This was the first time I had entered the Centurion RC Grand Prix, a series of six 5 mile races throughout the winter which a few fellow BvHers had previously done and in which my Dad had competed 25 years ago! Johnnie Walker set the series up 30 years ago and gave a very touching speech at the end of series presentation. Sadly Johnnie is terminally ill but said that he will be forever watching the race series from above, as he put it, and what a fantastic legacy to be leaving behind.
The course is relatively flat and fast, looping around streams and a lake in a park in Chelmsley Wood. The route takes in some dirt tracks as well as tarmac so is classed as multi-terrain though it is mostly firm footing. It is meticulously organised with the results being stuck up on the wall by the time you’ve finished your warm down. The marshalls are so helpful and encouraging, seeming to know just when you will need a shout on that last lap! Each month there are prizes for the first 4 senior males and females and for the first 4 males and females in that months chosen age category, as well as numerous spot prizes.
In order to have raced the series, you need to have taken part in at least 4 of the 6 races. I just about managed this and all series competitors were awarded with a very nice Grand Prix drinking glass with the race logo and year on the side!
All the BvHers did fantastically well with PBs, individual and series prizes and some really great performances. Suz West posted some excellent times throughout the series and came home with 3rd prize in race 4, and Lesley Pymm battled through injury to complete the series with an age category 2nd prize in race 6. Lisa Cartwright finished strongly in race 6 also and looks to be steadily improving and there were great performances from Chris H-M, Olly Kirkland and Paul Gorman in their races too. Caroline and myself were over the moon to receive our overall series trophies for 1st and 2nd senior females (I’ll let you guess which way round that was!) and todays last race was my favourite it was a really nice atmosphere and felt like an achievement to finally get through a winter without my old injury stopping me.
Many thanks to all the organisers and the supporters (Dad, Paul and Kelly the dog!). I would really recommend this race series as a well organised, friendly yet competitive set of events.
Results for BvHers
Overall series results (best 4 results from 6 races)
1st senior female – Caroline Harlan-Marks
2nd senior female – Laura Leslie
Race 1 – 3/11/13
14 Caroline Harlan-Marks 31:46
17 Oliver Kirkland 32:06
20 Chris Harlan-Marks 32:47
39 Laura Leslie 35:05
113 Lesley Pymm 45:16
Race 2 – 1/12/13
15 Caroline Harlan-Marks 31:16
29 Laura Leslie 33:49
57 Lisa Cartwright 36:44
101 Lesley Pymm 43:51
Race 3 – 5/1/14
15 Caroline Harlan-Marks 31:33
16 Chris Harlan-Marks 31:44
21 Paul Gorman 32:35
50 Suz West 37:14
95 Lesley Pymm 44:23
Race 4 – 2/2/14
39 Suz West 35:59
Race 5 – 2/3/14
30 Laura Leslie 35:11
37 Suz West 36:20
105 Lesley Pymm 60:30
Race 6 – 30/3/14
20 Chris Harlan-Marks 33:21
21 Caroline Harlan-Marks 33:29
28 Laura Leslie 34:19
39 Lisa Cartwright 36:05
41 Suz West 36:27
76 Lesley Pymm 44:57
That’s right, not even a broken jaw and sprained arm stops Lesley Pymm from racing at the weekends! Lesley you are like the terminator, nothing can stop you! 😉
Thankyou Laura for an interesting and informative 5mile Centurion Grand Prix Series Race Report. The BvHers did really well and recorded good times on what is not the fastest of 5mile courses(apart from being multi-terraine there are some obstacles and tight turns to circumvent).
It is a great advert for Bournville Harriers when our runners do well;especially when they win an overall series.
CONGRATULATIONS to all concerned.
Well worth entering next year,unless like me, you are at church on a Sunday Morning!
Thanks for the report, Laura and well done to everyone. I’d just like to point out that my time last month is sooooo slow because I walked it. I was not able to run at that stage and they gave me a head start as I was walking. I thought the time was pretty good for walking! It is a good series and really friendly.
Well done everyone! What a great achievement!
Well done everyone! It was brilliant watching the last race of the series. It was really good to see BvH do so well in the final race and also to see Caroline and Laura take 1st and 2nd place for the series overall 🙂 Great stuff!