Tag heads off on his way in the Junction Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Rob McTaggart carried Bournemouth AC’s main threat in the Junction Broadstone Quarter Marathon

A strong season from both the Bournemouth AC men and ladies saw them both returning to the top flight of the Dorset Road Race League for the 2025 season. With new members entering the fray and renewed firepower available, there was every reason to be optimistic for Rich Nelson and his yellow and blue army ahead of the new campaign.

As ever, the first race of the year took place on New Year’s Day and that was The Junction Broadstone Quarter Marathon. That provides the Dorset clubs with an early opportunity to get one over on their rivals and show that they have the strength to be challenging for top billing in their respective divisions.

The start of The Junction Broadstone Quarter Marathon

The Broadstone Quarter marked the beginning of a new Dorset League campaign

The Bournemouth AC team were looking a little thin on the ground if truth be told but at first they looked like they might have enough for a decent five man team at least. Only Mags Fietko and Sam White had entered for the ladies though so they definitely wouldn’t be fielding a team. Now they are in Division One, they will require for scorers for the first time ever in the Dorset League. That is going to prove a massive challenge for them, even with the new members they have on board.

The leaders set off in the Junction Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Tag was one of the lead contenders but the competition was of a high standard

The men’s team had Joe Arundel, Rob McTaggart, Josh Cole, Oliver Canavan and Simon Hearn as their likely scoring five. It then turned out that Joe was ill and thus unable to run so that was a big blow. He won last year’s race in a course record time of 34:18, finishing just ahead of teammate Ollie James that day.

Josh Cole gets going in the Junction Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Josh Cole wasn’t feeling well but decided to give it a go anyway

They still had Jud Kirk and Ian Graham though so a scoring team of five was still on the cards. Then Oliver Canavan also pulled out through illness and that was another huge loss for the yellow and blues. Oliver is the fastest junior at the club so again, that weakened the team significantly.

Simon Hearn starting the Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Simon Hearn stepped in after other team members had pulled out through illness

Ian White had already pulled out with an injury and that meant Sam wouldn’t be doing it either and since Mags could no longer do it, there were now no women. But there were still five men provided all of those remaining could make it. It was a real shame to have to start the season off with such a makeshift team but it was what it was and they just had to get on with it and do the best they could.

Ian Graham sets off on his way in the Junction Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Ian Graham was in his first race since the Guernsey Easter Running Festival

The course for the Broadstone Quarter starts off with a downhill section before a left turn goes into a small inset section. That contains a hill but then after getting out of the inset section it’s onto the big triangle for two laps. When you get to the bottom of the triangle, you then have the long steep climb up the infamous Gravel Hill.

The lead group in the Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Tag was in the lead group along with Harry Tongue (466), Christopher Peck (375), Charlie Williams (10) and Dom Willmore

That hill has claimed many a victim on a New Year’s Day. Once you get to the top of Gravel Hill though it’s then downhill all the way along the top and then back down the other side of the triangle, so you do get some respite before tacking Gravel Hill again.

Rob McTaggart in action in the Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Tag was in good form and feeling strong

The field for the 2025 Broadstone Quarter was a strong one, with the top clubs eager to get off to a good start. Men’s champions Poole AC had Jamie Grose, Thomas Corbin, Dom Willmore, Luke Terry and Fred Harris.

Last season’s runners up Egdon Heath Harriers will be looking to get back to winning ways this year and they brought a very strong side to the equation as well. Christopher Peck, Charlie Williams, Jonathan Churchill, Matt Underhill and Jamie Barrington were representing for them.

Josh Cole in the Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Josh battled through under difficult circumstances

Rob Arkell and Lewis Clarke were in the mix as well for Poole Runners and Chris Wood, Jez Bragg and Harry Lauste were there for Twemlow Track Club.

Last season’s women’s individual champion Vicki Ingham was there, as was Molly Rasch who used to run for Poole Runners and Dorset Doddlers before that. She has moved up to Scotland now though and runs for Highland Hill.

Simon Hearn in the Broadstone Quarter Marathon

It wasn’t the type of course Simon usually enjoys

Anna Philps of Purbeck Runners was competing as well, as were Gemma Bragg of Poole Runners and Vicky Rutter of Westbourne. They finished third and fourth in the women’s individual standings last season. Egdon Heath Harriers had Hannah Martyn and Teresa Green in their line up.

The first mile was effectively downhill for half, then uphill for half. Tag seemed to be running strongly and he managed a 5:14 split for that first mile. His third place at the Boscombe 10k demonstrated that he’d in good form and hadn’t lost any of his speed since becoming a dad.

