RUNNING, CYCLING, RUNNING AND SINGING IN THE RAIN

A very wet Sunday morning in Almoradí witnessed the latest race in the Federation Cup series of duathlons. The distances at Almoradí should have been a 10 km run, 50 km cycle ride and 5 km run but after problems with the course, due to the weather conditions, they were shortened to a 9 km run, 34 km bike ride and 3 km run. The change in the cycle course made it very technical and, with the non-stop rain, there were quite a few crashes and DNFs.

The overall winner, José Santiago Villa, of C T Caravaca, completed the course in an amazing one hour 33 minutes. The fastest lady was Ayora Fernandez de Castro of Valencia University, who managed it in one hour 47 minutes.

Jim and Stretch finished the exceedingly damp course in very creditable times. Jim was first in the Vets 55 to 59 category in a time of one hour 50 minutes and Mark was 11th in the Vets 45 to 49 class in two hours five minutes.

THE GATA 'GALLOP'

Another excellent performance in Gata de Gorgos by all 13 Striders on Sunday (March 14). They all managed to finish the 9.6 kilometre course around the wickerwork capital of the Costa Blanca in well under 58 minutes. First home, in the second race of the Circuit a Peu Marina Alta series was Tom, who crossed the line in 21st place overall, out of over 1,100 finishers, in 34:41. Next was Jim (39:21), followed by Jeff (39:53), who also won the Vets C category. Margaret Finch (48:53), as she had done the previous week in Javea, took home the runners-up trophy in the Vest C class. After her sterling Javea performance, unfortunately, Sole (52:33) just missed out on third spot in the same group by a mere eight seconds, although her chip time placed her third.

The other Striders' times were: Paul (44:26), Brian (46:40), Don (53:03), Roger (53.11), Ron (54:03), John (56:26), Des (56:47), Carol (57:07) and Denise (57:28). Two other former Striders just failed to make the podium in the keenly-contested ladies Vets B category; Amanda was placed fourth in 43:44, whilst Louise (Ambler) was fractionally behind her in fifth in 43:46. Paul, who was second in last year's race in Gata, went round in 43:43.

The overall winner of the race, run in lovely sunny conditions for a change, was Vicent Mas Leyda (31:45) of C A Dianium, who just managed to pip Miguel Ferndandez Vázquez of C A Delta Valencia by one second. Third place went to Juan Antonio Mas Leyda (32:35), also of C A Dianium. Inge van den Broeck, who clocked 39:54, was the first lady home. In second position was Patricia Lopez Vicedo, running for C A Xeresa, in a time of 40:15 and Olivia Peiro Sabater (41:12) of C A Safor was placed third.

FIRST OF THE 2010 SERIES (JAVEA)

The first race of the 2010 Circuit a Peu Marina Alta went ahead in Javea on Sunday (March 7), despite the rather damp and cold conditions. But the lack of sunshine didn't put 14 doughty Striders (plus Louise, Margaret and Amanda) off their stride.

Despite suffering from a nasty chest cold, Tom was the first home (21st overall) in 35:35, followed by Jim in 39:36 and then it was Jeff in 41:32. Alan (46:02), making a welcome return to the circuit was fourth, followed by Paul (Elliott) (46:29), Stretch (46:32), Brian (46:59), Ron (53:44), Sole (53:46), Roger (53:51), Des (57:23), Denise (57:35), John (58:08) and Carol (59:13).

It was good to see that everybody managed to beat the hour mark for the 10 kilometre race (despite the fact that it had been advertised as an 11Km course). Amanda (44:58), Louise (45:11) and Margaret (49:48) also posted very good times.

The star of the day was definitely Sole, who took third spot in the Vets C category and Jeff retained his men's Vets C category title, which was a bit of a hollow victory, as his two main rivals weren't running.

Margaret (Finch) was second in Sole's group, and, Amanda (now running for C A Franc Beneyto) was third in the Vets B class.

Javea results

http://www.somesport.com/circuitapeu/2010/xabia_clubs10.asp?busca=C.+A.+Costa+Blanca+Striders&submit=Consulta