Alton Runners’ annual summer barbecue was not just a social function but was also an opportunity to celebrate success and to congratulate the club champions and other award winners.

The event was organised by the club’s social secretary Gordon Law, who thanked everyone who helped him, especially Dave Molyneux who did most of the cooking.

He also made a presentation of flowers to Mary Blake to thank her and husband Terry for the use of their garden for the barbecue.

Hampshire Road Race League

The club’s road race championship is based upon performance in the Hampshire Road Race League which consists of races varying from five miles up to half marathon.

Forty-eight Alton Runners men and 33 women – making a total of 81 club members – took part in HRRL races last season, which helped the club to achieve some great positions in the league.

The ladies’ A team finished first in division two and have been promoted to division one while the ladies’ B team finished 11th out of 16 teams in the B team division one.

The men’s A team finished second in division two and have been promoted to division one.

Men’s club captain James Perrett said: “I am very pleased with these results.

“As far as I know, this is the first time Alton Runners have had a men’s A team in division one.”

The men’s B team finished top of division two and have also been promoted, so the club had huge success in the road race league and will build on this next season.

Men’s Road Race Championship

Club chairperson Jim Armitage presented the trophies to the club championship winners.

The men’s overall road race champion Alex Hall took part in all ten HRRL races and was first placed Alton Runner nine times. He finished 13th overall in the HRRL individual league.

The men’s senior road race championship is competed for by club members under the age of 40 and the winner was James Perrett, who was the only Alton Runner to finish in front of Alex in any of the races and that was in the Netley 10k.

In a very close second place in this category in his first season for Alton Runners was Matthew Eade.

The men’s V40 road race championship is scored against every man in the club over the age of 40. At one point Steve Drysdale, Adam Maskill and Richard Taylor were all in with a chance of winning the trophy and it was decided only in the last race of the season at Alresford when Steve Drysdale was first- placed V40 Alton Runner and clinched the title.

The men’s V50 championship was also decided in the last race of the season at Alresford. First-placed V50 Alton Runner at Alresford in his first season for the club was Andrew Tarrant, who therefore won the trophy.

The men’s V60 road race championship trophy was presented by Richard Scrase. In second place in this category was 2018 winner John Arbury.

Jim Armitage completed all ten races to take the trophy having previously won it in 2020.

Hugh Bethell won the men’s V70 road race championship having won the trophy three times previously as well as being a previous winner of the V60 trophy three times and winner of the V50 championship four times.

When presenting the trophy, Jim congratulated Hugh on being the club’s longest-serving member who was also chairman and race director for many years.

Women’s Road Race Championship

The women’s overall road race champion was Rachel Walsh, who won the title in her first season racing for Alton Runners by competing in eight HRRL races and finishing as first place female Alton Runner each time.

On route, she set women’s senior club records at five miles, 10k and ten miles.

The women’s senior road race champion is competed for by women in the club under the age of 35. Abbie Hook won the trophy, completing all ten races and set senior women’s club records at 5k and half marathon as well as the marathon.

Abbie said: “I am thrilled to win this trophy. One of my priorities this season was to run the Brighton Marathon but that didn’t stop me taking part in the HRRL.

“In fact, I found running the longer distances also improved my times over the shorter distances and I achieved several PBs during the season.”

The women’s V35 Road Race Championship is competed for by all women in the club over the age of 35.

This year’s winner Diane Byrne had previously won the trophy in 2010 and had won the overall women’s championship five times.

The women’s V45 Road Race Championship was won for the first time by Sarah Hart.

Vanessa Lowe won the V55 trophy having previously won the overall club championship three times. Her innovative approach to coaching has endeared her to many club members as their favourite coach.

Cross country

After completing the presentation of the road race trophies, Jim went on to present the male and female cross country trophies.

These trophies are presented to the man and woman in the club who competed in the most races in the Southern Cross Country League and improved most in those races.

This year’s male winner Richard Bacon is clearly a fan of cross country as he was also consistently a member of the Alton Runners Hampshire Cross Country League team. The women’s trophy was won for the second time by Abbie Hook.

Runner of the year

Rachel Walsh is a riding instructor and it is not unusual for her to take part in a league race then rush off to go to work mucking out stables or giving a riding lesson.

In addition to winning the women’s Road Race Championship and setting three club records, in her first season with the club she also decided to join the coaching team and is now qualified as a Leader in Running Fitness.

The committee therefore agreed to award Rachel with the Runner of the Year trophy.

Member of the year

This trophy is voted for by the club members. In a very close vote Tracy Irwin won the award.

Tracey joined the club in 2018 as a rookie runner and continued to train and improve her running. She decided that for her 50th birthday she would take part in her first ultra race and completed the Serpent Trail 50k.

Portsmouth Joggers Cross Country

Richard Scrase presented the award to the Alton Runners team who finished third in the event at Queen Elizabeth Country Park on July 27.

Alex Hall led the team on the five-mile course in 32 minutes and 51 seconds, finishing in seventh place overall and fourth-placed senior male.

He was followed by Alistair Smith in 37min 9sec (14th senior male), Andrew Hook in 37min 52sec (15th senior male), Gary Caswell in 41min 2sec (eighth male V50), Abbie Hook in 44min 53sec (seventh senior female), Patrick Tuite in 47min 29sec, Chris Smith in 48min 42sec, Kathryn Powell in 53min 26sec and Lisa Woolnough in 62min 13sec.

For further information on Alton Runners and how to join the club see www.altonrunners.co.uk

By Jim Armitage