The Bournemouth AC men were out in force in the first race of Upton Summer Series

Two races into the six-race Upton Summer Series and Bournemouth AC athletes have already made their mark, collecting individual victories, team honours and age-group successes as they look to build on some impressive performances from previous years.

The opening race saw a strong Bournemouth AC turnout with Riley Austin, Matt Brown, Tom Casson and Callum Pearson representing the men, while Emma Caplan, Kitty Cook, Helen Beddoe, Michelle Dorrington and Emma Biggs flew the yellow and blue flag in the women’s competition.

The start of the first Senior race of the Upton Summer Series

Tom Casson and Riley Austin in Race 1

Matt Brown starting Race 1

Matt Brown

Matt Brown and Riley Austin in Race 1

Riley Austin arrived at Upton in excellent form. Having won the Junior Summer Series two years ago before stepping up to finish fifth overall in last year’s senior competition, he had recently demonstrated his credentials with a third-place finish at the Bournemouth Bay 10k in a time of 35:44.

Matt Brown and Riley Austin

He produced a performance to match that promise.

In what became a display of Bournemouth AC dominance, Riley surged clear to take victory in a superb 19:36. Ben Shawyer was the only athlete able to challenge the Bournemouth AC contingent, taking second place in 19:47, while three of the top four finishers wore yellow and blue.

Matt Brown continued the fine form that has seen him run 34:29 at the Eastleigh 10k and record a marathon personal best of 2:40:11 in December. Going through the first mile in 5:30, Matt followed up with consecutive 5:43 miles before closing out the race at 5:53 pace to stop the clock at 19:53.

Riley Austin and Matt Brown in Race 3

Matt Brown in Race 1

Matt Brown

Tom Casson in Race 1

Tom Casson was another Bournemouth AC athlete enjoying a strong run of form. Having recently clocked 5:08 in the Community Mile at the Bannister Miles meeting in Oxford, he opened with a rapid 5:28 first mile before covering the next two miles in 5:56 and 6:06. Maintaining a 6:11 pace for the final section, Tom crossed the line in an impressive 20:36.

Tom Casson

Tom Casson

Tom Casson

Callum Pearson in Race 1

Callum Pearson completed Bournemouth AC’s outstanding men’s performance. Splits of 6:02, 6:12 and 6:19, followed by a 6:39 pace finish, saw him record 21:34 and claim 11th place overall as the club enjoyed one of its strongest collective showings in recent editions of the series.

Callum Pearson

Callum Pearson

Emma Caplan in Race 1

The success did not end there.

Emma Caplan

Emma Caplan

Emma Caplan led the women’s race from a Bournemouth AC perspective, producing an excellent run to finish as first female and 22nd overall in 22:31.

Emma Caplan was first female

Kitty Cook in Race 1

Kitty Cook continued where she left off last year. Cook finished fifth female overall in the 2025 series after completing all six races and had recently placed seventh female at the Bannister Miles Community Mile in Oxford. Her consistency was again on show as she recorded mile splits of 6:19, 6:29 and 6:43 before closing strongly to finish second female and 30th overall in 22:49.

Kitty Cook

Michelle Dorrington in Race 1

Carys Gallagher of Westbourne was third female in 23:49.

Michelle Dorrington

Michelle Dorrington, ninth female overall in last year’s series and a member of Bournemouth AC’s winning women’s team, ensured there were three Bournemouth AC women inside the top eight. Splits of 7:02, 7:04 and 7:09 helped her to a time of 24:50 and 54th place overall.

Michelle Dorrington

Helen Beddoe in Race 1

Helen Beddoe was the fourth Bournemouth AC woman home. Having completed all six races last year and improved her time at every event, she arrived at Upton following a successful spring marathon campaign which saw her break four hours at the ABP Southampton Marathon. She completed the course in 27:04, finishing 90th overall, 21st female and second in the F40-44 category.

Helen Beddoe

Helen Beddoe

Emma Biggs in Race 1

Emma Biggs completed the Bournemouth AC scoring contingent. Her time of 32:17 placed her 149th overall and 48th female.

Emma Biggs

With 190 runners successfully completing the course, Bournemouth AC rounded off a memorable evening by claiming victory in both the men’s and women’s team competitions, which are determined by the first three finishers from each club.

Emma Biggs

Emma Biggs

Tougher Conditions in Race Two

The start of Race 2

The second race of the series proved a sterner test.

Andrew Smith of Poole Runners took victory in 19:47, with Ben Shawyer again finishing runner-up in 19:57. Oscar Ewan Matthews of Poole AC claimed third in 20:16, while Ed Davies of Twemlow Track Club was fourth in 20:34.

Callum Pearson starting the race

Callum Pearson was Bournemouth AC’s leading male athlete on this occasion. Although unable to reproduce the performance that had seen him finish 11th overall in race one, he still ran strongly to place 22nd in 22:44.

Callum Pearson

Callum Pearson in Race 2

The warmer conditions appeared to take their toll across the field.

Callum Pearson

Helen O’Neile of Poole Runners was first female and 20th overall in 22:26, with Imogen Thorne second female in 22:53.

Kitty Cook once again featured prominently, taking third female spot in 23:31. While some way outside the 22:49 she managed in the opening race, the significantly hotter conditions made comparisons difficult and her placing kept her firmly in contention at the top of the overall standings.

Kitty Cook in Race 2

Kitty Cook

Carys Gallagher finished fourth female in 23:54.

Helen Beddoe in Race 2

One of the performances of the evening came from Helen Beddoe. Locked in a close contest with Vicky Rutter of Littledown Harriers, Beddoe narrowly missed fifth female place by just one second as she crossed the line in 25:12. The time was quicker than four of her six performances from last year’s series and moved her to the top of the F40-44 standings after two races.

Helen Beddoe

Emma Biggs starting Race 2

Matilde Blagden made her Upton Summer Series debut in Bournemouth AC colours and completed the course in 30:38, placing 28th female.

Emma Biggs in Race 2

Emma Biggs returned for her second outing of the series and finished in 34:57, placing 148th overall.

A total of 168 runners completed the second race, with the Bournemouth AC trio of Kitty Cook, Helen Beddoe and Matilde Blagden securing second place in the women’s team competition.

