the Couty Schools Association in the English School AA junior girls 1500m championships in the Alexander Stadium Birmingham on Friday. Showing her excellent pace judgement she remained towards the back of the 13 strong field for the first 300m passing that point in near her target time.  Livvi then commenced her favourite tactic of “hunting the competitors down”.

 

With just over two laps to go she was 30m behind the lead group of 9 and she increased her cadence and lengthened her stride to  join the group at the bell. With 300m to go Livvi started to overtake 4 runners only to be baulked by a girl pulling out in front of her on the 200m mark. Despite having been pushed and loosing her rhythm Livvi ran the last 200m in 36s to finish 6th  with new PB by nearly 3 seconds of 4:39.38.

 

Members of the group competed for the club in the Midland Track and Field League at Yate on Sunday. Amber Spackman was the first of the group to compete. Running fairly evenly paced laps she finished second in 2:33.98 only half a second behind her personal best and then later in the meeting ran 400m in 66 seconds and completed the second leg of the 4 x 400 mixed relay A team.

 

Charlie Worsfold raced the men’s 800m in 2:01.52 again gaining second place in the last 100m. Although initially entered in the 1500m succumbed to team spirit and ran as B String to easily finish in 4:34.

 

Anthony Cruise was the A string runner for the 1500m and raced tactically well never being out of the first four and power over the last 200m to over take 2 Yate athletes finishing in 4:09.8. Despite never having raced 400m he started the first leg of the A 4 x 400m mixed relay and brought the team home in a superb 54.81 seconds.

Gloucester AC middle distance young athletes raced at the first Cheltenham Midsummer open race meeting performing well with good tactical decisions.

 

First to run was Callum Yates (U15B) in running strongly and tactically taking the lead with 200m to go to win in 1:34.31, a PB by 9 seconds. Harry Overthrow (U15B) raced in the next heat leading for most of the race, with good form to set his PB of 1:51.31; a time that suggests he should take seconds off his 800m PB.

 

Phoebe Golledge (U15G) ran in the next heat and quickly discarded her race plan to take the lead as the initial pace was too slow for the time she wanted. Although overtaken after 300m she rallied in the final 100 coming a close second place in  1:56.30.   setting her PB.

 

Lucas Clark- Savage (U15B)  and Belle Stoneman (U15G) ran in the final heat. They took the lead with Lucas – only 5 weeks into the sport – showing much improved form winning in 2:00.48 which suggests he also can improve his 800m PB by  a lot. Belle ran strongly for second place in 2:02.87 also pointing towards much faster 800m PB.

 

Lucas also came third in the javelin with 18:13 and raced 1500m coming seventh in 5:53.82.

 

Arthur Nield (U17M) raced the second heat of the 1500m producing very even paced laps giving  a PB of 4:38.52 in  fourth.  Evie Avery (U15G)competed in the same heat running the longer distance rather than her usual 800m to create a PB in 4:59.72 and taking the lead over the group she had been track at the 300m point to make a long run for fifth  place.

Young athletes recovering from A level exams lead the  Gloucester AC team home in the Gloucester 10k.

 

Charlie Worsfold lead his second 10k ever out of Gloucester Park but then settled to  a steady 5:20 mile pace until getting stitch at 3k. Remaining in third place he returned to the park to put in a very fast burst to retain his position finishing in 34:34 taking 90 seconds off his PB set in the same event last year.

 

The second A level student to finish, Charlie Coles also set  a PB in his second 10k. His 35:34 – 7th place -took a massif 2:45 from the time also set in the Gloucester 10k last year.

 

Ryan Hearn finished in  39:34 for 29th position and took an even larger 8:06 off his only other 10k which was also last year’s Gloucester 10k. Michael Hall ran 40:12 (32nd) just missing out on setting a fourth successive PB.

 

Chrissie Horak ran a victorious 42:06, her fastest time on this course,  to finish first lady whilst Dave Gresswell who ran a lot of the race alongside Chrissie finished  56th in 42:13.

 

 

Chris Nield, running with a tight feeling hamstring finished in 45:36 for position 106 and Nick Bishop ran 49:06 in 109th place. Chris Davis was 206th in 50:06.

 

Both Harriet Akerman and Libby Andrews - who usually run shorter distances on the track - finished in 71:05 for 280th and 282nd paces.

Duke of Edinburgh Awards events and illness depleted the Middle Distance runners squad at the final YDL meeting at Yate on Saturday.

