Chichester runner reaches remarkable milestone number of victories as he wins 5km in Hampshire

GOSPORT 5km series, Race 2, Hampshire, May 10

There was much anticipation among runners and spectators alike as Chichester Runners’ long serving stalwart James Baker lined up with 999 individual race victories behind him and that belief turned out not to misplaced, Martin Duff reports.

The 45-year-old duly obliged with his 1000th lifetime race victory in a time that he thought was 15:55. He said: “I am not sure if the times are correct for last night, the clock said 15:55 as I went through, but they have given me 15:42.”

He added: “The organiser from Nice Work had a busy night as he was handing out numbers, starting the race, in charge of the timing mat and did the prize giving before packing up.”

In anticipation of reaching his milestone, Baker was given the race number 1000 in a fitting tribute to his longevity and achievement.

He said: “I was relieved to pull clear from the second and third runners after just 800 metres.”

A tailwind took Baker through two miles in 9:56 before the last mile was run into the strong breeze and slowed him down to a 5:23 third mile.

After the race Baker paid tribute to his team manager Phil Baker (no relation) and said: “He got me to join Chichester Runners back in November 1992 after he spotted me racing in a local schools’ cross-country event.

“I won my first race for the club back in July 1994, which was a 400m in the Southern Men’s Athletics League at Milton Keynes.”

Phil Baker said: “What is remarkable about James is not his list of PBs, which are relatively modest, but his level of consistency and the fact that he has hardly slowed down over the years. Coupled to this are his amazing powers of recovery, something that he has always had, being able to run a fast 5km a few days after a marathon.”

This latest Gosport victory was Baker’s 213th on the road, to go with 209 on the track, 272 parkruns and 306 multi-terrain or cross-country but he is not content to rest on his laurels and he added: “Hopefully I can continue to pick up some more wins and my other goal is to log up 100,000 miles. Thankfully I kept training records since 1994.”

His next outings are the Sussex 5000m champs on Sunday and then the Bognor 10km the weekend after, in addition to his continuing affection for parkruns.

Overall:
1 J Baker (Chich, M45) 15:42; 2 R Thorburn (Soton) 16:08; 3 L Banner (Havant) 16:24

M55: 1 C Buxton (Gosp) 19:01

M60: 1 M Williams (Ports) 19:28

Women:
1 K Slater (Soton, W35) 18:54; 2 L Harrison (Soton) 19:07; 3 E Montiel (Ports, W45) 19:10

W45: 2 A Vargin (Chich R) 20:51; 3 S Nangle (Soton) 21:00

W70: 1 J Tombs (Gosp) 26:29

SUNDERLAND HALF-MARATHON, May 8

Conrad Franks was first man by well over a kilometre in 68:53, while Gemma Hillier-Moses (79:46) led home the women from Josie Rawes (83:16).

Overall:
1 C Franks Gates 68:53; 2 J Mckenzie Heat 73:27; 3 J Hiom 74:48

Women:
1 G Hillier-Moses Charn 79:46; 2 J Rawes York Knaves 83:16; 3 K Simpson Gates 84:03

SUNDERLAND 10km, May 8

It was a Liam one-two with Liam Aldridge (31:18) leading home Liam Taylor’s 31:52 as Olympic marathoner and W40 Aly Dixon (35:34) was the women’s winner by two minutes.

Overall:
1 L Aldridge Bill 31:18; 2 L Taylor Sund 31:52; 3 S Jackson Sund 32:20

Women:
1 A Dixon Sunderland S 35:34; 2 I Bungay Elsw 37:36; 3 R Naylor Els 40:48

ALTON 10, May 8

Overall:
1 S Hoenig (Lords, M40) 55:23; 2 B Saunby (Salis) 55:35; 3 P Gaimster (Win, M45) 57:00

M55: 1 M Webber (And) 62:48

M65: 1 M Hargreaves (Ports) 68:41

M70: 1 P Young (Ryde) 73:26

Women:
1 T Anderson (Win, W40) 63:24; 2 E Jolley (Ports, W40) 64:34; 3 S Gurney (Win, W50) 65:10

