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Island run: Heathside’s John Flahive (left) with Paul Lemmon |
Gruelling test in Canary Islands
Heathside runners shine in Atlantic international challenge
A TEAM of five top athletes from London Heathside Running Club welcomed a change in scenery last week when they travelled to the Canary Islands to take part in the Lanzarote International Running Challenge.
Facing four gruelling races in four days, Richard Browne was among the best performers for Heathside. The veteran recorded a time of 34 minutes, 43 seconds to finish seventh overall in the opening 10k road race, taking second place in the contingent of over-40s runners.
Team-mate Paul Lemmon crossed the finishing line just over a minute later to take 12th spot, completed the race as the highest placed runner in the over-45s category,
There were also creditable runs from John Flahive and Andy Welshman, who hit home in 14th and 21st place respectively. Anna Critchlow was the first woman home in the over-40s division, finishing as the second female runner on the day with a time of 38.03.
Browne repeated his seventh place finish on day two, this time completing a 12.5k ridge race in 46 minutes flat. Flahive and Lemmon hit home within touching distance of each other to take 11th and 12th spot respectively, while Critchlow completed the course in just over 50 minutes to take 24th place. Welshman rounded off the Heathside running order in 27th place.
Despite being over a shorter distance, day three was just as draining as the Heathsiders tackled the 5k beach run.
This time it was Flahive who led the Camden and Islington club home with a time of 20.56 to grab eighth place. Browne wasn’t far behind in 10th spot, while Lemmon and Welshman finished 12th and 22nd.
Critchlow also recorded a good time of 23.36 to take 30th place, again finishing as the first woman home in the over-40s division.
In the final event of the championships, Browne returned to the front of the Heathside pack as he completed a testing 21k multi-terrain race in 1:15.36 secs to record a familiar seventh place finish. Lemmon crossed the finishing post just over a minute later to take 10th spot, closely followed by Flahive in 12th position.
There were double celebrations for Critchlow, who completed the course in 1.21.26 secs to finish as the first woman home and the first female runner in the over-40s category. Welshman completed the course in 31st place.
In the final standings, Browne finished in seventh place with almost three hours of running time under his belt, completing the competition as the second, highest-placed athlete in the event’s over-40s category.
There was just one minute separating Lemmon, who finished as the highest placed runner in the over-45s category, and Flahive. The two athletes were neck and neck throughout the four day competition, with Lemmon earning 11th spot and Flahive taking 12th place.
Critchlow finished 23rd overall, taking first place in the women’s over-40s category and ending the Spanish trip as the second fastest woman of the tournament. Welshman was also rewarded for his efforts with a creditable 27th place finish. |
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