By Barry Warne
Alex Hampson launched his bid to regain the Peterborough 5km Grand Prix title with a confident display of front running at Eye last Wednesday.
The rangy Nene Valley Harrier, who was champion in 2015, flew into the lead from the gun and maintained his advantage throughout the race, winning in a time of 15.51mins.
Helpston Harrier John Herbert was never far behind, but just couldn’t bridge the gap – finishing as runner up seven seconds behind with a time of 15.58mins.
Michael Moore gained a couple of places in the final kilometre, finishing third in 16.17mins.
BRJ Huntingdon pair Dave Hudson and John Uff ran well to finish fourth and fifth in 16.19mins and 16.20mins respectively.
Simon Fell led the Peterborough AC challenge, taking sixth place in a time of 16.37mins, while Bushield Jogger Scott Meadows finished eighth with a 16.57mins clocking.
Mark Popple was the second Peterborough AC runner home finishing ninth in 16.59mins.
Hannah Brown, of Biggleswade AC, easily won the ladies’ race in a time of 18.42mins with BRJ’s Shelley Duffy clocking 19.21mins to finish as runner-up.
Peterborough AC’s Sarah Caskey came home third in 19.25mins, with fifth placed Abi Schofield the first Nene Valley Harrier home in 20.19mins.
Yaxley’s Louise Alexander finished tenth with a 21.20mins clocking.
Nene Valley athletes dominated the youngsters’ 3km race, with Harry Hewit winning in a time of 9.41mins and Joseph Reindel finishing second in 10.03mins.
Felix Bowling was the third Harrier home, clocking 11.14mins for sixth position.
The Peterborough AC Wiles brothers had a good day, with Lewis finishing third in 10.50mins and Joshua sixth with an 11.18mins clocking.
Elizabeth Eames, of Nene Valley, was the first girl home in 11.33mins with Stamford AC’s Erin Cox runner-up in 12.01mins.
A trio of Nene Valley athletes took the next three places. Lola Fletcher was third in 12.04mins ahead of Josie Knight, who clocked 12.08mins, and Lottie Hemmings with 12.17mins.
- Aaron Scott smashed the course record when winning the Grantham AC Summer Solstice 10k on Friday in a time of 30.52mins.
The Stamford ace won by more than one minute.
Mikey Chapman, of Nene Valley Harriers, clocked 37.26mins for 26th. Chapman won the inaugural running of the race in 2012.
