Sunday 5th February saw the 25th running of the Blackmore Vale Lions Half Marathon and raised around £4000 (final figures to be approved) to be shared between St Margaret’s Hospice, various organisations in Bishops Caundle, and the Blackmore Vale Lions Charity Trust Fund which supports a wide range of charitable causes in and around the Blackmore Vale.
Over 425 registered to run the race however, probably due to the inclement weather, 378 runners of all ages took part in the annual half marathon and 5 mile Fun Run organised by the Blackmore Vale Lions Club with the valuable cooperation of Bishops Caundle Parish Council, All Saints Primary School, Bishops Caundle Village Hall and Social Committee.
The race is part of the Dorset Road Race League and is for many the first organised race of the year. Weather conditions after a deluge on Friday and Saturday, were almost perfect for this very tough challenge which many runners use as preparation for the London Marathon in April.
The men’s race was won by Steven Way of Bournemouth AC in a time of 1h 12m 14s and the women’s race by Vicky Ingham of Poole Runners in a time of 1h 26m 37s. Both times were outside the current records the beating of which would have resulted in the reward of a cash prize.
The full list of winners is as follows:
- Men’s overall Steven Way Bournemouth AC 1/12/14
- Men’s 2nd overall Iain Trickett Dorset Doddlers 1/12/42
- Men’s 3rd overall David Broadley Poole AC 1/13/58
- Ladies’ overall Vicky Ingham Poole Runners 1/26/37
- Ladies’ 2nd overall Nikki Sandell Bournemouth AC 1/28/08
- Ladies’ 3rd overall Hannah Wilkins Unaffiliated 1/31/35
Not unsurprisingly Bournemouth AC picked up both the Mens and Ladies Team Prizes with Stuart Fox and Stuart Nicholas joining Steven Way for the Mens prize and Kelly Frampton and Sarah Swift joining Nikky Sandell for the Ladies prize.
There were further age group prizes won by Iain Trickett, Steven Way, David Wilson and Hamish Murray in the Mens categories and Vicky Ingham, Nikki Sandell, Caroline Rowley and Caroline Horder in the Womens categories.
The Fun Run winner was Ross Wayne of Purbeck Runners in a time of 42min 23sec. The first lady was Robyn Pike in a time of 51min 30sec.
The major sponsor for this years race was Dike and Sons the family run superstore of Stalbridge. Also supporting the event was Else Family Butchers of Stalbridge.
As usual the race was very well supported by a large group of marshalls, drinks providers, recorders and referees from the road running fraternity especially Gillingham Trotters, a2e Medical Services, GMS Lions and Sturminster Newton Rotary Club, Air Cadets, Templecombe Scouts and most importantly the Blackmore Vale Lions ladies who provided all the food and drink both before and after the event.
The Blackmore Vale Lions very much thank and appreciate all the organisations that helped make the event the huge success that it is.
We hope to see everyone again on Sunday 4th February 2018.
A full list of the results can be found on the Lions website at www.bvlhm.yolasite.com – Click on what you want and it will download a .pdf file.