Report: Shaw & Whitley Stampede
Brilliant sunshine ensured a record turnout for the Shaw&Whitley Stampede Multi-terrain race with one hundred & forty runners lining up at the Beeches to take part in the event organised by Avon Valley Runners. Heading out through Whitley to Neston and then back through Atworth and Purlpit to Shaw, the runners tackled some of the most technical and picturesque terrain in the area over the six mile route.
First home in a time of thirty four minutes and thirty three seconds was Bart Thomas of Chippenham Harriers, with club mates Matt Marshall and Paul Dodd hot on his heels, ensuring that Chippenham Harriers also took the Men's team prize. In the ladies race Natalie Burke of teamBath AC retained her 2008 title with a good run in thirty nine minutes and seven seconds from Chippenham Harriers Michelle Maxwell and Debbie Jones, who along with club mate Melanie Blackman claimed the Ladies team prize.
Chippenham Harriers had targeted the event as part of their annual club championship and their dominance at this year's race also saw age category awards go to Stuart Dinwoodie (MV40), Melanie Blackman (FV40) and Joyce Dodd (FV50). Other awards went to: 1st MV50 - Steve Watts of Calne Running Club; 1st MV60 - Clive Power from Corsham; 1st FV60 - Paula Phillips of Corsham Running Club.
Accompanying the Stampede was the two mile "Kanter" in which a field of over fifty runners covered the first and final miles of the Stampede course, with 11-year old Hermione Templar-Gay of Shaw being the first back in an impressive thirteen minutes and thirty one seconds from second placed Nick Watts.