Early Standings

Emma Biggs

Following two races, Ben Shawyer heads the overall standings thanks to consecutive runner-up finishes.

The BAC ladies team finished second in Race 2

Kitty Cook sits at the top of the women‘s standings, while Bournemouth AC also lead the women’s team competition heading into the third race of the series.

With four races still remaining, there is plenty of running left to be done, but Bournemouth AC have already established themselves as one of the clubs to watch this summer.

Junior Summer Series

The start of the first Junior Summer Series race

The club’s younger athletes have also made an excellent start to their campaigns.

Edward Davies was featuring in the first race of the Junior Summer Series

Race one saw Aiden Blagden produce his fastest Junior Summer Series performance to date, finishing fifth in 5:27. Having ended last year’s competition seventh overall, the Bournemouth AC youngster looks set for another strong season.

Aiden Blagden in the Junior Summer Series Race 1

Edward Davies also recorded a personal best for the series, clocking 5:40 to finish eighth. He was 15th overall in last year’s standings.

Aiden Blagden

Imogen Davies completed the course in 6:39 to place 52nd overall and ninth girl. She was also the fastest athlete in the Girls 9 category.

Aiden Blagden

Adam Ewen Matthews of Poole AC won the race in 4:57, ahead of Seth Hollyman of Poole Runners in 5:16 and Stelios Pavlou, also of Poole Runners, in 5:17. Imogen Beisley of Poole AC was first girl and 12th overall in 5:48.

Aiden Blagden

Race two brought another excellent performance from Aiden Blagden, who improved his placing to fourth while recording 5:28.

Edward Davies in Race 1 of the Junior Summer Series

Marlon Moxey was the other Bournemouth AC representative and finished 14th overall in 5:57, making him the fastest boy in the 8-year-old category.

Edward Davies

At the front, Adam Ewen Matthews made it two wins from two starts, lowering his winning time to 4:53. Seth Hollyman again took second in 5:06, while Zacary Armitage of New Forest Juniors was third in 5:25. Imogen Beisley was once more the first girl home, finishing ninth overall in 5:47.

Adam Ewen Matthews won the first two Junior Summer Series races

After two races, Aiden Blagden occupies fourth place in the overall Junior Summer Series standings.

Making her debut for the distance, Helen Beddoe took on the ABP Southampton Marathon

The ABP Southampton Marathon Festival once again brought thousands of runners to the south coast for a day of racing that featured a full marathon, half marathon, 10k and 5k. Among them were two Bournemouth AC members with very different objectives: Helen Beddoe tackling her first ever marathon and Jason Coltman making a welcome return to racing over 10 kilometres.

For Helen, reaching the start line represented the culmination of a remarkable twelve months of progress. One of the club’s most improved runners throughout 2025, she had transformed herself from a solid club athlete into a genuine force in local road racing.

Helen had made great strides since joining Bournemouth AC

At the beginning of last year she clocked 49:40 at the Bournemouth Bay 10k. By the end of August she had sliced more than six minutes from that mark, recording an impressive 43:29 at the Totton 10k. Her commitment was evident throughout the season, contesting numerous Dorset Road Race League fixtures and completing all six races in the Upton Summer Series.

Being a test that Helen hadn’t faced before, it would be interesting to see how she coped

The improvement there was equally striking. Starting the series with a time of 26:19 for the demanding 3.5-mile multi-terrain course, she steadily got quicker with every outing and rounded off the competition in 24:28, almost two minutes faster than her opening effort. Along the way she also reduced her 5k best to an excellent 21:06.

Although Southampton would be her first official marathon, she already knew she could cover the distance. Back in October she had successfully completed the Run to the Sea 50k, proving both her endurance and determination over an even greater challenge.

It was quite an undulating route which would add to the challenge for Helen

Preparations for Southampton had gone well. Helen opened her spring campaign with a 45:09 performance at the Bournemouth Bay 10k before enjoying the scenic Combe Gibbet to Overton 16-mile trail race, where she finished in 2:17 and claimed eighth female position, 52nd overall and third place in the W40 category.

Helen was aiming for a sub four hour time

The Southampton Marathon itself starts at Dock Gate 8 within the city cruise port before taking runners along the waterfront, past Mayflower Park and the ferry terminals before tackling the distinctive Itchen Bridge. Marathon competitors cross the bridge four times during the two-lap course, while also passing St Mary’s Stadium, Riverside Park, Southampton Common and many of the city’s best-known landmarks.

Helen settled into a controlled rhythm during the opening stages. At the first checkpoint, 4.5 miles into the race, she reached the timing mat in 38:38, placing 503rd overall and 45th female. By halfway she remained 45th woman, passing 13.1 miles in 1:57.

The hills took their toll in the end but Helen kept going

The second half proved considerably more challenging. However, as often happens in marathon running, patience and persistence began to pay dividends. By the 17.6-mile checkpoint she had moved significantly through the field, climbing to 440th overall and 36th female in 2:36:42.

Helen heads down the the finishing straight with a sub four hour time in sight

The closing miles were made tougher by a hilly section of the route. Like many runners around her, Helen found herself forced to walk some of the steeper inclines as fatigue took hold. Nevertheless, she kept battling forward and remained firmly on course for her primary objective.

Crossing the line on Above Bar Street in a chip time of 3:55:28, she comfortably achieved her target of breaking the four-hour barrier. Her debut effort earned 476th place overall from 1,501 finishers, while she was 44th female from 350 runners and 13th in the V40 category.

She wasn’t sure if she enjoyed it but she got the outcome she wanted

While pleased with both the result and the achievement, Helen admitted afterwards that she did not particularly enjoy the marathon experience and may prefer to concentrate on shorter events in future. Given the success she has enjoyed over 10k and 10-mile distances, that is perhaps understandable.

Jason Coltman was featuring in the 10k race

The marathon was won by Winchester athlete Andrew Greenleaf in 2:32:16. Goncalo Miguel finished second in 2:37:40, with Sean Barwick third in 2:39:34. The women’s race was won by Madisyn Dominy in 2:56:42, while former Bournemouth AC runner Helen O’Neile produced an outstanding personal best of 2:57:54 to finish second female and 20th overall. Kerry Riches completed the podium places and was first V40 athlete in 3:11:23.