W55: 1 T Lake (Liss) 70:07

AYLSHAM 10km, Norfolk, May 8

Overall:
1 N Addams (NNBR, M45) 34:43; 2 J Hudson (Norw RR, M40) 34:31; 3 D Smith (Colt, M40) 36:00

M60: 1 J Moore (Norf G) 37:54

M70: 1 M Senior (R-n-Sea) 46:55

Women:
1 G Buchanan (Norw) 39:01; 2 K Murrell (Tri Anglia, W40) 39:59; 3 E Gaskins (Colt) 41:41

W50: 1 S Spence 42;29

W60: 1 A Stewart (Norw RR) 48:49

BLACKSTICKS BLUE 10km, Preston, Lancashire, May 8

Overall:
1 R Affleck (Prest, M50) 36:03; 2 C Walton (B;burn) 36:17; 3 D Lightfoot (Chesh Dr) 36:33

M55: 1 G Goodwin (Acc) 37:05

M65: 1 P Muller (North M) 39:49

Women:
1 S Pilkington (R Rose) 39:57; 2 S Worley (W’sop) 42:47; 3 R Leary (S’worth, W35) 43:21

W55: 1 L Heyes (R’bottom) 45:57

BROMSGROVE 10km, May 8

Overall:
1 T Bristowe (Redditch) 34:18; 2 P MacKie 36:57; 2 G Moorhead 37:52

Women:
1 S Richardson (W35) 46:17; 2 N Tandy (W35) 48:28; 3 M Flynn 48:34

EYE 10km, Cambridgeshire, May 8

Overall:

1 N Bunting (P’boro &NV) 33:10; 2 J Orrell (Hunts) 33:18; 3 M Amos (Hunts) 33:33; 4 I Ellard (Helpston) 34:18; 5 B Corleys (B’field, M45) 34:25; 6 M Gichuhi (B’field, M40) 34:36

M55: 1 N Cann 37:12

Women:
1 S Cullen (Eye, W35) 38:37; 2 H Grcova (BRJ, W35) 39:43; 3 H Butler (R’side, W40) 40:15

W45: 1 T Alcaraz (March) 40:50

W50: 1 P Taylor (Helpston) 40:42

W60: 1 A Wood (Werr) 45:20

RUN GATWICK HALF-MARATHON & 10km, West Sussex, May 8

Twenty-year-old Imogen Amos built on her 17:35 5km from 10 days earlier to post another PB with a runaway 10km victory in 36:09, Martin Duff reports.

For the men, new M45 Neil Boniface improved on his recent 71:50 in the Brighton Half to improve to 71:10 and victory over 13.1 miles by more than three minutes.

Overall (13.1M):
1 N Boniface (Craw, M45) 71:10; 2 T Meanwell (Lewes, M40) 74:47; 3 S Sproston (Pound H, U18) 75:28

M50: 1 C Gilbert (Lewes) 80:09

Women:
1 H Gaunt (Ton, W40) 1:02; 2 A Brown (Craw, W40) 84:30; 3 A Knott (W40) 86:24

W40: 3 L Ebbs (Rei P) 88:26

Overall (10km):
1 A Saji 32:34; 2 N Chapman 33:43; 3 J Topping (Hay H, M40) 35:19

Women:
1 I Amos (Ton, U20) 36:09; 2 C Hsrper (W40) 42:35; 3 K Wright (Arena) 42:41

THORNHILL 10km, Tayside, May 8

Overall:
1 G Yates (I’clyde) 31:30; 2 J Lawson (M40) 35:35; 3 G Warren 35:57

M50: 1 E Jack 37:35

Women:
1 S Armstrong 39:37; 2 E Beattie 39:52; 3 K McStay 42:41

W50: 1 L Johnstone 43:56

IVYBRIDGE 10km, Ivybridge, May 7

Overall:
1 J Barnett (Teignbridge Trotters N/A) 32:44; 2 J Cole (TRP, M40) 33:19; 3 S Fletcher (Ply H) 34:07

Women:
1 L Knox (Storm Plymouth) 42:25; 2 S Daw (E Corn, W55) 44:28; 3 S Bhalsod (Storm Plymouth, W35) 44:54

SUNDERLAND 5km, May 7

Carl Avery (14:25) just edged Tommy Power (14:26) and Jamie Hall (14:28).