 

Harry Overthrow ran into 6th place in the U15B 800m taking 3 seconds off his Power of 10 time and matching that achieved in several schools’ events.  Lucas Clark-Savage removed almost 10 seconds on his previous and first 800m time for 5th in the B race with 2:50.34.

 

Both boys then showed excellent team spirit by competing in events they haven’t been trained for. Harry ran the U15B 300m using his endurance strength to take 3rd place in 43.92. Middle distance squad member Callum Yates who also trains with Justin Smith’s sprint group ran the A  race for 3rd in 41.14.  Callum also showed excellent team spirit throwing the hammer for 4th place with 14.49 and setting a PB in the 200m.  

 

Harry also competed in the long jump coming 7th with 3.68m. Lucas was not far off that distance taking 4th B string in 3.35. Lucas also put the 4k shot taking 3rd place with 7.70m.

 

The squad would love to see new members join their Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday training session.

The club's  Middle Distance athletes  competed for their Schools District in the Gloucestershire Schools AA Track Championships.

 

Evie Avery (Inter Girl) raced 300m powering away in the final 100m as in her race plan winning the final in a new PB of 43.8. Callum Yates (Inter boy) also raced 300m winning his heat in 39.7 – making the mark to represent the county in the SW Schools Championship  and then coming second in the final.

 

Callum also raced the 800m with 2:24.9. The same race saw Joe Cruise snatch 3rd place in a PB of 2:11.4  and Ethan Norris just behind in 2:20.3 taking 10 seconds off his PB.

 

Joe’s brother Anthony lead the 1500m senior boys for two and three quarter laps following his race plan for pace but then a massive surge from Isaac Henderson (Cheltenham) saw Anthony slip to third (4:16.5 – a new PB) but holding off a fast finishing Charlie Worsfield (4:17.7) . Charlie Coles finished in 4:24.3.

 

Livvy Avery had a definite plan for the inter girls 1500m starting off at 4:40 and leading the field for all of the race. Challenged by one runner for the first 300m she gradually extended the gap to convincingly create  a new PB of 4:42.0.

 

On Sunday two of the squad competed for the club in the Avon League at Yate. Harry Overthrow holding off a challenge in the last 20m came 5th in his 800m race (2:33.89, a new PB ) and Lucas Clark-Savage in his first race for the club 10th in his 800m in 3:01.26.

Gloucester AC Middle Distance U15 Girls Livvi and Evvie Avery travelled to Millfield School on Saturday for the British Milers Club meeting.

 

A feature of these races is that every race is paced and both girls were placed in races that would provide the challenge for which they were looking.

 

Evvie raced first showing improved pace judgement. The pacer was expected to complete a 68 second first lap but Evvie allowed the field to move away  recognising that that 30 second for the first 200 was too fast. During the second lap she benefitted from her improved speed endurance closing the gaps and taking a place for 2:23.67, her third fastest ever time.

 

Livvi had chosen this meeting so that unlike her previous outings on the track this year she had closer competition. With most runners in her 1500m race having a  faster PB she responded well to this passing 300m in her target time of 54 seconds and then sustaining a good rhythm for the next two laps. With the final 300m to she improved her speed taking two places to finish in 4:43.1 and meeting her target of an England Athletics 1500m Championship qualifying time.

Gloucester Athletic Club's Middle Distance Young Athlete's, showing strong individual performances, contributed to the team finishing 4th in the first Youth Development Match at Newport on Saturday .

 

First to compete was Evie Avery in the U15G 800m. Running a well paced race Evie was well behind the rest of the field at 200m but then, using her own phrase, started hunting down the athletes to finish second out of the seven athletes and with 2:26.6 was 4 seconds clear of third place.

 

Next to compete was Callum Yates in the U15B 800m. Callum ran a very fast first lap contributing to a slower second lap but still achieved a PB by 6 hundredths but beating last season’s out door PB by almost 3 seconds.

 

Olivia Avery dominated the U15G 1500m. She had set her aim at achieving the English Schools’ AA Championship qualifying time which she did with ease. Her 4:45.2 put her three seconds inside the mark and 130m (30 sec) ahead of the second placed runner.

 

Joe Cruise and Ethan Norris raced in the following U15B 1500 both achieving personal bests.  Joe ran just behind the eventual winner for most of the race clocking 4:39.2nin second place ; Ethan ran a steadier race taking 10 seconds off his PB for 4:54.5.