Meanwhile, Jason Coltman lined up in the popular 10k race, which follows the waterfront before crossing the Itchen Bridge twice and, for the first time in the event’s history, takes runners through St Mary’s Stadium before finishing in the city centre.

After coming bac from three fractured ribs, Jason had to play it safe

The Bournemouth AC runner’s appearance was notable in itself. After suffering heart issues during 2024, he had understandably been forced to moderate his racing efforts. Encouraging signs emerged towards the end of last year when he recorded 44:50 at the Boscombe 10k, close to the personal best of 44:36 he had set at Round the Lakes in September 2024.

Jason heads down the finishing straight in St Mary’s Stadium

More recently, however, another setback had threatened his participation. Jason fractured three ribs in March in a go-karting accident at Silverstone and had been uncertain whether racing would be possible. A successful test run at parkrun the previous weekend gave him enough confidence to take his place on the start line.

Working in the marine industry, Jason was also running in support of Stella Maris, the charity which provides practical and pastoral support for seafarers around the world.

Jason celebrates as he reaches the finish line

Recognising the limitations imposed by his recent injury, he wisely resisted the temptation to chase a fast time. Instead, he focused on enjoying the occasion, soaking up the atmosphere around the course and distributing plenty of high-fives to fellow participants and spectators.

Even with that relaxed approach, he still produced a highly respectable performance. Passing the first checkpoint in 82nd position, he gradually worked his way through the field before finishing 74th overall from a huge field of 1,553 runners. His official gun time was 48:37, while his chip time of 47:05 secured eighth place in the V50 category from 113 competitors.

The 10k race was won by Niclas Olley in 32:37 ahead of Stanley Phillips and Aaron Froukhians. Hayley Weston was first female in 41:29, followed by Lucy Short and Indy Miller.

Jason was part of the Stella Maris charity team

Elsewhere at the festival, the half marathon was won by Even Bentzen Lovas in 1:12:24 ahead of Kieran Babbage and Henry Piper. Tina Christmann claimed the women’s title in 1:22:02 and finished 18th overall.

The 5k produced another impressive performance from young Theo Cobley of Poole AC, who won in 16:38 despite still being under 16 years of age. He narrowly held off Brandon Cuell, while Lucy Waterer was first female and 12th overall in 19:34.

For Bournemouth AC, however, the day belonged to Helen and Jason. One celebrated a successful first step into marathon running with a sub-four-hour debut, while the other demonstrated admirable resilience simply by returning to the start line after injury. Both performances reflected the determination and commitment that continue to characterise the club’s runners.

Paddy McCalister selected the Belfast City Marathon as his big Spring target race and he was looking to launch a sub three attempt

The search for an elusive sub-three-hour marathon continues for Bournemouth AC‘s Paddy McCalister, who tackled the Belfast City Marathon with high hopes after a strong training block but ultimately found the challenging course profile too much to overcome.

Having recorded a personal best of 3:04:55 at the Paris Marathon last year, Paddy arrived in Northern Ireland knowing he was not far away from the magical barrier. His preparation had gone well and there were plenty of signs that he was in excellent shape.

The first encouraging result came back in February when he produced a superb personal best of 1:07:15 at the Lytchett 10, despite the race forming part of a long-run sandwich rather than being a standalone target. He followed that up in March as Bournemouth AC’s sole representative at the Solent Half Marathon, again using the race as part of a longer training run and comfortably running inside marathon pace to finish in 1:28:24. Alongside those performances were a number of quality long runs, including a particularly impressive 22-mile session featuring 18 miles at an average pace of 6:53 per mile – exactly the sort of workout that suggested a breakthrough performance could be on the cards.

The Belfast course offered both opportunity and danger. Paddy opened sensibly with a 6:47 first mile before negotiating the predominantly downhill second and third miles in 6:41 and 6:46 respectively. It would have been easy to get carried away on the early descents, but he showed discipline and kept his effort under control.

A slight rise on mile four saw him record 6:52 before settling into a solid rhythm. Miles five, six and seven were covered in 6:44, 6:49 and 6:53, followed by splits of 6:46 and 6:49 for miles eight and nine. At that stage everything appeared to be progressing nicely.

Paddy gave it his all but in the end the hills got the better of him

The race then entered a prolonged uphill section and the challenge began to reveal itself. Paddy battled gamely to maintain his pace, holding around 6:50 per mile through the opening part of the climb before posting 7:11 and 7:08 miles. The effort required to keep moving at that speed on the rising terrain had taken its toll, however, and the wheels gradually began to come off.

His 15th mile was completed in 7:24 before he reached 16 miles in 7:16. The 17th mile took 7:43 and the race’s toughest climbing section followed. Those relentless gradients pushed him beyond eight-minute-mile pace and, although some welcome downhill sections eventually arrived, the damage had already been done.

As Paddy later reflected, by that point his goose was already cooked.

There was still work to do. A final incline during the 25th mile was negotiated in 8:15 before he dug deep to complete the last mile in 8:46 and bring his Belfast challenge to an end.

His finishing time of 3:14:15 was well outside both his sub-three ambition and his personal best, but the result should be viewed in the context of a course containing around 700 feet of elevation gain. It was a demanding marathon that punished anyone who got their pacing wrong or simply lacked the strength for the hills. Paddy came 505th overall out of 5,216.

Paddy’s Belfast City Marathon medal and customary pint of Guiness

Importantly, the training block was completed without injury and Paddy emerged from the race unscathed too. He was soon back running and training normally, giving him a solid platform for future marathon attempts. There will undoubtedly be more opportunities to chase that sub-three target and Newport has already been mentioned as a possible destination next year.

For now though, a summer of shorter-distance racing and a chance to enjoy the sport without the demands of marathon preparation may be exactly what is needed before another assault on the three-hour barrier.

At the sharp end of the race, Abay Alemu and Teadese Mamo were both credited with the winning time of 2:16:24, suggesting the pair were inseparable in a thrilling finish. Joshua Griffiths claimed fourth place in 2:18:01, while local favourite Jonathan Cornish, well known on the Dorset racing scene, produced a magnificent run to finish in 2:19:29.

