Runners take advantage of sparkling Sunday
RESPECTFUL silence gave way to the gentle rhythm of feet when more than 330 runners took part in the Butterfield Half Marathon.
Sparkling and calm conditions let the competitors make the most of the flat course which snaked up the West coast from L’Eree, before running along the north of the island, through the Bridge and into Town to finish in front of a cheering crowd lining barriers at the Visitor Information Centre.
In what is a key race in terms of Island Games selection, the first three home in both the men’s and women’s races hit qualifying standards.
Steve Dawes, a little off his peak after a brush with Covid disrupted his training, led home in 1:10.19.
James Priest, having stuck with Dawes in the opening stages, took second with a big new PB of 1:11.04, while there was another new significant best set by Sammy Galpin in third with 1:12.17.
All three were under the Island Games A-standard.
Jenny James was the leading women, running a strong back end of the race for 1:24.55 and an Island Games A-standard.
Ulrike Maisch was second after injury disrupted her build up, with 1:26.09.
In third, Sarah Eagles came home well ahead of her target in 1:28.15.
Those two times were B-standards.
Before the race got under way, a minute’s silence for Her Majesty The Queen was held.
Staff from race sponsor Butterfield were busy not only volunteering to help the race run smoothly, they also swelled the field with some travelling over from England to race.
There were also representatives from Stone Master Marathoners, Blackwater Valley Runners, North Derbyshire RC and Rochford Running Club.
See here for the full results.
We’ll be going live with a full race report, pictures, results and reaction in an e-zine later this week.