 

Callum helped the 4 x 100m U15B relay team to second place; Olivia and Evie ran in the 4 x 300 U15G relay  where Evie’s final surge on the last leg closed a 30m gap for 5th place. Joe and Ethan helped the 4 x 15B 300m relay gain 3rd position.

Gloucester AC U15 girls, Evie and Olivia Avery travelled to the open meeting at Nuneaton on Sunday The gale force winds from storm Kathleen denied them the opportunity to get near last season’s personal bests  but it was a useful opportunity to revise middle distance race tactics.

 

Evie raced first in 800m After a fast first 200m she completed the first lap in  70 seconds then slowed running into the gale force winds but accelerating in the final 200 to finish in 2:29.57.

 

After waiting 3 hrs Olivia raced 1500m. Placed in the fastest heat she tucked in behind a pair of runners which sheltered her from the wind. After a very fast 300m the group then slowed reaching 700m in 2:35. Despite the wind and lactate acidosis Olivia then picked up the pace running PB pace for the last two laps finishing in 5:3.99.

Several of Gloucester AC’s Young Athletes represented Gloucestershire on Saturday in the Inter-counties Cross Country Championship. Charlie Coles  finished 97th keeping his effort the same he speeded up on the many  downhills  in the 8k race  for 26:07. Charlie was the first runner to finish for the county.

 

Arthur Nield and Barney Golledge raced the U15 Boys 4k event. Both athletes using the same steady running tactic to move through the field as runners in front tire. They also swapped positions frequently with Arthur  finishing 210th in  14:26 ( 5th in the county team) and Barney 222 in 14:31

Anthony Cruise raced the U17 Men and finished 3rd in the county team with  183rd . Pushing up the hills Anthony ran the  6k in 20:05 overtaking several runners in the finishing straight.

 

Callum Yates gained experience in racing in a packed and high quality field . Although suffering from a cold he finished 215th in  12:13.

 

The last two Gloucester AC runners Olivia Avery and Evie Avery raced the U15G event. Although in the first year of this age group Olivia raced hard for the whole 4k  for 63rd  (15:31) and first scorer for the county.  Evie Avery tracked her sister for the first lap then dropped a few seconds suffering from stitch but was still third scorer for the county in 123rd 16:09.

 

Next Saturday many of the GAC athletes will be racing for the County Schools Association in the ESAA CC Championships at Pontefract.

 

The photo shows Barney (left) and Arthur (right)

A couple of Gloucester AC’s Young Athletes raced the Bourton 10k on Sunday with senior club members setting them a good example.

 

Richard De Camps tracked the winner Ed Banks from Birchfield Harriers for the first part of the race  coming in third in 31:53 (31:52) only 10 sec short of his winning time from last year.

 

Anthony Cruise (U17M) paced well using another runner for speed in the first  3 or 4k then on the return leg of the out and back course  speeded up and overtook many runners to finish in 37:17 (37:12 chip time) and 63rd as the 3rd U18.

 

Jeremy Mower felt he was returning to good form with his 37:30 (37:27) and 67th as first M55.

 

Sam Isaacs (U17M) achieved his aim of finishing in under 40 minutes finishing in 39:53  (39:43) for 121st but with  a large blister..

 

Emma Stalberg  raced in 44:58 (44:50) taking places over the last 200m for 259th as  9th W45 and improving by 12 minutes from 2 years ago and 4 minutes from last year.

Despite many of them having colds Gloucester AC athletes competed successfully in the final Gloucestershire CC League meeting over undulating courses in Cheltenham’s Pittville Park.

 

Callum Yates (U13B) gained his highest placing of the season in 7th  in 11:02 over the 2.9k course.

 

This was replicated by Ben Jones (U11B) who raced well to 4th place over 2.2k in 9:15. Hanny Mundy was  the next scorer in 9:55 for  12th place. Jacob Gill was 32nd in 10:44.  The team  gained third place in this race and the bronze medal in the overall league.

 

U15  Boys and Girls raced over 5k.  Olivia Avery  knew she was capable of being first girls and ran steadily to do that creating a 32 second gap between her and the next girl.

 

Arthur Nield and Ethan Norris were the next Gloucester AC runners. Having played football in the morning Arthur ran a steady first lap then powered through the field for the second lap to take Ethan who ran strongly throughout. Arthur was17th in 21:10 and Ethan in 18th 2 seconds behind. Joe Cruise ran for 22nd place in 22:19 and Paddy Figgis  finished in 23:29 for 24th place.

