Born to Ron

On the 4th September the 'Volta a Peu L'Alqueria de la Comtessa' took place, and as ever there were several success stories.

Regulars on the racing circuit Louise and Amanda both ran very good races with Louise winning the women's Vets B category in a time of 39:33 and Amanda running 43:11.

Rob, taking advantage of a great run of form at the moment managed 45:38 for the 7.3 km and the ever improving John B completed the course in 49:30.

Ron and Carol both took part in the race clocking 52:19 and 54:33 respectively but best of all, Ron's time won him a free meal for two for being the oldest competitor in the race. Apparently one of the locals took exception to this and questioned wether Ron was in fact old enough to win the prize. You've got to take the compliments wherever they come from Ron!

The overall race was won by Juanra Pous Perez in 30:29, over a full minute clear of second place Mohamed Boufzouz (31:32) and David Ruiz Gomez in third (31:39)

The women's race was won by Olivia Peiro Sabater in 38:30 with second place going to Louise (39:33) and third was Encarna Cardona Gomez (41:56)

Men against Women

Is there a way that men and women can compare there race times to calculate whose is a better relative performance?

Impossible you say?

It seems that there is. Check out this article from BBC News.

Helen's Javea Heroics

On the 29th of August quite a few of us went to Javea for the 'Pena la Bufa' ,a 4.7Km race which is pancake flat and always a 'striders' favourite, and as usual there were some cracking performances in very hot conditions.

Unfortunately as there was no Vets C category some of our runners who would normally be on the podium were competing with people 10 years or more younger but nevertheless placed very well.

A great run by Helen meant she came third in her category in a time of 19:50 and earned a trophy for her efforts. Not to be outdone Matt, without having run run for several months because of persistent injuries, surprised everyone by speeding round in 18:52

Louise, running for C.A. Corremundos and Amanda, running for C.A. Franc Beneyto R. Denia both managed to continue their amazing run of recent results with both of them on the podium in the Women's Vets B category, Loiuse in first place (18:32) and Amanda in third (19:49).

Other club results were; Tom (15:02), Rob (20:10), Brian (20:49), Kevin (21:06), Steve (21:13), John B (22:19), John R (22:40), Ron (23:47), Sole (24:23), Roger (25:02) and Carol (25:17)

The overall race was won by Juanra Pous Perez in a super quick time of 14:14, closely followed by Vicent Mas Leyda (14:20) and Cristian Gaston Ferreyra Peralta (14:23)

Benita Breiter was the first woman home in 19:05 with second place going to Raquel Alminana Fuertes in 19:27 and third place as previously mentioned going to Helen in 19:50

Mas Leyda victorious in Moraira Mile

The 17th of July saw the seventh running of our ' local race 'the Moraira Mile.'
In what was a very well supported race, three striders braved the hot temperatures to record some very good times.

The rest of us (yours truly included) could only muster the energy to stand at the bar with a beer in hand. Though we did our bit by cheering the others on.

Honorary strider Dawn Round, here on holiday, managed a very swift 6:08 clocking for 5th place in the women's vets A category. On the men's side, in the vets C category, Rob Sparkes was closely followed by John Ross for 4th and 5th place and 6:55 and 7:12 respectively.

Former striders and podium regulars Amanda Fletcher and Louisa Ambler both did brilliantly to finish first and second in the women's vets B category in 6:17 and 6:19 respectively, and Paul Fletcher managed to win the men's vets B category in the fantastic time of 5:05. Paul and Amanda's son Morgan also did superbly well in the "Alevi Masc" category finishing second in a time of 4:46. In addition new member John Bishop finished very well in 7:19

The irrepressable Vicent Mas Leyda (C.A. Dianium) streaked home for the overall win in the men's race in 4:37, closely followed by Daniel Cano Lopez (C.E.U Politecnica de Valencia) just one second back in 4:38 and third place going to Daniel Pena Maestra (C.A running team Grifone) in 4:43.

Rosa del Olmo Aparicio (C.A. Anta Banderas) was first in for the women in a superquick 5:27 followed by Mayca Sala Garcia (C.A. Benidorm) in 5:30 and Christelle Mesnage (Independent) in 5:39.