Club Race

The ‘1 Hour Challenge’ has been a total new running concept for me – not knowing where the finish line is but knowing when the finish is.

Last year was my first experience of taking part in the Mota-vation Summer Road Race Series, a series of five road races, each approximately four miles, held monthly at various venues in Oxfordshire on Thursday nights.   

The ‘Eynsham 13’ were among a field of 250 runners for the ‘Banbury 15’ 2020, run over a 15-mile course in challenging and wet conditions.

Race Report: Ascot-under-Wychwood  Multi-Terrain 10K

The race is set in a picturesque village in the Evenlode Valley, organised by a band of very dedicated people who put on a well organised event to raise money for their local village charities.

Woodstock 12 (The Golden Loo Heist)

A lovely sunny September morning as we set off from Eynsham to Woodstock. 

All I can remember about this race was the booze.

Ian’s plan had me down for 15 miles that day, but I had entered the Hooky 6, so went for a long warm up and stumbled across the Hook Norton Brewery, before finding my way back to the start line.  It was a two lap course and 6 miles later we ended up back where we started.

The race, which is in the Club Champs and is the reason why I had entered, sells out quickly and unfortunately quite a few people were not able to get a place.  There was a bar at the finish and although Adrian and other Eynsham Road Runners had missed out on getting a place they did not miss out on getting a pint ready for the presentations.

Kate finished second lady overall and won a box of 3 Hook Norton beers and a beer glass.   She didn’t like beer so promptly gave the beer away to Jackie and Adrian, but kept the beer glass – because having won the race last year she now has a matching set.  Top tip, if you like beer make sure you are near Kate at the presentations.

Jackie was then declared second in her age category and won more beer. 

Jackie and Adrian had kindly given me a lift and on the way home talk was about the Hooky Christmas Canter, which again sells out.  Adrian was telling us that he enjoys that race because as you run round you pop into the church and get mulled wine and mince pies.  Jackie didn’t know of this, as she’d always sprinted past the church to win the race!

I did not win any beer that day, but did complete the 15 miles and won the wine 3 weeks later.

Hornton 6, by Graham Bridges

As I told just about anyone who would listen on the day, my preparation for this race was unusual to say the least. I did the Oxford Parkrun in the morning (starting slowly before building up speed towards the end), then went to London for a drinking session with some old friends (started reasonably quickly before slowing right down), before arriving back at Oxford Parkway some time after 5, ready to whisked up to the wilds of the North Oxfordshire border country.

With all this behind me, I wasn’t sure how the famously challenging hills around Hornton would feel. The answer was ‘not too bad’, or no worse than usual, at least. There were a decent number of ERRs there, but with Witney out in force we didn’t quite clean up trophy-wise as we had in recent years. Well done to Robert and Jacky for winning their categories, and to our men’s team of Robert, the Baker boys and, er, me for finishing a notional 2^nd men’s team, which was still handy for Grand Prix points.  

The trophy presentations were quick and efficient which, whilst lacking the comic value of last year, did mean we were in the pub in good time for our post-race meal, organised by Tom. About 15 of us, runners and supporters alike, crowded into the Dun Cow for some excellent food, and yes, more drinks. So maybe this regime of race, beer, race, beer has something going for it.

On a warm, pleasant Sunday morning on the last day of June, a select group of 8 Roadrunners made our way to the Thame 10k. It was my first time at this race, and by far the biggest field I'd run with before, with well over 800 runners taking part. Apart from a rather over enthusiastic MC, I thought it was well organised, with the start having different sections marked out in five minute intervals (faster runners at the front). The course itself was, as promised by those who'd run it before, mainly flat, with the first few kilometres taking us through the town centre. The conditions were, I thought, very good, not too hot with a gentle breeze providing a bit of relief from all the exertion. Paul and Stan played their jokers, a good move considering the small numbers from Eynsham. I'd been told that Thame was a good course to improve a PB, and so it proved for myself, Stan and Caroline. Mine was an improvement of over a minute, which I was very pleased about. Kate A was the 3rd lady to finish, which was a great effort. Ian K popped up at two points along the course, including at a crucial section half a kilometre from the end, which definitely helped push me to the finish - thanks, Ian! There was a bit of crowding in the finish funnel, but there was a T shirt and refreshments at the end of it. I enjoyed my race, and would definitely run it again in future!