There was also a remarkable achievement from Bournemouth AC junior coach Nick Marshall, who completed his third marathon in as many weeks while dressed as a giant screw to raise money for Prostate Cancer. Having already conquered Newport and London, Nick added Belfast to his growing list with a finishing time of 4:47:18. The challenge is not over yet either, with the Edinburgh Marathon still to come and Dublin now added to the schedule later in the year. Through both his fundraising efforts and the considerable media attention the challenge has generated, Nick has raised an impressive amount for a worthy cause while continuing to inspire the club’s younger athletes.

After finishing second in last year’s North Dorset Village Marathon, Stu Nicholas was hoping to go one better this time round

One week on from the bright lights and big crowds of London, Dorset’s marathon faithful returned to something rather more rural, rugged and relentlessly undulating for race four of the 2026 Dorset Road Race League season — the ever-challenging North Dorset Village Marathon.

Starting and finishing at Sturminster Newton High School, this gloriously unforgiving tour of the Dorset lanes took runners on a winding expedition through Hinton St Mary, Marnhull, Stalbridge, Todber, Stour Row, Margaret Marsh, West Orchard, Farrington, Child Okeford and Hammoon. Quaint in postcard terms perhaps — but in marathon terms, a true grinder.

For Bournemouth AC, all eyes were on Stuart Nicholas and Katie Gunn.

Stu’s Bold Bid Falls Just Short

Fresh from a commanding victory at the Norfolk Marathon, where he clocked 2:46:52 on a course boasting over 1,000 feet of elevation, Stu arrived in North Dorset in formidable shape. Add in a blistering 16:03 parkrun PB at Poole and a 33:22 lifetime best at Stubbington earlier in the year, and confidence was understandably high.

After finishing runner-up here in 2025, Stu clearly had unfinished business.

And from the gun, he looked intent on settling it.

Stu faced competition from Twemlow Track Club man Chris Wood

Despite a testing opening four miles featuring plenty of climbing, Stu attacked the course with real conviction, tearing through at sub-six-minute-mile pace before settling into a still aggressive rhythm just north of that mark. Through ten miles, he was setting the agenda, handling the early hills with admirable authority.

A 6:23 on the notorious ninth-mile climb was followed by a 6:17, then a slick 6:07 downhill eleventh mile as Stu continued to press on the front foot. Through 15 miles, this was a brave, front-running display.

But North Dorset rarely gives without taking.

As the latter hills arrived, particularly the energy-sapping climbs around miles 19 and 20, the cost of that early ambition began to surface. Splits drifted, then drifted again.

Unfortunately for Stu, Twemlow Track Club’s Chris Wood was executing something close to marathon perfection behind him.

The race win proved a bridge too far for Stu in the end

Having gone out significantly more conservatively, Chris gradually cranked through the field with ruthless precision. Once he reached the latter stages, he unleashed a devastating sequence of miles, including a 5:45 24th mile, to reel Stu in, surge past and disappear.

It was a stunning piece of marathon running from Chris, who claimed victory in 2:44:54.

Stu, meanwhile, showed admirable grit to hold on for second in 2:47:15 — another excellent marathon against a very strong field, even if his post-race verdict that by mile 24 “the wheels belonged more on a clown car” suggested it had become something of a survival mission.

Even so, second place in a county championship race and another elite-level performance underlines what a superb season Stu is putting together.

Katie’s Courageous Battle

For Katie Gunn, this race carried a very different narrative.

London Marathon heartbreak had struck again just seven days earlier, with fuelling issues once more derailing her race after sickness intervened. The search for race-day nutrition that her stomach will tolerate remains an ongoing frustration.

Yet if last year proved anything, it’s that Katie possesses resilience in abundance. After similar London disappointment in 2025, she bounced back immediately to win North Dorset outright as first female.

It was another marathon outing that didn’t quite go according to plan for Katie

Could lightning strike twice?

Sadly, this time it wasn’t to be.

Katie battled gamely but her body simply wasn’t cooperating, and by mile 21 she was reduced to walking. In truth, she would likely have stepped off the course had logistics allowed — but with little option other than getting herself back to the finish, she dug deep and kept moving.

That determination saw her complete the course in 3:57:16 for 67th overall and 14th female.

Not the defence she’d hoped for, certainly, but in many ways an equally admirable display of toughness. Sometimes marathon running isn’t about times, positions or podiums — it’s simply about refusing to quit.

League Picture Tightens

Elsewhere, Victoria Pye of Egdon Heath Harriers strengthened her hold on the women’s individual standings with a commanding first female finish in 3:15:13, while current champion Emma Mogridge of Dorset Doddlers and Miranda Aldridge of Verwood Runners completed the podium.

In the men’s race, Mark Savage took third, while David Jones of Twemlow Track Club grabbed fourth and Poole AC’s Adam McCrea continued his excellent season in fifth.

Team-wise, the Dorset Road Race League tables remain fascinatingly poised. Poole AC continue to lead the Men’s First Division despite being denied victory here, while Egdon Heath Harriers strengthened their grip on the Ladies’ First Division.

For Bournemouth AC’s women, failure to field a team in the last two races saw them slip down to fourth in the table, with Purbeck Runners and Verwood Runners tied at the top.

Bournemouth AC Takeaways

North Dorset once again proved that this is a marathon where pacing, patience and resilience are every bit as important as fitness.

For Stu, there was plenty to admire in a brave and ambitious run that yielded another major result, even if the top step narrowly slipped away.

For Katie, it was a painful reminder of the marathon’s brutal unpredictability — but also another testament to her tenacity.

The roads may have been rural, but there was nothing quiet about the drama.

Jack Barwick and Katie Gunn were two of the 11 Bournemouth AC members competing at the 2026 London Marathon

The London Marathon is a race that strips everything back. It does not care for big training weeks, ambitious targets or glowing build-up races once the body begins to rebel in those final, unforgiving miles. For Bournemouth AC’s sizeable contingent, the 2026 edition produced a gripping blend of excellence, frustration, redemption and sheer bloody-minded determination.