 

The next race over 6.5k saw  great races by people suffering from colds. Anthony Cruise ran much of the first lap in 4 or 5th place but then moved through to lead for all but the last 400m. His excellent second lace in the race also gained him  silver in the league.

 

Seren Jones also suffered from a cold and like Anthony was doubtful about starting but persisted and using her strong rhythmic style came through for third U20W (29:36) and Gold in the league.

 

The same race which combines many age groups saw the largest number of Gloucester AC women racing this season.  Following her 45th place in the British University’s CC Championships Millie Porter was the first senior home taking second senior women position in 26:37.

 

Grace Hinga picked up many places over the second lap for 3rd Over 50 woman (30:59) followed by Anna Midgley  (6th W40) with 31:06. Tenth SW was Bryony Bishop making a welcome return to racing cross country (31:44). Emma Stalberg was 7th W45 in 33:31.

 

Natalie Marshal taking on her first cross country race was 12th W40 in 36:16. Followed by a fast finishing Abby Brook , 7th W50 in 36:23.  Nicola Waters was the third   W65 in 38:20 with Kirsty Norris  17th W40 in 46:40.

 

Senior and U20M raced over 9.5k.  Charlie Worsfold was first home for Gloucester AC. His time of 35:17 placed him 4th U20 gaining silver medal in the league. Owen Parry  was second scorer as third M40 in 37:49.  This gave him a bronze medal in the series.

 

Charlie Coles ran his usual pattern with a fast enough start followed by 4 very even paced miles and a faster final section to bring him in 8th U20M in 38:06. James Walters followed in 11th place in the same age group (40:35) Chris Nield completed his first cross Country season with 6th M45 in 42:19.

 

Dave Gresswell was 11th M55 in 44:46  Ben Griffiths after tracking Dave on the first lap dropped through a sore knee to finish 16th U20M in 49:46. 

Eight Gloucester AC athletes represented Gloucestershire Schools AA in the SW Schools CC Championship at RNAS Merryweather, Somerset, on Saturday.

 

Inter-boys were first off with Barney Golledge starting very conservatively but moving through the field for all of the 4750m to finish 49th in 17:13. Arthur Nield suffering from a football injury completed the course steadily - though with faster finish - for 65th in 18:20.

 

Senior boys ran 6000m over the varied terrain with 2 long laps. Charlie Worsfold was always in the top 10 and finished strongly for 9th in 19:22 whilst Anthony Cruise paced well over taking on the muddy wooded sections for 25th place in 20:31.

 

Ruth Brook (Intermediate girls) ran two small laps  making 3725m and although in the leading group for the first 2k suffered from a recurrence of a foot injury finishing 12th in14:42. Training partner Seren Jones ran the same course for the senior girls race and ran strongly over the last third to be the first Gloucestershire scorer in a time one second slower than Ruth’s.

 

Last race was the junior girls over 3000m. Olivia Avery, suffering from a cold, paced very well  having a fast – but not too fast - start that placed in her  the top 8  then moved through the field do that with  a mile to go she was in 4th but being tracked by a Cornish girl. Keeping to her race plan she  pulled away over the last 200m to comfortably take 4th in 10:18. Evie Avery again started fast but not too fast  then used different tactics  to take 6 places over the last lap and finish in 10thwith 10:45.

 

On Sunday Lois Finan competed in the Welsh Indoor 800m U20 Track Championships. Starting in lane 2 of the final  Lois set a fast pace encouraged by the blistering pace set by the others. At the break she settled into 6th place, holding that for 200m then moved into 5th which she held for 200 after settling into  a steady pace just losing a place on the last bend to come 7th in 2:36.9.

 

The Middle distance squad are always looking for teenagers keen to develop their middle distance running.

For the first time in many years on Saturday Gloucester AC athletes entered the Midland Counties Cross Country Championships held at Newbold Comyn in Leamington.

 

Olivia Avery finished the 4k U15 Girls event in 9th. Although tracked by a group for most of the last 2k she focused on closing the gap between her and the runners in front pulling away over the flat and fast finish to be several seconds clear in 16:16. Evie  Avery showing good tactical strength from the start ran possibly her best race of the season to come in 14th in 16:38.

