Wimborne 20, English Schools XC Championships and Mud Man 2016 Duathlon

They’re off!! The inaugural Wimborne 20 gets under way

Well done to Wimborne AC for bringing a 20 mile race back to Dorset! The inaugural Wimborne 20 took place, based at Gaunts Common, on Sunday 6 April, with a strong BAC presence, and several BAC individual and team wins. Steve Way was the overall winner of the race, with Emma Dews winning the ladies’ race. Both the mens’ and the ladies’ team trophies were won by BAC, the mens’ team consisting of Steve, Peter Thompson, Graeme Miller and Simon Way, and the ladies’ team Emma, Nikki Sandell and Gemma Bragg. Steve, of course, won the 1st V40 prize, with Peter, who was 2nd overall, winning the 1st SM prize. Other prizewinners were Simon Way, 1st V50, Emma, 1st FV40, and Nikki (who was 2nd lady overall), 1st FV35. Results (BAC): 1. Steve Way 1.53.55; 2. Peter Thompson 1.54.37; 6. Graeme Miller 2.05.24; 7. Simon Way 2.05.41; 11. Jez Bragg 2.08.26; 14. Sanjai Sharma 2.10.35; 23. Emma Dews 2.14.00; 25. Anthony Clark 2.14.44; 30. Nikki Sandell 2.18.03; 31. Gary Woolnough 2.18.26; 40. Gemma Bragg 2.23.58; 46. Ross Blakemore 2.26.37; 67. Tony Hunt 2.37.31; 72. Caroline Rowley 2.38.12; 134. Helen Ambrosen 2.56.48. There were 225 finishers.

More Photos from the Wimborne 20 below……………………

Bridget Dence after an impressive run at the English Schools XC

The prestigious English Schools Cross Country Championships were held on Saturday 5 March in the majestic setting of Wollaton Park Nottingham. 2,000 athletes compete across six age groups at the event and a start line of up to 350 athletes in each race makes for an impressive sight.

BAC was represented by Bridget Dence running for the fifth consecutive year. Bridget finished in a very creditable 33rd place from 307 in the Senior Girls race. She was the second Dorset girl home in a strong team, finishing in an excellent 9th position from 37 counties. There is no grading of counties according to size at the Championships and Dorset girls finished ahead of many larger rivals including Hampshire and the metropolitan areas of London and Greater Manchester, a magnificent achievement, and as a result, they won the Sidney Rose Trophy, which is for the winning team of counties with up to 100,000 secondary school pupils. The last time Dorset won this was in 1983, but the growing strength of the Dorset Cross Country girls is demonstrated by the fact that at the Championships last year, at Blackburn, Dorset girls were 2nd in the competition for this trophy, but still a massive 500+ points behind the winners, Somerset. Hopefully this form will continue, and perhaps next year there may be more BAC athletes supporting Bridget as part of the Dorset team. But, in the meantime, well done to Bridget for her contribution!

Ross Smith Human Race Overall Winner's Trophy 2015-16

Finally, another BAC winner is Ross Smith, who continues to excel in off-road duathlons. On Saturday 5 March, Ross was 2nd in the Mud Man 2016 Duathlon, which took place on Army Military Training Ground at Camberley, Surrey, on a course described as “stony, muddy, hilly” taking in “dirty trail runs”. This race was the third of a series of Duathlons (the previous two being the Wild Man and the Ice Man!) and Ross finished the series as the overall series winner – well done! On Saturday, Ross was second of 127 finishers and, needless to say, there were numerous DNFs!

Back to the Wimborne 20……………………………….