There had been genuine optimism beforehand that this could be a landmark day for several of the club’s leading lights.

Rob McTaggart had looked ominously sharp in the build up. Winning the Lytchett 10 as part of a longer training outing was one thing, but following that with second in the Bournemouth Bay Half Marathon after already running ten miles beforehand suggested he was operating on another level. A 69 minute Fleet Half Marathon only reinforced the sense that something special might be brewing. A target in the region of 2:25 looked ambitious but by no means fanciful.

After a having a touch time in the heat last year Julian Oxborough was hoping for better

Dave Newman’s preparation had been equally eye-catching, albeit forged through relentless graft rather than headline-grabbing flourishes. Mileage peaking at a scarcely believable 160 miles per week spoke volumes for his commitment, while victory at the Weymouth Half Marathon in a windy 1:12 suggested the engine was finely tuned. Sub 2:30 was the dream.

Luke Martin had been flying in training and looked poised to produce a breakthrough performance, while James Hulbert, after his excellent 2:48 in the brutal heat of last year’s London Marathon, appeared primed for another bold showing.

Among the women, Louisa Rowland arrived fresh from a magnificent 2:59 in Barcelona and clearly in the shape of her life, while Katie Gunn was determined to banish the painful memories of last year’s ordeal when fuelling related sickness wrecked her race.

And then, of course, there were the club stalwarts, debutants and seasoned campaigners alike — all with their own stories to write.

Rob McTaggart was going all out for another fast time

At the sharp end, Rob McTaggart set out exactly as a man chasing 2:25 should. Clicking through 5k splits of roughly 17 minutes, he was moving at just under 5:30 pace and reached halfway in a superb 1:12:06. For 18 miles, the dream remained alive. Even as the pace began to edge beyond that early rhythm, Tag was still holding things together commendably. But marathon running at that level is a game of microscopic margins. One unnecessary surge to bridge a 100 metre gap to a group ahead ultimately proved costly. The effort drained precious reserves and, after 23 miles, the wheels came off. The final miles were a battle of survival rather than attack. Crossing the line in 2:29:38, Tag still secured a sub 2:30 and finished an outstanding 187th overall, 13th in his age category. For most, that would represent the run of a lifetime. For Tag, it was understandably tinged with frustration — the knowledge that he had more in him perhaps the hardest burden of all.

If Tag’s race was one of what might have been, Dave Newman’s was a masterclass in discipline and reward.

Dave Newman delivered a fine performance that justified the work he puts in

Dave executed his race with remarkable control, opening with 34:41 for 10k and maintaining a brilliantly measured pace throughout. While others around him undoubtedly paid for early enthusiasm, Dave’s huge training base came to the fore. His pacing barely wavered, and even in the closing stages he was still grinding out sub-18 minute 5ks. This was no dramatic collapse, no desperate hang-on. This was a man reaping the rewards of extraordinary preparation. Crossing the line in 2:28:51 and 157th overall, Dave not only broke 2:30 but did so with authority. It was richly deserved and one of the club’s standout performances of the day.

Louisa Rowland, meanwhile, may well have produced Bournemouth AC’s most polished run of all.

Louisa Rowland put in sensational display to finish in under 2:56

Backing up a sub three in Barcelona was never going to be straightforward, yet Louisa paced this race with intelligence, courage and class. Through halfway in 1:28:50, she looked composed, and crucially, she still had more to give. Rather than fade, she attacked. A brief wobble around mile 19 was swiftly corrected before she began moving through the field again, culminating in a magnificent 6:13 25th mile. That is not survival — that is racing. Finishing in a superb 2:55:46, Louisa not only smashed her Barcelona time but did so in style, finishing 139th female and confirming herself as one of the club’s premier marathoners.

It wasn’t quite the run James was hoping for but still a sub three

James Hulbert also deserves enormous credit. Bold from the gun and clearly unafraid to test himself, James ran aggressively through halfway before the inevitable attrition of the marathon began to bite. While he could not quite replicate last year’s 2:48, a 2:54:44 finish and 2,209th place still represented another excellent sub three. Not every marathon delivers perfection, but James once again demonstrated his quality.

James got round in 2:54:44

For Luke Martin, this was sadly a case of cruel déjà vu. Looking magnificent for much of the first half and reaching halfway in 1:25:29, Luke appeared on course for something special. Then came the now all-too-familiar abdominal issues. Severe pain turned what had been a promising charge into an exercise in sheer grit. That he still battled home in 3:03:53 spoke volumes for his toughness, but there was no disguising the disappointment of what might have been.

Luke Martin’s run was hampered by abdominal pain

Jack Barwick’s marathon debut was one of the quieter success stories. With injury severely disrupting his build-up, this was always likely to be an unknown venture. Yet Jack paced himself superbly, reached halfway in 1:29:47 and held on admirably for 3:09:46. Given the circumstances, it was an excellent first effort and surely one that can serve as a platform.

Jack Barwick did well in his first ever marathon

Among the veterans, Nick Kenchington once again showed his enduring class. Four minutes quicker than last year with 3:19:45, and 20th in his age category, Nick continues to exemplify resilience and competitive spirit.

Sanjai Sharma, contesting his 32nd London Marathon, produced another fine chapter in his extraordinary marathon journey. Learning from last year’s cramp issues, his hydro-pack and electrolyte strategy worked wonders. The result was a highly creditable 3:28:02 and a significant improvement on 2025.

Jack and Katie with their medals after completing the race

Katie Gunn’s race, sadly, was heartbreakingly familiar. For a while, redemption looked possible. She was on target through halfway, but then history repeated itself as that familiar energy gel related sickness reared its ugly head again and derailed her race. The resulting 3:38:35 was not reflective of her fitness, but marathon running can sometimes be brutally unforgiving. Katie’s determination to finish despite everything said plenty about her character.

Clint Taylor was running with his daughter Sophie

Clint Taylor, accompanied by daughter Sophie and raising money for charity, approached the event in precisely the right spirit — embracing the day, entertaining the crowds and completing the course in 5:03:25 with smiles likely outweighing split times.

