PBs and Podiums for Alton at the Solent Half Marathon
On Sunday 8th March, a contingent of 18 Alton Runners travelled to the New Forest for a milestone edition of the Solent Half Marathon. This year marked the 40th anniversary of the event, which celebrated its four‑decade legacy with a significant calendar shift—from its traditional autumn slot to a fresh spring date for 2026. Hosted by Hardley Runners, the race is a staple of the Hampshire Road Race League (HRRL). Originally established in 1985, the event became the Solent Half in 1987 when Hardley Runners took the helm and moved the base to Gang Warily. To commemorate the anniversary, every finisher in the sell‑out field of 441 runners was presented with a special celebratory mug.
Conditions on the day were misty but dry, providing a cool atmosphere for racing. The course began at Gang Warily in Fawley. The name “Gang Warily” translates from Latin to “Go Carefully”—advice that proved prophetic as runners navigated a damp, slippery field at the start. After a tricky opening, the route transitioned onto the road before heading into the heart of the New Forest. While the undulating country lanes offered scenic views of the famous New Forest ponies, the persistent “heehawing” of a particularly vocal donkey added an unexpected soundtrack to the morning. Alton’s Steph Erskine, who finished 2nd in her age category, noted that it “certainly felt more like a trail course at the beginning and end,” though the scenery and the braying donkey brought a smile to her face.
Alton Runners staged a formidable takeover at the front of the pack, remarkably placing four men in the top 20. Rich Webley led the charge, finishing 10th overall and 3rd in his age category. He was followed by Alex Hall in 11th. Steve Drysdale secured 15th place with a hard‑earned Personal Best (PB), while Christian Coles rounded out the top 20, also claiming a PB. Reflecting on the team’s effort, Drysdale commented that the terrain at the start and finish “wouldn’t have looked out of place in a cross‑country league,” making the club’s dominance in the top 20 of an HRRL race even more impressive.
The highlight of the day, however, belonged to Rachel Walsh, who delivered a stunning performance to win the women’s race. Finishing 21st overall, Walsh smashed her previous record, setting a new PB by more than two and a half minutes. Despite admitting to two nights of “stressed dreams” about turning up without shoes, she credited a strong pack of runners for keeping her pace high throughout the challenging route.
Despite the undulating, “non‑PB” reputation of the course, the Alton squad saw improvements across the board. Andrew Lowton finished 48th overall and 3rd in the 60–64 category, maintaining his impressive run of sub‑90‑minute finishes—even after navigating what he described as a “swamp” at the finish line. Further success came from Danny Taylor, Darren Garfoot, and Lydia Andrews, who all secured new PBs. As runners crossed the final fields to collect their commemorative mugs, the sense of achievement was palpable. With a race win, multiple age‑category podiums, and a remarkable presence in the top 20, the 40th Solent Half will be remembered as a landmark day for the club.
The next fixture in the HRRL is the Salisbury 10‑mile event in April, following a scenic route north of the city. Thirty‑three Alton Runners will be lining up on the start line, hoping for another strong team performance.