The dawning of a new Purbeck Trail Series began with the Coombe Keynes 10k and three Bournemouth AC members featured in that first race. They were Stu Nicholas, Patrick Kingston and Geoff Newton.

After being narrowly edged out for the Series win last year by Stuart Holloway of City of Salisbury, Stu Nicholas was back to set the record straight. Getting off to a good start with a win at the Coombe Keynes 10k would massively help him in his quest.

After running the Krakonošov 100k in the Czech mountains the previous weekend, Patrick Kingston was probably glad of the shorter course after working his way up 13,000ft of elevation in the Krakonošov 100k, the hills of the Coombe Keynes 10k probably wouldn’t seem quite so challenging.

Also in action the previous weekend, Geoff Newton had done the Giants Head Half Marathon so he was coming off the back of a fairly challenging race as well. Geoff likes to race every weekend though if he can so it was no chore for him to be back on the start line at the Coombe Keynes 10k.

In last year’s Coombe Keynes 10k race, Jacek Cieluszecki was the victor, finishing over four minutes ahead of his nearest rival in a time of 35:23. He actually holds the course record of 34:43 which he set back in 2018.

Geoff Newton did all five races of the Purbeck Trail Series last year and was the top M70 in the standings. He completed the Coombe Keynes 10k in 54:38 last time round. Could he better that in the 2024 edition?

The course for the Coombe Keynes 10k is within the grounds of the private and historic Lulworth Estate. The terrain is a mixture of different surfaces from chalk downland tracks to woodland paths. It’s also just a stone’s throw from Lulworth Cove and the Jurassic Coast, so its in a very scenic area.

It isn’t long before the athletes embark upon their first climb of the race which goes on for the majority of the first 1.5 miles. Then its downhill for the next mile or so before another climb comes into play. Stu Nicholas got into an early lead and it soon became apparent that there wasn’t going to be anyone who could seriously challenge him.

Opening with a 6:08 for his first mile, Stu was going very quickly considering it had 113ft of elevation. He then got through his second mile in 6:12 before registering a 6 minute mile for his third. He then clocked a 6:06 for his fourth mile before embarking on another long climb in the fifth mile.

That one went on for almost a mile and Stu managed a 6:28 for his fifth mile split before heading on a slightly descent for his sixth. That took him 6:15, leaving him with a third of a mile left.

Registering a finishing time of 39:02.50, Stu claimed a resounding win and had got the Series off just the way he wanted. Tony Bourne of Bridport Runners was 2nd in 40:16.16 so he was over a minute down on Stu.

Jack Matthews of Purbeck Runners took 3rd place in 40:32.89. Daniel Thomas of Bridport Runners was the only other man to get in inside 41 minutes. He clocked a time of 40:52.43.

Considering his exertions the previous weekend, Patrick Kingston did really well to complete the course in 42:17:65 which put him in 15th place overall. That was out of 335 finishers.

He was next over the line after Louis Verdi of Wimborne AC who came14th in 41:59.51. Louis is often a scorer for Wimborne AC in the Dorset League races where Wimborne AC are Bournemouth AC’s main rivals in the Men’s Second Division.

That put him just ahead of last year’s Purbeck Trail Series women’s champion Anna Philps of Purbeck Runners. She crossed the line in 42:26.23 which made her first female and put her in 16th place overall.

Her teammate Isobel Davis wasn’t far behind though, reaching the finish in 42:51.01 which put her 18th overall. They were quite a way ahead of Jasmin Evans of Dorchester RIOT who got over the line in 47:03.35 which put her in 41st place. She was third female in the Series last year.

Getting round in a time of 57:38.79, Geoff Newton came in in 160th place overall and he was 2nd in the M70 category behind former BAC man Simon Hunt. Simon has only just turned 70 and he registered a time of 56:37.04 which put him in 150th place.

Stu’s wife Anna was running as well and she completed the course in 55:17.29 which put her in 136th place overall and out of the 145 women in the race, she was 25th fastest.

The next race of the Series is the Lighthouse Loop which is a 5k trail run from the Swanage Lifeboat Station at Peveril Point to Anvil Point Lighthouse and back.

Before that though, Stu would be in action at the Round the Rock 10k in Portland where he was the sole Bournemouth AC representative in the next round of the Dorset Road Race League. Due to the fixture clash with the Lordshill 10k which was the final race of the Hampshire Road Race League, it wasn’t possible for the yellow and blues to get a team out for Round the Rock.

Back on mountainous terrain, Patrick Kingston was in the French Alps for the Mini’Hard 27km. Geoff Newton was over at Lordshill with the rest of the gang. Then after that he was set for action in the Piggy Plod, which is a 10k race organised by White Star Running.