Sophie and Clint ready themselves for the journey ahead

Julian Oxborough, after the lessons of last year, was again tested to his limits. Starting too quickly ultimately proved costly, but marathon running is often as much about perseverance as pace. By making it to the finish once more, Julian demonstrated the sort of determination many faster runners will never fully understand.

Peppa Pig and Joe Wicks were amongst the 60,000 paticipants

The clock was ticking all the time for Julian Oxborough as he worked his way round

Beyond Bournemouth AC, there were standout local performances too. George Grassly of Belgrave Harriers was the fastest of the masses in a time of 2:12:54, with Charlie Davis of Birmingham taking second in 2:14:48. Seyfu Jamaal was third in 2:15:30, with Sam Eglen of Aldershot Farnham & District taking fourth in 2:16:27.

Sophie and Clint were both raising money for charity

It took some time but Julian persevered through the pain

Winner of the Run Bournemouth Half Marathon, Oluwatosin Emmanuel Adedeji came 24th in 2:21:34, with Alexander Meill-Ingram of Radley taking 26th in 2:21:35. Former Bournemouth AC athlete Harry Smith was exceptional on debut with 2:26:43 for 97th.

Katie was making the most of the free pints her medal afforded her

Twemlow Track Club’s Jack Galloway produced an outstanding 2:29:17, while Poole AC’s Lewis Clarke just edged ahead of Rob McTaggart in 2:29:30. Tommy Corbin also impressed with a 2:30:13 PB, underlining Poole’s strength in depth. Brian Underwood’s 2:35:32 was particularly notable, earning him 6th in the 50-54 category, while Jack Murphy (2:37:43), Tim Rooke (2:42:57), Morgan Tame (2:47:19), Adam Colbert (2:48:41) and Becky Neal’s superb 2:58:22 all contributed to an exceptional day for the club.

Clint was well pleased to have that bling round his neck

Egdon Heath Harriers were similarly prominent, with Charlie Williams clocking 2:32:13 and Adam Davies 2:54:58, while Victoria Barnett ran 3:11:25. Perhaps most remarkable was Alex Door, who wasn’t rusty at all, just seven weeks after surgery to remove metal plates from her leg. She ran a tremendous 3:17:49 off minimal training, alongside the returning Matt Underhill, whose backwards Birdcage Walk theatrics and flying finish added some memorable theatre.

Harry Smith managed a stunning sub 2:27 in his debut marathon

Twemlow’s Chris Wood also shone with 2:37:25, backed up by David Jones (2:45:33), Dave Hicks (2:45:49) and Lee Dempster (2:50:38), while Wimborne’s Mark Savage posted an excellent 2:45:04.

There were also the wonderfully eccentric and inspirational efforts that London does better than anywhere else. Nick Marshall, running dressed as a giant screw for charity, completed his second marathon in two weeks before preparing for Belfast the following weekend — proof, if ever it were needed, that marathon running attracts all kinds of extraordinary people.

Sophie, Julie and Clint celebrate their London Marathon exploits

Yet ultimately, for Bournemouth AC, this London Marathon was about far more than times alone.

Katie sinks another one

It was about Dave Newman realising a dream through relentless hard work. Louisa Rowland elevating herself to another level. Rob McTaggart proving once again he belongs among serious company, even if perfection eluded him. It was about courage from Katie, persistence from Luke, promise from Jack, consistency from Sanjai and Nick, and personal triumphs from every runner who toed that famous start line.

The marathon always gives each runner something — joy, pain, wisdom or unfinished business.

…and another one!

It was an occasion Clint, his family and friends won’t forget

Everyone who completed the marathon that day was a superhero of sorts

Stu Nicholas’s first big Spring offering was the Norfolk Marathon

Like a man whose already formidable running arsenal has been given an extra edge, Bournemouth AC’s Stuart Nicholas continued his outstanding run of form with a superb victory in the Norfolk Marathon, storming to success in 2:46:52 and adding yet another impressive achievement to an already distinguished catalogue of performances.

A proven winner long before carbon plates entered his life, Stu has always been a fierce competitor and serial race victor. But since finally embracing the super-shoe revolution a little later than many, he appears to have unlocked an exciting new level — combining his trademark toughness and racing instinct with an extra gear that is now translating into even quicker times.

Stu’s wife Anna was also running the marathon

The signs had been there. Just a week before Norfolk, Stu blasted to a huge 16:03 PB at Poole parkrun, while his excellent 33:22 PB at Stubbington 10k earlier in the year confirmed that he was enjoying arguably the sharpest form of his career.

Anna is always up for doing the races that Stu does

Fresh from his previous marathon triumph at the wonderfully relentless Hampshire Winter Feisty Phoenix — where he conquered ten out-and-backs in 2:53 — Stu arrived in Norfolk full of confidence. His marathon PB of 2:37:31 from Brighton in 2022 remains the gold standard, but this latest success was another powerful reminder that he remains one of the club’s most dependable big-race operators.

Stu Nicholas was head and shoulders above the opposition

If Stu expected a gentle day out on the Norfolk roads, the course soon had other ideas.

Stu Nicholas heads toward the finish, lapping up the applause from onlookers

The opening mile served up a stiff climb, but Stu attacked it with trademark boldness, charging uphill at 5:55 pace and immediately stamping his authority on proceedings. Such was his ambition that only eventual half marathon winner Matt Noble of Hillsborough & Rivelin was anywhere near him in the early exchanges, while the rest of the marathon field were quickly left to battle for minor honours.

Stu approaches the line to take a comprehensive victory

The ascent continued through mile two, but Stu remained unflustered with a 6:09 split before roaring back with a 5:52 third mile. Settling beautifully, he then reeled off six more miles comfortably under six-minute pace, reaching ten miles with a 6:01 split and looking every inch the man in control.

The other competitors had Norfolk in chance when Stu was in town

As the course became more demanding, Stu’s challenge shifted from pure pace to measured resilience.

Stu crosses the line in a winning time of 2:46:52

Splits of 6:18, 6:06 and 6:21 from miles 11 to 13 showed he was still handling the terrain superbly, and another 6:01 for mile 14 reinforced his strength. But the hills kept coming. A 6:35 sixteenth mile and a punishing 6:42 on the eighteenth reflected the growing difficulty, while another incline at mile 20 ensured this was becoming a true test of marathon resolve.

