With the season beginning to shape up nicely for Bournemouth AC in both the Dorset and Hampshire Road Race Leagues, a Super Sunday double header saw the team divvied up to cater for both the May 5 and the Netley 10k. They were chasing promotion to the top division on both fronts so the fixtures were both of huge significance.

After a resounding win at the Alton 10, the BAC men were up to 3rd in the table and had moved to just three league placings behind Totton who were currently occupying 2nd position. A win at Netley could lift them into the promotion places which was where they wanted to be so that was a good incentive to give it their all.

After his magnificent 2 hour 42 minute marathon debut at London, Ben Collins was back in race action for the first time. Also coming off the back of a successful London Marathon in which he recorded a PB of just under 2 hours 54 minutes, Barry Dolman was in the line up. As was Grzegorz Kazaniecki, another man who managed a marathon PB at London, clocking a time of 2:54:35.

Mike Akers, Chester Clarke and Patrick Kingston completed the super six for the yellow and blues.

The Netley 10k is a three lap course round the grounds of the Royal Victoria Country Park. There is a tough little incline to handle on each lap and there were some muddy off road sections as well which some of the BAC men weren’t expecting.

Struggling a bit during the fallout from London, Ben Collins didn’t feel fully ready to hit the road. He knew it was important for the team to get a good result in this one though so decided to give it a go. He felt okay at first, going through the first mile in 5:53 before following it up with a 5:42.

He was 14th after the first lap. Then it was onto the full length incline for the third mile, which he got through in 6:19. The fourth mile provided some downhill respite and Ben was back at 5:55 for that one. He was 28th fastest person on the second lap which put him 21st after two laps.

Then it was back to that full incline again on the fifth mile, which he got through in 6:33, and he was now down to the final mile or so. Getting back on pace for the first half of the mile as he headed back down, he was 29th fastest on the third lap which put him 24th overall.

With about 500 metres left to go though, his legs suddenly seized up. That made for a difficult and painful ending for Ben as he hauled himself toward the finish. Losing a few places in that last bit of the race, he ended up going over the line in 37:15 which put him in 27th place.

Barry Dolman was the only returning member of the side from last year’s Netley 10k race. They’d changed the course slightly this time though as part of the route couldn’t be used which made it even harder. Barry paced it very well though, starting sensibly and putting in a very measured effort. His miles that contained the hill were all around 6:25 pace and then he picked it up to around 5:45 for the miles that contained the descents.

He was 37th fastest on the first lap and 23rd quickest in the field on his second lap. Then for his third lap he was 20th so he’d been progressively moving up the field throughout.

Finishing really strongly, he was 4th fastest out of anyone in the final run in and almost ended up catching Ben. Going over the line in 37:19, he’d taken 28th place out of 530 in the field. That was a 10 second improvement on his time from last year and as he did last year, Barry scooped the prize for 1st M50.

He was thinking that he might get a chocolate bar again like last year but was awarded a small wooden trophy instead this time. He was gutted not to get the chocolate but at least it was a lasting memento for Barry.

Starting with a 5:58 for his first mile, Mike Akers then went through the second one 5:52. He was 32nd fastest on his first lap. He then followed it up with a 6:12 for this third mile which contained the full incline before getting back to 5:53 for his fourth mile. That made him 29th fastest on his second lap.

Registering a 6:21 for his fifth mile as he headed back up full incline, he then clocked a 6 minute final full mile, putting him 28th for his third lap. Losing a couple of places in the final run in, Mike went over the line in 37:43, which put him 31st overall. With an average pace of 6:03, it was a terrific effort from Mike.

Sometimes guilty of setting off too quickly, Chester Clarke had to be wary of that and try to temper his pace accordingly. He was 34th fastest on the first lap with an average speed of 3:44 per kilometre. He was 44th fastest on the second lap with an average speed of 3:50 per kilometre which put him in 37th place at that stage.

Slowing down a touch on his third lap, he was 51st fastest there, with an average pace of 3:55 per kilometre. He’d moved up to 36th place though before the final run in. Losing five places in that last stretch, he went over the line in 38:35 which put him 41st overall. That was a solid 28 second PB for Chester.

It was enough to seal another splendid top placing for in the second division for Bournemouth AC. Liss Running Club finished 2nd with Overton in 3rd and leaders Farnham Runners taking 4th. Totton could only manage 8th place which meant the BAC men had climbed to 2nd in the table and were now seven league placings ahead of their rivals.

In 44th place at the end of the first lap, Grzegorz Kazaniecki had been going at 3:50 per kilometre pace. On the second lap, he was 64th fastest with an average pace of 3:57 per kilometre. That put down to 55th place at the end of the second lap. For the third lap, he was 48th fastest with an average speed of 3:54 per kilometre. That had moved him up to 50th overall.

