| The field for the first of the year’s Battersea Park 5 milers, last Tuesday evening, was up to a very reasonable 20 in spite of the National 20 km being only two days previously. The majority in fact had taken also part in the 20km including most of the 7 strong Surrey Walking Club contingent. The Park saw the pleasant sunny weather that these race usually enjoy with a slight but cold breeze. For the past couple of years the 5 mile run has started at the same time and place as the race walk and SWC’s Mark Easton was as up with the slower runners and after the first of the mile and three quarter laps pulled away from the rest of the walkers to win by one and a half minutes and just break 40. The front of the field was unusually strong with four inside 45 and the next Surrey competitor, Peter Hannell’s was down in 10th despite a fairly good time, a minute clear of Paul King who had easily beaten him in the 20km. Further back positions 12, 13 and 14 were all SWC while Kathy Crilley, a long distance specialist and not often at the shorter events, pulled clear of John May who at 79 had a good race averaging over 4.6 mile in the hour. |
| Men: 1. M.Easton (Sy WC) 39 min 48 sec; 2. F.Reis (Ilf) 41 min 12 sec; 3. P.Ryan (Ilf) 43 min 6 sec; 8. P.Hannell (Sy WC) 49 min 20 sec; 10. P.King (Bels/SyWC) 50 min 35 sec; 12. C.Flint (L Vids/Sy WC) 51 Min 11 sec; 13. P.Crane (Sy WC) 52 min 26 sec; 14. D.Hoben (Sy WC) 56 min 4 sec sec; 17. J.May (L Vids/Sy WC) 64 min 52 sec. Women: 1. H.Middleton (E&H) 44 min 30 sec; 2. F.Bishop (Wok) 51 min 6 sec; 3. K.Crilley (Sy WC) 62 min 40 sec. |