Anna Trehane reaches the finishing straight

Then came perhaps the toughest stretch of all — miles 22, 23 and 24 all climbing steadily, forcing Stu to dig deep as he ground out 7:00 to 7:10 pace. Yet crucially, despite the course’s best efforts, no rival could seriously threaten his lead.

Anna crosses the line in 4 hours 45 minutes

At 24.5 miles, the road finally tipped downhill, and Stu responded like a champion sensing the finish. Finding fresh momentum, he lifted back towards 6:45 pace and powered home to claim victory in 2:46:52 — nearly a minute clear of John Hudson of Norwich Road Runners, who finished second in 2:47:44. Chris Gray took third in 2:49:46, with Ashley Gilbert of Dereham Runners fourth in 2:51:44.

The Town Cryer ensured everyone knew Stu was the winner!

Behind Stu’s excellent front-running display, Emma Burley was first female in 3:08:47, while Matt Noble’s early pace proved worthwhile as he secured the half marathon title in 1:19. Stu’s wife Anna Trehane did the marathon as well, completing the course in 4 hours 45 minutes.

Anna and Stu complete another tremendous running adventure

For Bournemouth AC, though, this was all about Stu — an athlete who was already highly accomplished, but who now seems to be marrying years of racing excellence with a fresh surge in speed.

Stu and Anna replenish those lost calories after the race

The result? More wins, faster times, and an athlete who looks increasingly capable of pushing his already impressive limits even further. Norfolk was simply the latest proof that Stu Nicholas, already a top-class competitor, may still be discovering just how quick he can be.

The first race for Geoff Newton at the European Masters Indoor Championships was the 3000m

On Sunday 22^nd March, like many of you, I watched the World Indoors Athletics Championships at the Torún Arena on BBC television when team GB won three golds. On Friday 27^th of March I found myself in the very same arena running the M80 3000m at the European Masters Indoor Championships.

The Arena had been given a new track and a makeover for the Worlds, so everything had been upgraded and the latest tech installed including many big screens so that spectators could watch all the action no matter where they were sitting.

The M80s assemble ahead of their 3000m race

To their credit the organisers tried to match that for the Masters so that competitors were individually introduced to the spectators beforehand, with close-ups, just like the Worlds. Action was streamed live to who knows where. Everything about the arena is now world class and made for a great experience. There was a decent atmosphere as many of the 3,500 competitors watched a lot of the action when they were not themselves competing.

Geoff was very much hoping to contend for a medal in all his races

Unlike the Outdoor Championships in Madeira last year there were no really outstanding M80 competitors in the Indoors. The 3000m is a new event for me. I am still learning. My only previous foray into this event occurred at a poorly attended British Masters in Cardiff in January. There I was in a race against two classy M70 runners and one fellow M80. Knowing I could easily beat my fellow M80 I tried unsuccessfully to keep up with the M70’s and paid the price with a poor time. The 3000 is on the border between a middle distance and an endurance event. Alas I am no middle-distance runner.

It was a third place finish for Geoff in the M80 3000m race

This time I was up against seven other M80’s and one M65 and one M90. I expected the most opposition from Ake Jonson the Swede and Jerzy Kopta – a Pole. They set the early pace. It soon became obvious that they were setting a pace I could not (and they probably could not) keep up. So, I did not bust a gut trying to keep up. At just over halfway I was caught by Ronaldatus Konduratus a Lithuanian.

Geoff takes his position on the third step of the podium

After a further lap or two I decided to charge for home, despite feeling stretched at the time. The Lithuanian did not respond. I was also making inroads into the gap between me and the two leaders. In the final stages Jerzy Kopta broke free to take gold in 15:30.91 and I just failed in 15:32.09 to catch a spent Ake Jonson (15:30.13) by two seconds.

The podium for the M80 3000m race

The Lithuanian was fourth in 15:51.35. There were two other brits in the race, Michael Johnson and Barrie Roberts who finished 5^th  in 16:10.90 and 8^th in 19:41.63 respectively. With hindsight I should have made my charge a lap earlier.

Geoff sets off in the 5k road race

There was only one day’s rest between the 3000m and the 5K road race. These days I need two days rest between races. It was going to be interesting to see if the others would be similarly affected. As things worked out, the 3000m results were turned on their head and I am sure this had something to do with it.

The race didn’t go completely to plan for Geoff

Things got off to a shambolic start. Originally there were to be three separate starts each separated by 5 minutes, the younger men followed by the older men and then all the women… There was a late decision to send off all the men together, but the change was not well publicised. As a result, I had to cut short my warm-up and Michael Johnson missed the start by two minutes. The weather was very cold and breezy.

I started far more quickly than I should, basically to keep warm and paid the price. After 1km I was struggling. I kept expecting Jonson and Kopta to come past but this did not happen. Instead, it was Konduratus who caught me up at about 2km. At about 3km things got worse. For the first time in over 60 years of racing my bowels decided to leak with messy results, which made the rest of the race unpleasant. Fortunately, my shorts did a good job of hiding this problem. About this time Konduratus got away from me. The rest of the race was a struggle.

Geoff battled it out to earn a second place finish

As I neared the finish, I became aware of Kopta finally catching up with me. A frantic sprint ensued. Ronaldus Kondratus got his pace judgement spot on, and this won him the M80 race in a slow 26.26 with me 2^nd M80 in 26.52 with Kopta one second behind me. Ake Jonson was suffering from the 3000m and was 4^th M80 in 27.44.

The missed start led to Michael Johnson recording 29.50 as 6^th M80. Barrie Roberts was 10^th of 11 M80’s in 38.04. Team results are worked out by cumulative time. The first M80 team was Poland, UK second of two. I was hoping to get inside 26 minutes which would have got 1^st M80 but it was not meant to be this time.

The cross country was Geoff’s third race of the European Masters Championships

We had two days of rest before the cross-country. This was held in a “park” adjacent to the Arena. This was basically hilly / undulating forest, mostly of conifers., with a network of paths, mostly surfaced with fine gravel. The ground was surprisingly dry and “flats” were the order of the day.