Finding it tough at the end though, Grzeg lost three places, going over the line in 39:21. That put him 53rd overall and saw him take 6th place in the M45 category.

Going through the first mile in 7:01, Patrick Kingston then clocked a 6:16 for the second mile when he was on his way back down. He was 60th after the first lap. He then went on to record a 6:41 for his third mile and then a 6:23 for his fourth mile. He was now up to 57th place.

Tackling the full incline again on the fifth mile, he then clocked a 6:52 before heading back down again and getting back on pace for his last full mile. He was manage to maintain position on his third lap before dropping a couple of places on the final run in.

Getting round in a chip time of 39:36, Patrick came 59th overall and was 8th in the M45 category.

Southampton star Richard Waldron picked up the win, getting round in 33:51. Joshua Price of Isle of Wight Road Runners came 2nd in 34:03 and his teammate Ross Wilkes took 3rd in 34:12. Another Southampton man, Ben Brewster sealed 4th place in 34:44.

Simon Pilcher of Vectis Academy Race Team finished 5th in 35:02 and he was 1st vet, ahead of James Clarke of Lordshill who came 6th in 35:10.

One of the runners who overtook Ben at the end was Alex Lane of Winchester Running Club and she was 1st female, crossing the line in 37:07. She was 26th overall.

It was a close one between Katie Horton of Eastleigh and Emma Jolley of City of Portsmouth for 2nd female spot but Katie got it in the end by just three seconds. She clocked a time of 39:21 putting her 54th overall and Emma was next over the line in a chip time of 39:24.

The battle for first F50 was a close one as well, with Sarah Gurney of Winchester Running Club taking it in 40:23, just six seconds ahead of Nikki Moxham of Gosport who was next person over the line. They were 74th and 75th overall, with Sarah Sheddon completing another impressive scoring race for Winchester Running Club, taking 6th female spot in 40:54. She was 78th overall.

In the men’s first division it was Fareham Running Club who got the best score by one placing over Lordshill Road Runners. Alton Runners came 3rd but still lead the way in a very tight title race, with Denmead Striders just one placing behind them and Lordshill just one behind them.

Despite having, arguably the most talent within their ranks, Southampton AC are already relegated after failing to get a team of four out in all but two of the races. In a remarkable fall from grace, last season’s champions Winchester and District could also be relegated and it is looking like a fight for survival between them and Stubbington Green Runners.

Itchen Spitfires and Hardley Runners look the main candidates for relegation in the men’s division two. Winchester Running Club were the top scoring team in the men’s third division at the Netley 10k with Isle of Wight Road Runners finishing 2nd despite having two of the top three finishers. New Forest Runners were still in command when it comes to the promotion places though, with Isle of Wight Road Runners currently occupying 2nd spot.

In the women’s first division, it was a win for Lordshill at the Netley 10k, with Farnham finishing 2nd and Denmead in 3rd. Denmead lead the way for the season so far though, with Lordshill in 2nd and Hedge End in 3rd.

Once again, it looks like Winchester and District will be relegated from the top division since all their best runners now represent Winchester Running Club. As in the men’s top division, Stubbington Green look likely to go down with them.

Overton Harriers got the best score in the women’s second division at the Netley 10k, ahead of Portsmouth Joggers. Alton Runners and Ryde Harriers are currently level at the top of the table and look like they will be promoted to the top flight. Hardley Runners and City of Portsmouth look prime candidates for relegation.

Victory AC still lead the way in the women’s third division with New Forest Runners currently in 2nd. Winchester Runners are creeping up though and will probably still gain promotion despite missing the first five fixtures.

Lordshill lead the way in the men’s B team top division as well as the men’s C team, where they are joint top with Alton Runners. They’re also top of the men’s D team table as well.

The penultimate race of the Hampshire Road Race League season is the Alresford 10k and that will see another strong Bournemouth AC line up going at it. Rich Brawn, Stu Nicholas, Adrian James and Katie were all down the double after competing in the Purbeck 10k on Friday night. Matt Brown, Ben Collins, Ryan Pegoraro, Ricky Brennan and James Hulbert are also signed up. After braving it on a very hot day last year, Rich Nelson wasn’t about to let another opportunity of a bug ridden bag of watercress pass him by and will also be taking part.

If they can be the best scoring team in the last two fixtures, Bournemouth AC will be champions of the second division with eight wins and one 3rd place as their nine counting results. That will be an outstanding effort, should they manage to achieve it and with the talent they have in their armoury, it certainly looks on the cards.