Relay event in Thames Valley kicks off our weekly round-up of endurance running results from around Britain
FT Nikkei UK Ekiden, Thames Valley, June 24
The inaugural FT Nikkei UK Ekiden brought the spirit of Japanese relay racing to the UK for the first time ever in an official capacity with Oxford University emerging as the winners.
The race took place on the eve of the emperor and empress of Japan’s state visit to the UK, the first in more than 25 years.
The long-distance relay race involved 18 teams of 10 runners who ran a 76-mile route along the scenic Thames Path, starting in Oxford and finishing in Windsor. Each runner wore the traditional Japanese tasuki sash instead of using a baton.
UK Ekiden founder Anna Dingley said: “It was inspiring to see the energy and endurance from the runners and to feel their sense of camaraderie, which is what the ekiden is all about. We are deeply impressed that the Hakone Ekiden reached the milestone of 100 races, and hope that the UK Ekiden also continues for the next 100 years. Thank you to all the runners and supporters.”
TEAM (universities): 1 Oxford Uni 7:48:14; 2 Cambridge Uni 8:25:12; 3 Birmingham Uni 8:41:41.
TEAM (companies and clubs): Team Paris Marathon 9:15:07
ALAN BROWN MEMORIAL 10km, Kesgrave, Suffolk, June 30
John Millar, the UK Inter-Counties ninth placer, set a personal best when winning by two-and-a-half-minutes in 29:55.
The Ipswich Harrier had earlier set a 5km best of 14:26 as his running career resumed last year after nearly four years out. This followed a DNF in the 2019 European Cross-Country Championships. Earlier in that year, Millar was fourth in the English National at Leeds.
Claire Jacobs set a personal best of 35:06 when winning the Great East Anglia run in May and here notched up another local win in 35:30
Overall: 1 J Millar (Ips H) 29:55; 2 A Beaumont (B Stort) 32:25
M55: 1 A Mark Ips H) 36:11
M70: 1 J Self (Kesgrave) 42:56
Women: 1 C Jacobs (H’leigh) 35:30; 2 K King (St Ed) 37;26
W65: 1 S Lockhart (Ips J) 48:39
BARNSLEY 10m, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, June 30
Great Manchester Run Half-Marathon winner and under-20 UK marathon record-holder, with 2:41:01, Eleanor Baker took the women’s race in 34:58.
Overall: 1 S Hinchcliffe (Barns) 32:34
Women: 1 E Baker (Barns, U20) 34:58; 2 N Drakeford (Barns) 36:01; 3 R Sykes (Holmf) 36:38
W45: 1 S McGill (Peni) 40:41
W50: 1 F Davies (Roth) 40:52
W55: 1 H Morgan (Ack) 41:30
W60: 1 B Coomber (Denby D) 41:13
DROITWICH HALF-MARATHON, Worcestershire,…
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