The ground was surprisingly dry so Geoff wore his flats

The courses were based on a 2km lap designed to incorporate as many hills as possible. I enjoy this sort of thing. However, the hills mean that it is advisable for most old people to avoid going eyeballs out at the start. The over 70’s ran three laps and younger age groups ran four laps.

It was an undulating course but Geoff enjoys that

I identified the two Irish runners John McMullin and Richard Mullins (both newly into the age group) as the main threats and thought I could handle the other 8 M80’s in the race. I set off at what seemed to be a reasonable pace and found myself just behind John McMullin and clear of Richard Mullins.

Geoff came away with another second place finish

However, John went off at a pace I would not be able to sustain, and he was out of sight by half-way round the first lap. By which time I had caught and passed Ake Jonson who offered no resistance.  Eventually, soon after the start of the 3^rd lap John M came back into sight in the distance, giving me the incentive to press harder.

Geoff collects his silver medal after the cross country race

Whilst he had clearly slowed, he had not blown up either. My pursuit became ever more frantic as the finish came nearer, culminating in a flat-out sprint. I finished just 3 seconds behind John, some helpful person warning him of my approach. He was first M80 and I was 2^nd M80.

Michael Johnson had dipped out of the race and flown home early, so a potential gold team medal was lost. However, Barrie Roberts and me were able to drop down to make up an M75 team with Ron Cattle. Ron finished 2^nd M75 and the three of us finished 3^rd M75 (of 4 teams) and got a bronze medal as some compensation.

Geoff with the other M80 medallists from the cross country race

Glass half full or glass half empty? These days I am permanently on the verge of retirement as in my training my feet hurt and more often than not, I feel knackered. However, the adrenaline in racing overcomes this. So, a haul of three individual medals and two team medals from three races is plenty of incentive to continue.

The downside is that with better pace judgement some of the individual silvers might have been gold and the bronze might have been a silver.

I did not recognise any other BAC members there, although I did see Andrew Ridley who some of you might know. He won an impressive 800m and 1500m double in M60 in 2:07.63 and 4:22.97 respectively.

Geoff with the other team medallists from the M75 category

Of course, competition between 80 year olds is more about longevity and stubbornness than talent. There were several world age group records broken at this event including John Wright of GB setting an M65 World indoor 400m record of 54.92. Even a few big names present including former Olympic medal winning athletes from Poland. Not to mention the controversial Dwayne Chambers.

In the future there will be many more big events here in the Torún Arena, both in professional athletics and with the “Masters”. Torún as a city is a nice place to visit. The walled old town on the banks of the Vistula is separated from the modern city by a ring of parks and is a UNESCO World Heritage site for it’s Gothic Architecture. So I can recommend anyone to take part in the European or World Masters Indoors when they next come back to Torún.

Geoff Newton

Mike Akers headed up north hoping that his legs would hold up okay when he took on the Manchester Marathon

There are marathon days when everything clicks—and then there are days like this.

Representing Bournemouth AC at the Manchester Marathon, Adam Corbin and Mike Akers arrived on the start line with every reason to feel optimistic. Training in the bank, confidence high, and recent form suggesting both were knocking firmly on the door of sub-2:40 performances.

Just three weeks earlier at the Fleet Half Marathon, both had delivered excellent runs. Adam was particularly outstanding, clocking a superb PB of 1:15—clear evidence he was in the shape of his life. Mike followed up with a strong 1:20:51, a time that confirmed he too was in excellent condition and not far removed from sub-2:50 territory.

Adam Corbin had been feeling a little under the weather in the lead up to the race

But as is so often the case with the marathon, the story began to unravel in the weeks that followed.

Mike’s troubles started first, with an issue in his left glute and hip that then developed into a calf problem—never ideal in the final phase of marathon preparation. Adam’s setback came in the form of illness, a heavy cold that severely disrupted his training. In fact, he managed just one meaningful run in the entire week before race week. Far from ideal, and certainly not the preparation his Fleet performance had deserved.

By the time race weekend arrived, Adam was still under the weather and, by his own admission, not especially motivated to race. Were it not for Mike making the trip, he may well have withdrawn. But the pair travelled north together and took their place on the start line, determined to give it a go.

Adam knew he’d be hard pushed to make it all the way round feeling like he did

Adam set off at a steady 6:24 per mile pace, holding that rhythm through the first 10km. He then eased slightly to 6:30 pace for the next few miles before slipping to around 6:40 pace over the following five. As the miles ticked by and the effort began to bite, it became increasingly clear that the illness had taken more out of him than hoped. After a couple more miles at around 6:50 pace, Adam made the sensible but difficult decision to call it a day rather than endure another ten miles in a depleted state.

Adam got up to 16 miles but didn’t feel he could go on for another 10

Mike’s race followed a similarly frustrating trajectory. Moving comfortably between 6:20 and 6:30 pace through the opening nine miles, he looked well set before the now-familiar hamstring issue resurfaced. The same problem that had lingered since Fleet returned with force. He battled on briefly, but the situation quickly deteriorated to the point where he could barely put weight through his left side. From there, it became a long and painful limp back towards the tram—hardly the finish line he had envisaged.

Despite some inury concerns, Mike was determined to give it a go

And so, a day that had promised much ultimately delivered disappointment for both athletes.

As if to underline the challenge, Adam’s ordeal didn’t end with his withdrawal—he still faced a 35-minute walk back to collect his bag, followed by another hour-long trek to the car. Not a day he’ll be keen to relive in a hurry.

Mike managed to make it to 9 miles before a hamstring issue halted his progress

At the sharp end of the race, victory went to Yohan Lidove in 2:15:18, just holding off William Strangeway (2:15:42), with Charlie Brisley taking third in 2:16:04. The women’s race was won by Naomi Robinson in 2:36:56, ahead of Heather Townsend who finished in 2:37:40.

For Adam and Mike, it wasn’t the outcome they had trained for, nor the one their form suggested was possible. But that is the nature of marathon running—unforgiving, unpredictable, and occasionally cruel.

It was destined not to be for Mike on this occasion but he’ll be back

What does remain beyond doubt, however, is their ability. The training, the performances at Fleet, and the resilience shown even in adversity all point in one direction. This one simply wasn’t their day.

There will be others.