Scenic Six Multi-Terrain Race

Sun. 2nd April 2006

Left: B&R’s Helen Russell third woman in the 2006 Scenic Six.

There was a record turn out of 281 runners in this increasingly popular race at Peopleton in Worcestershire, even though there were other races in the midlands on the same day. With 104 runners the two mile fun run which set off at the same time as the main race was also better supported than ever before.

After a short wait in a chilly breeze and light drizzle in the road-side field, the runners were led to the start on the road and race organiser Richard Baker set us on our way. The runners in the main race set off along the fastest stretch of the race, two miles of flat, well-tarmaced, relatively traffic-free and wide country lane heading north. This year we even had the wind at our backs. Tom Kenderdine (winner over the old shorter course in 2004) could be seen to head to the front along with last year’s winner Andy Train. For B&R, Ian Keyte was well up and went through the two mile mark in about 11-25 with Phil Anderson having worked through the chasing group to be about 15 seconds behind him. The only slight uphill on the outward road section led to the left turn just before Upton Snodsbury on to the footpath and the off-road section. As the uneven grassy path with patches of stone or mud was encountered, tired legs start to complain after the unusually fast early pace and suddenly you realised that the wind was going to be blowing into your face for all of the return journey.

Most of the four miles of the off road part of the course is grassland or farm tracks and although it was occasionally soft underfoot (especially near the Bow Brook in the middle section), conditions were generally good for running. There were just a few stiles and one fence to jump or clamber over at four miles. A short stony uphill track just after five miles cruelly took the runners away from the finish before swinging back round and down to a couple of grassy fields and the final concrete track alongside the barn. Strangely the last mile seems long compared to the previous ones and it’s particularly testing after setting off so fast on the road.

Tom Kenderdine won the men’s race and beat the course record by over a minute. Last year’s winner Andy Train was less than 30 seconds behind and also beat the old record that he had set in winning in 2005 (he had also won and come second on the old shorter course in 2003 and 2004 respectively). Jacqui Phillips (43-31) made it a double win for Kidderminster & Stourport as she was the first woman home and broke the record (44-12) set by Sarah Armstrong (Amazing Feet) in 2005.

Phil Anderson had managed to close the gap on Ian to about 10 seconds by half way but the gap stayed the same until the five mile marker. Ian finally recovered from his previous day’s 20 mile bike ride to put in a fast last mile finish in tenth in 40-09 having pulled away from Phil (40-49) one place behind. Not long afterwards Gavin Moorhead (42-13) sprinted up the track as third B&R runner home. Helen Russell worked hard over the closing stages to hold on to her position as third woman (50th overall) with the fourth-placed woman in sight as she crossed the finish line in 46-15. Next B&R finisher was Phil Richardson (47-41) who described the course as hard but a good one. Dave Brearley running under Redditch  Tri Club colours was 114th in 52-23 (3rd male vet 60). Also Arran Bovington (B&R) was the third male and sixth overall in the fun run in a time of 12-00.

There may not have been any showers but the refreshments afterwards in the Peopleton Village Hall were first rate, with the Women’s Institute cakes being worthy of particular mention. The organisers emphasised that this race is a good fund-raising start to the financial year for St.Richard’s Hospice, particularly since they have to raise £2.9 million to run the new hospice this year. The race organisation is exemplary with good postal instructions and plenty of parking in the field right opposite the race H.Q. Certainly one to mark on the calendar in future years.

Scenic six results

Leading men

1 Tom Kenderdine (K&S) 35-18

2 Andy Train (U/A) 35-45

3 Paul Richards (Neath Harriers) 36-12

Men’s category winners

14 V40 Nick Hooper (Worcs. Joggers) 41-22

7 V45 Trevor McGill (Droit.) 39-45

21 V50 Mick Ligema (Ludlow) 42-24

87 V55 Chris Barker (Malvern Joggers) 50-12

30 V60 David Whynant (Amazing Feet) 43-46

80 V65 Les Bailey (Worcs. Tri.) 49-21

B&R mens finishers in order:

(from provisional results on Camba web site on 3/4/06)

10 Ian Keyte 40-09

11 Phil Anderson 40-49

18 Gavin Moorhead 42-13

56 Phil Richardson 47-41

114 Dave Brearley (Redditch Tri Club) 52-53

Leading women:

1  (28) Jacqui Phillips (K&S) 43-31

2  (32) Emma Gooderam (U/A) 43-58

3  (50) Helen Russell (B&R) 46-15

Women’s category winners:

83 V35 Cathy Dudfield (Tewkesbury) 49-41

52 V40 Nicky Salisbury (U/A) 46-31

81 V45 Rachel Ward (Amazing Feet) 49-26

179 V50 Hazel Weston (?) 60-08

164 V55 Margaret Crosswell (Worcs.) 58-19

250 V60 Patricia Husband (U/A) 88-20

Fun Run results

Leading male finishers:

1 Craig Johnson (Worcs) 10-27

2 John Phillips 11-45

3 Arran Bovington (B&R) 12-00

Leading female finishers:

1 Hannah Train 10-46

2 Grace Harper (U/A) 11-40

3 Elaina Van Bensen (Worcs.) 11-58

Provisional results are available at the Camba web site (click HERE)

P.A. 2/4/06 (up-dated 3/4/06 & 18/4/06)