Despite it being a Dorset Road League fixture, Stu Nicholas was Bournemouth AC’s sole representative at the Round the Rock 10k in Portland
‘Twas a blustery old morning on Isle of Portland when over 270 foolhardy Dorset based runners descended onto the small outpost for a 10k race like no other. It was a welcome return to the Dorset Road Race League schedule for Round the Rock, with the event being staged for the first time since 2019.
Back then it was Ed Porter leading the charge for a Bournemouth AC team that included Alex Goulding, Rich Brawn, Matt du Cros and Jud Kirk. The year before that, Jacek Cieluszecki was narrowly beaten by Iain Trickett in a dramatic finish with both men incredibly finishing in under 33 minutes. Jacek had actually won the race the previous year though and had had more than his fair share of Portland victories.
As photographer Ken Hewitt was taking the team photos, Stu was on his own for BAC
The race taking place on the same day as the Lordshill 10k, which was the final race of the Hampshire Road League season, most the Bournemouth AC runners opted for that one. It was a much easier and quicker course and it was also quicker to get there as well. Portland is quite a long trek from Bournemouth and that is another aspect that puts BAC runners off.
The Round the Rock 10k was back in the league after a five year absence
It didn’t deter Stu Nicholas though and he was quite keen for another Portland outing, having last raced there in 2018. That year he did both the Portland 10 and Round the Rock and he finished 5th in both races, clocking exactly 36 minutes at Round the Rock.
Unfortunately he was the only Bournemouth AC member making the journey over so they wouldn’t have a scoring team around him to complement his talents on this occasion.
Being a little closer to home, Egdon Heath Harriers have dominated the Portland races over recent years. They had a strong side out again which included Matt Underhill who finished 3rd in the last league race, the Purbeck 10k, before going on to take 2nd in the Giants Head Marathon the morning after.
It wasn’t long before the lead runners started to move away from the main field
He was joined in the race by Jonathon Churchill, Giles Heaman, Adam Davies and Corey Stone. Currently challenging at the top of the men’s individual standings, Dave Hicks of Poole AC had the chance to improve his position with Chris Wood of Twemlow Track Club not running. He didn’t have many teammates around him who were likely to put Poole AC in contention for a high placing for the fixture.
Former National Para Duathlon Champion Joe Allen leads the way with Stu and some others giving chase
After finishing 1st female at the Purbeck 10k, Hayley Martin of Poole AC was in the hunt again at Round the Rock. After finishing as 2nd lady in the Coombe Keynes 10k, Isobel Davis of Purbeck Runners was also in the mix, as was Hannah Martyn of Egdon Heath Harriers. There weren’t really any clubs with a standout set of the three runners who could finish near the top though.
Stu was going well in the early stages of the race
The course consists of one small loop before heading down toward the south of the island. Then its back up again in the second half of the race. The first half of the race is actually pretty fast with a long downhill stretch. The second half is a bit of a war of attrition though as you head back up.
Stu heads down toward the southern part of the isle
To begin with, it was former National Para Duathlon Champion Joe Allen who was leading the way. Joe is from Bridport and was born without a right hand it hasn’t stopped him producing all kinds of remarkable athletic achievements.
Stu Nicholas was in the chase pack along with Corey Stone, Matt Underhill, Dave Hicks and unattached runner Ben Davis. Stu was going at 5:30 pace for the first three miles, reaching the 5k point in 17:04.
Stu with Corey Stone, Dave Hicks, Matt Underhill and Ben Davis
Conditions were sunny but extremely windy
In the fourth mile, the journey back up the hill started and that put Stu back to a 5:58 before recording a 6:18 for the fifth mile which was all uphill. On the sixth mile, it was a case of just make it to the top of the hill, then you have a bit of downhill before the final climb on the last quarter of a mile.
Stu was in third place out on the road
Getting through that 5:49 and then powering up that last incline at 5:32 pace, it was a strong finish from Stu. Crossing the line in 35:58, it was a brilliant 3rd place finish from Stu. When facing some of Dorset’s finest foes, that was a pleasing result for Stu and he was somewhat surprised to take a top three spot.
