Jacek Cieluszecki in the Coombe Keynes 10k

One day on from his Maverick Dorset 14k win, Jacek Cieluszecki was back in action at the Coombe Keynes 10k

In 2022, Jacek Cieluszecki won all three races of the series that he entered and he was looking to make some inroads into repeating that feat this year, starting with the Coombe Keynes 10k. Formerly the Lulworth Castle 10k, the route is set mostly in the Lulworth Estate.

Jacek Cieluszecki leading the Coombe Keynes 10k

JC was far too strong for anyone else in the race

Jacek led from start to finish ending up over four minutes clear of second placed Lee Thomas – an unattached runner. JC’s time was 35:22.96, which wasn’t too far off his 34:43 open and M40 record set in 2018. Conditions for the race were warm and very humid which didn’t help anyone.

Numbers were down from 275 finishers last year to 182 finishers this year, perhaps due to another local trail race being held on the same weekend.

Geoff Newton gets going in the Coombe Keynes 10k

Geoff Newton did it the previous year, representing his former club

There were still big turnouts from Purbeck Runners and Poole Runners who were first and second placed Men’s teams with 16 and 18 points respectively for the scoring three.

Bournemouth AC only fielded three runners and finished an isolated third on 69 points, well clear of the next team, Dorchester RIOT, who finished on 122 points.

Zak Preston in the Coombe Keynes 10k

Zak Preston featured in the first race of the Purbeck Trail Series as well which was the Dorset Ooser Half Marathon

Second in for BAC was Zak Preston who came 23rd in 47:34.70. It was his first attempt at this race. Geoff Newton completed the team in 63rd position and second M70 in a time of 54:38.01.

Hamish Murray in the Coombe Keynes 10k

Hamish Murray of Purbeck Runners was the top M70

It was an improvement on last year for Geoff when he recorded 56.52 to come in as 3rd M70, representing his previous club. This year M70 category was won by Hamish Murray of Purbeck Runners who finished 17th overall in 45:44.16. In the process he took nearly two minutes off Geoff’s M70 course record of 47:40, which he set in 2016.

Geoff Newton in the Coombe Keynes 10k

Geoff bettered his time from the previous year

There was no female representation in the race from BAC. The individual women’s race was won by Anna Philps of Purbeck Runners who was 10th overall in 43:26.67. Dorchester RIOT won the women’s team race.