Jud Kirk in the Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Jud Kirk had been elevated into a scoring position

Because its such a hilly course, the Broadstone Quarter shouldn’t really suit him that well but whenever he’s raced it he’d done well. Last season he finished fourth in a tremendous Bournemouth AC one, two, three, four. Jacek Cieluszecki came 3rd after Joe and Ollie that day.

Ian Graham in the Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Ian ran well after such a long time away from the race scene

Tag had tasted victory in the race before as well, on two occasions, winning it in 2013 and 2011. A lot of the second mile is downhill and Tag registered a 5:10 for that before embarking upon the climb up Gravel Hill. He did well to get up that 5:37 pace before heading downhill again when he reached the top of the triangle.

Tag motoring along in the Broadstone Quarter Marathon

There was no holding Tag back and he was eyeing up the win

Tag pushing hard in the Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Tag was going at a very fast pace despite the hilly route

A 5:21 split for his fourth mile was then followed by the long stretch down on the fifth mile, which he got through in 5:08. The lead group had been whittled down to two and it was Tag and unknown under 20 junior Harry Tongue.

Tag crosses the line in the Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Tag managed to outdo Harry Tongue in a tactical battle

With only two left to battle it out, Harry Tongue must have been licking his lips at the prospect of getting the win. Tag had other ideas though and was intending to play it smart. Making his way up Gravel Hill for the second time at 5:41 pace, it was then onto the last kilometre, which was downhill.

Having sat back up till that point, Tag decided to make his move with 400m remaining. Managing to outkick Harry, he made it the line in 34:58 which was enough to see him take a glorious victory. Harry was left licking his wounds after coming so close but ending up having to settle for the runner up spot in 35:01.

Tag wins the Broadstone Quarter Marathon

It was a terrific win for Tag in the end

It was a really strong run from Tag as there weren’t that many times in previous years that anyone had got under 35 minutes, including JC in all the times that he’d won it.

Harry Tongue finishes second in the Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Harry Tongue was still happy with the runner up spot

Last season’s men’s individual champions Christopher Peck took third place in 35:10, with his Egdon Heath Harriers teammate Charlie Williams taking fourth in 35:22.

After that came three Poole AC runners, with Fred Harris finishing 5th in 35:30, Thomas Corbin coming 6th, one second later and Dom Willmore taking 7th a further six seconds back.

Christopher Peck goes over the line in the Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Chris Peck crosses the line in third place

Lewis Clarke finished 8th in 36:22 before the remaining members of the Egdon Heath Harriers train came steaming through. Jonathon Churchill was 9th in 37:20, Matt Underhill came 10th in 37:24 and Jamie Barrington was 11th in the same time. That sealed the First Division win for Egdon Heath Harriers in this opening fixture. Five men out of the top ten league scorers was an impressive start for them.

Charlie Williams finishing Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Charlie Williams took fourth place in 35:22

Rob Arkell finished 12th in 37:35 before Adam Colbert and Gareth Hale arrived to complete the scoring team for Poole AC. Adam’s time was 37:30 and Gareth’s was 38:20. That meant the league champions had taken second place for this first fixture.

Josh Cole competing in the Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Josh was suffering but he gave his all

Poole AC actually had more good runners than they needed as Luke Terry finished 16th in 38:27 and Jamie Grose was 17th in 38:20. Jez Bragg was 18th in 38:32 and he was first man in for Twemlow Track Club.

Josh Cole finishing Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Josh heads into the finish

There was more bad luck for Bournemouth AC as Josh Cole had picked up the lurgy that was going round and had a bad chest infection. He decided to give it a go anyway but he wasn’t able to get hit his usual heights. In fact, it was an awful run for Josh but he was still the club’s second scorer, finishing 24th in a time of 39:18. Had it been feeling 100%, he would probably have been right up there with the front runners so that was a real shame.

Vicki Ingham picked up from where she left off last season and was first female in 39:44. She came 29th overall with former Bournemouth AC man Sam Jackson arriving a couple of seconds later to take 31st place.

Josh Cole comes in to finish the race

It wasn’t the run that Josh would have been hoping for

Sam’s brother Luke was 43rd in 40:56 and Julian Crithlow was first over 60, clocking a time of 41:02. He’s in the 65 to 69 category now for the Dorset League, so that’s bad luck for Stephen Hogarth who won that group last season and anyone else who’s in it!

Vicki Ingham finishing Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Vicki Ingham crosses the line as first female

It was just like old times when Molly Rasch arrived to take the second female spot in 41:09 and that put her 46th overall. Poole Runners were third in the Men’s First Division for the Broadstone Quarter fixture with Twemlow Track Club taking 4th.

Anna Philps was third female in 42:13 which put her 59th overall and she was second scorer for the league, since Molly Rasch doesn’t count any more. Emma Mogridge from Molly’s former club Dorset Doddlers did score points for them though and she was fourth female in 42:55.

