Ryde Harriers travelled to the Lordshill district of Southampton to run the Lordshill 10k, an annual race route with origins in the 1990s and revised in 2007.
The event was rightly promoted as a ‘friendly’ road race hosted by ‘Southampton’s friendliest running club’ (Lordshill Road Runners), with a warm welcome received from the club’s race secretary upon entering the campus of the Oasis Academy. As is often the case, attending this Hampshire Road Race League (HRRL) race event had required an early morning start for the Harriers keen to run.
The start and end sections of the route were seen in advance during the walk from the Ordnance Survey building (for car parking) to the start line; the slight incline of the Lordshill roads prompted no concerns from Harriers capable of running in hilly Ryde.
The race began at precisely 09.30, albeit with some congestion at the starting line. Ryde Harriers advanced on, navigating the tight corners of sharp turns and a chicane before passing under the M27 motorway.
It would not be correct to describe the route as either scenic or picturesque; this was a race of smooth flat roads and suburban paths that met with the south-western railway line. 2 water stations were passed twice (due to the route reversing itself at the halfway point) in a more generous example of water stations on a 10k race route.
In the final minute of the race, fast and furious ‘sprint finishes’ could be seen from club members.
The Harriers’ individual times were respectable and well-earned, with the following results:
Men’s Captain Trevor McAlister 40:43
Elliot Tyler and Cliff Morley both 48:30
Debbie Williams 52:18
Sarah Cass 53:24
Women’s Captain Natalie Rose 54:01
Karen Holden 55:59
Peter Jolliffe 56:30
Lucy Wyld 57:25
Sasha Levrier 1:02:38.