 

Ruth Brook, only just returning from an ice skating injury, ran a gutsy 5k in the U17 women race. Always in the leading group behind the winner Shaikira King, Ruth dropped cadence along the hill at 1.5 miles but increased it after mile 2 moving into fourth place and was tracked by Megan Taylor of Nots AC. Determinedly, she pulled away over the last half finish section.

 

Charlie Coles raced the U20 men’s event over 8k. As usual he started what seemed to be conservatively  but ran his fastest mile in the first mile. He then slowed a little but not as much as his competitors taking about 10 places to finish 23rd in 30:26.

 

Young athlete coach Martin Brook ran in the senior 12k event. He finished the three 4k laps in 62:23 running a very even pace but, using the course well, picked it up in the flat section in the middle of each lap.

 

Callum Yates ran his first indoor race in the U15B 800m at the London Indoor Games. From the break he settled into third place, passing 400m in 69 seconds and maintained that until 300m then realising that the leading two runners had slowed, overtook them with 300m to go. He quickly established a 6m lead which he kept finishing in a  3 second PB of 2:22.9

Several of Gloucester AC young cross country athletes have been selected to represent Gloucestershire AAA in the Inter-counties Cross Country Championships in Nottingham on 9th  March.

 

Callum Yates will be racing the U13B 3000m but first off over 8k will be Charlie Worsfold and Charlie Coles in the U20M race at 11:00.

 

Two U15B will be racing half that distance as Barney Golledge and Arthur Nield are both running in the county’s claret and gold vest.

 

Anthony Cruise runs 6k as an U17M and Olivia and Evie Avery lead the county team in the U15G 4k event.

 

Ruth Brook (U17W – 5k) and Seren Jones (U20W -6k) occupy a similar position in their teams. Laura Wenham is the first reserve for the U17W.

The third Gloucestershire Cross Country League returned to the Cotswold Farm Park on Saturday 6th January.

 

The under13s raced first with Ezri Sunter finishing 23rd girl in 18:31 and  and Eloise Adcock (in her first cross country race) coming 25th girl in 19:51.

 

They were followed by the U11s who had a very difficult 3 laps of the bumpy field.  

 

Hanny Mundy was the first Gloucester AC runner to come home over the rhythm denying bumps as 21st boy in 8:41, Kingsley Ward was 25th in 8:59 and Sebastian Sterling-Welford completed the team in 30th place with 9:19.

 

Next to race were the U15s over 4.7k. Barney Golledge was the first GAC runner home running a steady paced race to come 5th boy home in 19:46. Arthur Nield closed the distance throughout the second half of the race to finish 6th boy just 4 seconds behind Barney whilst Olivia Avery finished just 2 seconds away from Arthur to take the second girl spot.

 

Jaimie Hebbron  paced himself well to improve places in the last 2k taking 13th boys place (20:26) with Evie Avery third girl in 20:33.

 

After a fast first 1k Joe  Cruise faded but then had an exciting battle with Ethan Norris with Joe finishing in 21;47 and Ethan to seconds behind for 18th and 19th places.

 

Anthony Cruise lead the Gloucester AC runners home in the women’s, U17s and older master men 6.4k race. Tracked by a Durley and a Team Bath runner for the last 3k Cruise dropped the team Bath athlete with about 2k to go and outsprinted the Dursley man to finish 2nd, his highest league placing (25:03). Seren Jones was first U20W with after a good fast start which placed her well  a fine exhibition of steady effort racing for 29:22.

 

Amber Spackman had one of her better cross country races coming in second U20W in 51st place for 31:58. One second behind Amber was 8th placed W40 Anna Midgley with a faster finishing Grace Hinga in 32:42 for 61st place and 3rd W50. Emma Stalberg was 88th in 35:17, Abby Brook in her first year for some time 100th (36:48), Nicola Waters 3rd W65 in 39:29, Kirsty Norris 154th in 46:58 and Chris O’Carroll first M75 in 158th place in 59:27.

 

The men’s race was over 10k. Charlie Worsfold  showed good pace discipline, holding back a little over the bumpy field then powering along the firm down hill, to come 7th and first M20 in 36:28. Owen parry finished 26th in 38:28, and Charlie Coles in his first cross country race over this distance gain third M20 place (30th; 39:04). Next to finish was James Walters in 51st place (41;25), Chris Nield 72nd (43:52) and Dave Gresswell in 92nd for 46:03.  Ben Griffiths was 110th in 47:57 and Young Athlete coach Martin Brook won  a sprint finish for 117th place in 49:19.