Dave Hicks caught and overtook Joe Allen in the end and sealed a magnificent victory, in a time of 35:11. Dave is going from strength to strength at the moment and to be leading the way in the individual standings as an M50 is truly remarkable.
Dave Hicks picked up the win in 35:11
Arriving 39 seconds later, Joe Allen crossed the line to claim 2nd place and he was eight seconds ahead of Stu in the end. Matt Underhill took 4th place in 36:16 which put him 10 seconds ahead of Joe Godden of Poole Runners who came 5th. He was also 1st M40, ahead of Giles Heaman who reached the line in 36:53.
Jonathon Churchill followed in shortly after in 37:05 and Adam Davies completed the course in 37:14 to take 8th place. That was four scorers in the first eight positions for Egdon Heath Harriers, marking another dominant display for them.
Joe Allen took 2nd place in 35:50
They only needed one more man to complete their scoring team and seal top position for the fixture. They got it when Corey Stone arrived in 37:40 to take 12th place.
With Bournemouth AC not fielding a team of four there was an opportunity for Wimborne AC to take advantage and pick up another win in the Men’s Second Division. They had Mark Savage taking 11th place in 37:33 and Louis Verdi finishing 14th in 37:51.
Isobel Davis was the fastest woman in the field
Purbeck Runners super vet Julian Critchlow was 1st M60 in a time of 38:34 which put him in 19th place. Isobel Davis gave Purbeck Runners some more joy when she crossed the line as 1st female in 38:41. That put her in 21st place overall.
Hayley Martin took the 2nd female spot in 39:10 and she was also 1st F40 and came 29th overall. Hannah Martyn was quite a long way back in 72nd place but she was 3rd female, getting round in 43:20.
It was a strong run from Stu and he was surprised to finish third in a league race
Teresa Green of Egdon Heath Harriers was 6th female in 45:25 but because they didn’t have anyone else finishing that high up, Egdon only managed 3rd place in the Women’s First Division. With Gen Crisford taking 8th female spot in 46:21 and Lesley Moore coming 13th lady in 47:47, Poole AC got the win.
Egdon were miles ahead of everyone else in the Men’s First Division and it was Littledown Harriers who got 2nd place for the race, with Poole Runners in 3rd. With four wins for the season so far, Egdon had cemented their position at the top of the standings, with Poole AC going off the boil a bit in those last two races.
Stu collects his prize for finished third
Poole Runners still lead the way in the Ladies First Division despite only finishing 4th at Round the Rock. That win kept Poole AC in 2nd place ahead of Egdon Heath Harriers.
Recording a convincing win in the Men’s Second Division, Wimborne AC took pole position in the race for promotion with four wins for the season so far and three 2nd places. Bournemouth AC have three wins and two 2nd places.
Isobel picks up her prize for finishing as first female
Despite a no-show at Round the Rock, the Bournemouth AC ladies still top the standings in the Second Division ahead of Purbeck Runners and Wimborne AC who got the win at Round the Rock.
In the Men’s Third Division, Dorset Doddlers picked up the win at Round the Rock and that was their third win of the season. Dorchester RIOT still top the standings in that division though for the season so far.
The Egdon Heath Harriers men won the team prize
Weymouth St Pauls Harriers got the win in the Ladies Third Division at Round the Rock and that was their first victory of the season. It didn’t move them up the standings though and they’re still 5th, with Bournemouth Joggers leading the way ahead of Westbourne and Gillingham Trotters.
That’s seven races for the Dorset Road League season done so far and it’s shaping up well so far and still all to play for. Next up its the Sturminster Newton Half Marathon, where Stu Nicholas will be lining up again alongside Hugo Richardson, Ricky Brennan, Jason Cheriton and Rich Brawn.
The Bournemouth AC men could certainly do with a win to keep up the pressure on Wimborne AC at the top of the Second Division table. It’s looking like it could be very tight between the two so from now until the end of the season, every race counts as the yellow and blues bid to return to the top flight, where they surely belong.