Simon Hearn in the Junction Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Simon did the best he could on a day when the weather made it even tougher

Wimborne AC will be favourites for promotion in the Men’s Second Division this season and they topped the standings for this first race. Littledown Harriers may be their main challengers after their relegation from the First Division and they took second place at Broadstone, with Westbourne RC in third.

Simon Hearn giving his all in the Broadstone Quarter Marathon

It was a while since Simon had competed in a road league race

Gemma Bragg was fourth female in 44:39 and she came 93rd overall and was first in the 40 to 44 division. Having received the standard response of “it’s flat and fast” when he enquired about the race, Simon Hearn soon found out that the Broadstone Quarter wasn’t anything of the sort.

He wasn’t in his peak state of fitness and the wet and windy conditions made it even tougher but he managed to get round in 44:46 which put him in 95th place. He was third scorer for Bournemouth AC for the league and came 5th in the 55 to 59 category.

It wasn’t the sort of race Simon would usually go in for but he was glad he did it and it was probably good for him to step out of his comfort zone and face a gruelling, hilly course.

Simon Hearn making his mark in the Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Simon coaches the Juniors at BAC as well as himself

Teresa Green was 5th female in 45:46 which put her 111th in the overall standings and Vicky Rutter was 6th female and 115th overall in 45:54. Hannah Martyn was 7th female in 46:28 which put her 119th overall and Jenny Walker-Leach of Poole Runners was first over 50 lady to make it round. She clocked a time of 46:52 which put her 126th in the overall standings.

Simon Hearn making his way round in the Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Simon was third scorer for the Bournemouth AC men

Karen Perrett of Weymouth St Pauls Harriers was 9th female and first in the 55 to 59 category with her time of 47:04. Hamish Murray of Purbeck Runners won the 70 to 74 category last season and he was first over 70 finisher at Broadstone as well, registering a time of 47:36 which put him 137th in the overall standings.

Simon Hearn finishing Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Simon was absolutely spent as he crossed the finish line

Simon Hearn crosses the finish line in the Broadstone Quarter

It was a tough but rewarding race for Simon

Tracey Harrold of Egdon Heath Harriers was first over 60 lady, completing the course in 48:36 which put her 161st overall. After winning the 60 to 64 category in the league last season, Heather Khoshnevis is now in the 65 to 69 category and she topped the standings for that age group, finishing in a time of 50:13. That made her 20th lady and 189th overall.

Jud Kirk in action in the Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Jud usually looks to finish as high as he can in his age category

Coming in as fourth scorer for the Bournemouth AC men, Jud Kirk posted a time of 51:57 which put him 211th overall and 6th in the 65 to 69 category.

Jud Kirk finishing Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Jud approaches the finish

Jud Kirk goes over the line to complete the race

Jud was sixth man in in the 65 to 69 category

Caroline Horder of Bournemouth Joggers was first over 70 woman and she crossed the line in 59:46 which put her 312th overall and 53rd lady. Ken Parradine was the first man in over 80, finishing in a time of 1:03:50 which out him 355th overall.

Ian Graham battling it out in the Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Ian had some good little battles out there

Richard Orme of Egdon Heath Harriers was first in the 75 to 79 category in a time of 1:05:53 which put him 372nd overall. That meant he’d denied Ian Graham top position in that category as he reached the finish in 1:06:51. That put him 383rd overall.

Ian Graham manoeuvring ahead of a rival in the Broadstone Quarter Marathon

Ian presses on and works his way up the field

That was Ian’s first race since the Guernsey Easter Running Festival so it had been a while. He’d had a heart issue which had kept him away from competitive running for quite some time so it was good to see him back in the yellow and blue vest. He probably didn’t envisage he’d ever be scoring for the team in a league race again but here he was, completing the five man side.

Ladies league champions Poole Runners topped the standings in the First Division after the first fixture but it was a close call between them and Egdon Heath Harriers who were second.

Ian Graham approaching the finish of the Broadstone Quarter Marathon

It was a decent run from Ian on his return to racing

Dorchester RIOT topped the standings in the Women’s Second Division ahead of Purbeck Runners and Wimborne AC. Newly anointed Third Division side Verwood Runners got the win on their debut ahead of Royal Manor of Portland and Bournemouth Joggers.

Ian Graham gives his all to get ahead of his rival

Ian hadn’t envisaged he’d be scoring for the club in a league race again

Lytchett Manor Striders won the fixture in the Men’s Third Division, with Dorchester RIOT in second place.

It was a far from ideal way to start the season for Bournemouth AC, with both the men’s and women’s teams propping up their respective league tables but there are plenty more races to go and certainly scope for them to work their way to the top. Of course, it’s the best seven of twelve races that count in the Dorset Road Race League so if they can get teams out in over half the races, they’ll be in the running.