A Mid-Race Mirage?
On Sunday, 12th April, the City of Salisbury Athletics & Running Club hosted the latest edition of the Salisbury 10-mile road race, attracting a sell-out crowd of 929 finishers. The event, which serves as the eighth fixture in the Hampshire & District Road Race League (HRRL) and is also open to non-club runners, guided participants along a picturesque route north of the city. Runners followed the banks of the River Avon through the Woodford Valley, an area famed for its gently undulating terrain and scenic vistas. The return leg provided views of the historic Salisbury Cathedral spire, before the race concluded with a final lap of the athletics track at the Five Rivers Leisure Centre.
The day was marked by good running weather, though athletes had to contend with a swirling wind that seemed to blow from all directions. Despite the breeze, the mood was lightened by the surreal sight of camels stationed alongside the route, providing a welcome distraction for the passing runners. For their efforts, every finisher was rewarded with a commemorative t-shirt to mark their achievement on the challenging course.
Alton Runners were well-represented with a strong contingent of 27 members taking part. Alex Hall led the club home with an impressive 11th place finish overall, followed closely by Steve Drysdale in 18th. Drysdale’s performance was particularly notable as he secured a new personal best, narrowly missing the elusive sub-one-hour mark. Alongside Christian Coles and Andrew Lowton, they formed a formidable Men’s A-team. The women’s A-team also saw significant success, spearheaded by Rachel Walsh, who crossed the line as the 10th woman overall, supported by the efforts of Samara Kelleher-Jacobs, Diane Byrne, and Wendy Hall.
Beyond the lead teams, the day was a triumph of individual progress. Jim Armitage showed great determination to finish after recently being forced to pull out of the Ryde 10 after just one mile due to illness. Reflecting on his comeback, Jim said: “I was very pleased when not only did I complete it, but I was four minutes faster than last year.”
Further notable performances came from Patrick Tuite, Nick Pepper, Pippa Perrett, and Lydia Andrews, who each achieved a new 10-mile personal best—no mean feat given the hilly profile of the Salisbury route. Men’s Captain Steve Drysdale praised the fantastic club turnout and noted that his own two-minute improvement came despite the challenging winds.
Further afield, Alton Runners’ Darren Garfoot (new PB), Neil Kinder, and Chris Buckle completed the Brighton Marathon. With the club also boasting healthy numbers for the upcoming London and Manchester marathons, training across the board appears to be yielding excellent results.
The focus now shifts to the next league race, which takes place much closer to home. The Alton 10 is set for 10th May and promises a similar test of endurance, with a profile just as demanding as its Salisbury counterpart. With the race already 80% sold out, organisers are urging anyone planning to join Alton Runners on the start line to sign up immediately to ensure they do not miss out on what is expected to be another capacity event.