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Record breaking runs by Lewes AC runners in South Downs 100 mile Relay
In the tough 100-mile relay along the South Downs against 67 teams from across the South Region Lewes AC runners came away with three wins out of the four on offer. The race is for teams of six each running three non-consecutive legs from Eastbourne to Winchester.
The over-40 men in a closely fought race with Basingstoke and Mid Hants AC won the trophy for their category by just a minute with a time of 10 hours 52 minutes. Not only was this time good enough to win the Veteran’s team trophy but meant that the Lewes team also won the Coopers Cup for the fastest team on an age adjusted basis. Their time also placed them second team overall out of the 67 teams.
Meanwhile the Ladies team were winners of the Ladies trophy, in a time of 12 hours 39 minutes. The A team, made up of mixed male and female runners, finished in 13 hours 10 minutes, and the B team, composed entirely of men aged 50 and over, came third in the B team category in 12 hours 57 minutes.
There were some fantastic record breaking performances put in on the day by all team members. The previous all-age club leg records were broken 4 times, the previous club vets leg records broken 13 times, and the previous club Ladies records 15 times. Over his three legs Andrew Masters broke two club records and three veteran leg records. Mike Ellicock also broke one club record and three veteran records with his last leg time gaining minutes over the Basingstoke runner to set the team up for the win. Also breaking club and veteran leg records were team members Lewis Sida, Allan Jackson and Mark Cage with Lee Woodgate taking the glory last leg to complete the 100 miles in first place.
The Ladies team ran the first few legs of the day neck and neck with a strong team from Winchester AC, but then they gradually pulled away. Towards the end of the day it became clear that the Ladies captain and fastest runner, Joscelin Lowden, was running well under par, so she and Helen Sida agreed to swap the last two legs, giving Helen the gruelling leg 17, nearly 9 miles long. Helen gave it her all and finished the leg in a club Ladies record time, and Joscelin was able to recover well enough to set another club record for the final leg 18 and ensure victory for the team.
Each team is supported by drivers and navigators who race to get the support mini-bus to the change over points before the runners! A total team effort.