Page 41 - issue17.05.2019

P. 41

Sport

CYCLING ATHLETICS
Seniors leg

it to IS win

THE ANNUAL pilgrimage to Fleet
Half Marathon for RAF runners saw
the Service’s senior men storm to
victory.
The race forms part of the Inter-
Service Half Marathon Championship
acting as the main event for the RAF
teams leading up to the London
Marathon.
Featuring several of the Service’s
top distance runners, the race had
looked unlikely due to poor weather
conditions
When the race started the storms
had ended and the milder conditions
saw runners achieve personal bests.
From the start the Inter-Service
runners worked their way to the
front of the field where many of them
remained to the finish.
Cpl James Bellward, with a final
run time of one hour, seven minutes
and 34 seconds, found himself in a
leading group of five, before deciding
to increase the pace and break the
group up with four miles to go.
The move proved decisive as he
went on to the win the race, along with
the Senior men’s IS title.
The chasing pack included FS
Michael Taylor (RAF), despite their
SHOT: Above, below and below right, action from the recent highly succesful Stage Two race in Portgual efforts to stay with Bellward.
They were left to fight it out for
Winners in Lousa runner Knudsen was able to move
second and third.
With just two miles to run, Army
away from Taylor and claim second
spot, leaving Taylor to have to sprint
home just 13 seconds ahead of the
next three finishers.
Service riders shine in tough celebration however, with the third
There was yet more cause for
Portugal MTB battle RAF scoring runner SAC Will
Gardner also completing the course
with a person best of one hour, 13
minutes and 23 seconds for 20
th
position.
FS Matt Allen was the first IS
Veteran home in 1 hour, 13 minutes
and 29 seconds for 22 overall, with
nd
several other notable performances
and PBs coming from Cpl Carl Tucker,
Sgt Greg Southern, Cpl John Bevan
and Sgt Doug Davies. The veterans
finished second.
The RAF ladies, missing a few key
runners, saw Cpl Emily Brown lead
the way for the RAF runners finishing
in a time of one hour, 26 minutes and
36 seconds.
Flt Lt Natalie Bown had a strong
run for one hour, 32 minutes and 20
seconds to seal a second place overall
behind the Army.

STAFF REPORTER which included several professional Another tight battle was between
Portugal riders, with host rider Emanual newer riders, SAC(T) Meadows
and Fg Off Beadle.
Pombo taking top spot.
THE SERVICE’S Downhill and Following for three days of With Meadows only leading by a
Enduro cyclists took second and training the team were ready for few seconds after the first stage due
third places in a Stage Two race race day, on two downhill style race to a crash, it was close.
against the Portuguese national stages. Racing on different trails, However, Beadle suffered a
team in Lousa. the cyclist with the fastest time over puncture on stage two, which
The team of Flt Lt Andrew both stages was the winner. Pombo dropped him down the rankings as
Macmillan, Fg Off Stuart McCarthy, took overall winner and Service top he nursed his bike to the finish.
Fg Off Andrew Beadle, Chf Tech spot went to Chf Tech Fieldsend. The training days saw the Service
Adam Fieldsend, Cpl Jamie Corsby, Fg Off McCarthy and Flt Lt riders try out fire road and single
Cpl Mark Probert and SAC(T) Josh Macmillan were duelling for second track courses, and also take on the
Meadows did battle against the side place with McCarthy just taking it. Louzanpark runs in Cacilhas.

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