Tom Ralph was hooked in when he heard about the prospect of taking on the Netley 10k
With Bournemouth AC’s Hampshire Road Race League campaign effectively over long before the season reaches its conclusion, there was little at stake for the club as the series headed to the Netley 10k for the tenth fixture out of twelve.
Having only managed to field complete teams at the opening two races of the campaign, any hopes of challenging in Division One had long since disappeared, with avoiding relegation proving an increasingly unlikely prospect. The fact that the Netley 10k clashed with the ever-popular May 5 race in Poole meant the majority of Bournemouth AC’s available runners opted for the much shorter journey west.
The runners line up for the start of the Netley 10k
That left just one yellow and blue vest on the start line, with Tom Ralph making his first appearance since returning to competitive running.
The Netley 10k itself had undergone something of a makeover in recent years. Gone is the familiar three-lap circuit around the picturesque Royal Victoria Country Park. Instead, runners are treated to a one-lap route that ventures out through the village of Netley before returning to finish in the stunning surroundings of the country park.
It’s go for the 2026 Netley 10k
Tom has only recently resumed the sport after taking some time away from running to pursue other interests. His last race was the Seville Marathon back in February last year, where he clocked 3:23.
His last league race was the Stubbington 10k, where his time of 39:35 left him agonisingly close to a personal best that has stood since 2013, missing out by just six seconds.
This time around the aim was simply to continue rebuilding race fitness, and he produced another solid performance to stop the clock in 44:53. That earned him 145th place from a field of 699 finishers and saw him place 24th in the competitive M40 category.
It had been quite a long time since Tom laced up his racing trainers
At the sharp end of the race, there was another intriguing battle between two of the league’s standout performers. After his victory at the Alton 10, Vectis Academy’s Joshua Price returned looking to demonstrate his supremacy once again, having already wrapped up the men’s individual title thanks to an exceptionally consistent campaign that has included three victories and only one finish outside the top three.
This time, however, it was Winchester Running Club’s Henry Edwards who gained revenge after finishing runner-up at Alton. Edwards took victory in 33:55, with Price second in 34:24.
Seb Olingschlaeger completed the podium in 34:34, while former Bournemouth AC runner Matt du Cros produced a personal best of 35:23 for fourth place. Sam Brooks of Fareham followed in fifth with Edward Pottrill of Hedge End taking sixth.
Tom finished in 44:53 which put him in 145th place
The women’s race provided one of the closest finishes of the day. Winchester Running Club’s Becky Hutton edged out Totton’s Bexy Dew by just two seconds, recording 39:04 to 39:06 as the pair finished 43rd and 44th overall. Winchester’s Leanne Smith was third female in 41:13, ahead of Portsmouth Joggers’ Kirsty Whitton, Totton’s Helen Herman-Bonaer and Jess Chamberlain.
Winchester Running Club continued their dominant season in the men’s A1 division by securing a third successive overall team victory and have already wrapped up the Hampshire Road Race League title. Denmead Striders finished second on the day, with Lordshill third and Alton Runners fourth.
Matt du Cros with his trophy after finishing fourth
Elsewhere, Hedge End headed the Men’s A2 standings ahead of Vectis Academy and Southampton, although Vectis remain in pole position overall with promotion still far from settled. Isle of Wight Road Runners were again the dominant force in Men’s A3 and appear destined for promotion alongside Hamwic Harriers.
Winchester also maintained complete control of the women’s competition, comfortably taking top honours once again to extend a season that has seen them finish first in eight of the ten fixtures and already secure the league title.
Totton claimed a sixth consecutive victory in the Women’s A2 and have wrapped up that division, while Hamwic Harriers topped the Women’s A3 standings ahead of Isle of Wight Road Runners, with both clubs looking set for promotion.
In the B Leagues, Winchester headed the Men’s B1 standings and have already done enough to be crowned champions, while they also lead the B2 table. Hedge End were the leading Women’s B1 team at Netley and continue to top that division ahead of Denmead Striders.