Racing Stragglers battle wild weather

This weekend's wild weather threw up plenty of challenges to those racing. Only a few of our masters runners tackled the Surrey Masters XC in Nonsuch as Storm Boleo brought rain and strong winds to South West London. Phil Hammett finished 6th in the M65+ race, while Livia Munaretto was first Straggler in the women’s race and Gareth Pritchard was first home in M35-60 race. 

Sadly Storm Austen on Saturday sabotaged the Stragglers trip to Wales and the end of Phil Davies’ big birthday celebrations as the Eryri Marathon was cancelled.  The 16-strong group went to Y Promenad parkrun instead. 

Tom Gwynn and Jane McGuire travelled to Frankfurt and didn’t escape the bad weather as it poured with rain. The pair still managed to complete the marathon in 2:46:12 and 3:24:59 respectively.

Closer to home, Frederik Hutchings was first Straggler home in the River Thames Half in 84:34 and also won his age group, while Phyllis Flynn won her age group in 1:45:54. Martin Vivien completed the Maidenhead Half in 2:20:38, while Carla Cotton tackled the Beachy Head Half with its 457m of elevation and finished in 3:09:45.