Danielle Hodgkinson (16:02) was first woman.

Overall:
1 C Avery Morpeth 14:25; 2 T Power Hallam 14:26; 3 J Hall Hallam 14:28; 4 L Gamble-Thompson New M 14:29; 5 C Smith Tyne B 14:33; 6 J Beattie Leeds 14:37

Women:
1 D Hodgkinson Walls 16:02; 2 P Stone Middles (Mandale) 16:10; 3 G Hillier-Moses Charn  16:42

CARDIFF BANNISTER ANNIVERSARY MILES, Cardiff, May 6

Overall (1M):
1 R Vincent (P’pridd R) 6:27; 2 D Singh (PontyRR, M45) 7:10; 3 T O’Sullivan (Les C, M60) 7:26

Women:
1 K Crofts (Les C, W40) 7:35; 2 E Gallop-evans (Les C, W55) 7:35; 3 L Denton (Les C, W60) 8:26

Overall (1M):
1 B Thie (B’end, U13W) 6:42; 2 T Petrides (Les C, M55) 6:51; 3 M Davies (Les C, M70) 7:02

Women:
1 Thie 6:42; 2 J Martin (Les C, W40) 7:07; 3 C Jarrom (Les C) 7:15

Overall (1M):
1 J Hussey (Rhoose Runners, M40) 6:15; 2 K Chapman (Les C, W55) 6:22; 3 E Martin (Cardiff Amateur Ac, U11W) 6:25

Women:
1 Chapman 6:22; 2 Martin 6:25; 3 H Morgan (PontyRR, W55) 6:25

Overall (1M):
1 P Hodge (Les C, M55) 5:36; 2 D Shewring (PontyRR) 5:48; 3 A Jones 5:53

Women: 1 B Butler-Madden (P’pridd R) 6:06

Overall (1M):
1 D Thomas (Les C) 5:11; 2 L Pole (P’pridd R, M45) 5:18; 3 C Dooley (P’pridd R, W) 5:18

Women:
1 Dooley 5:18; 2 A Griffiths (Les C) 5:31; 3 H Oliver (Les C) 5:33

Overall (1M): 1 J Thie (Card, M40) 4:39; 2 H Evans (Newp, U17) 4:46; 3 H Evans (Parc BB, M50) 4:56

EALING MILE, Ealing, May 6

Overall:
1 C Clifford (Eal E, M35) 4:56; 2 B Lynch (Eal E) 4:59; 3 N Urquia (Wimb W, M55) 5:19

Women:
1 B Urlbauer (HW) 5:32; 2 A Critchlow (W4H, W50) 5:33; 3 C Pettitt (Vale R) 5:49

W65: 1 J Wright (Eal E) 7:17

JOHN ROBERTS SUMMER 5km SERIES, Colchester, May 5

Overall:
1 H Mizon (With RC, M45) 17:59; 2 A Smith (With RC) 18:47; 3 J Blackshaw (With RC) 19:43

Women:
1 L Stuckey (With RC, W45) 22:04; 2 V Riley (With RC) 22:51; 3 L Morgan (With RC) 24:47

BITTON 5km, Avon, May 4

Overall:
1 A Pritchard (T Bath) 15:35; 2 D Stoneman (T Bath) 16:11; 3 J Hayes (Bitt, M40) 17:25

Women:
1 L Sanigar (B&W, W40) 19:29; 2 B Lee (W’bury, W35) 20:25; 3 B Clarke (Bitt) 21:32

ATS SUMMER PROMS 3km, Aberdeen, May 4

Overall:
1 J Kelly (Metro) 9:07; 2 J Folan (Metro) 9:49; 3 K Garden (Metro, M35) 9:51

Women: 1 H Mutch (A’deen) 10:52; 2 E Wilson (Hidden Peak Running) 11:18; 3 K Cruden (P’head, W40) 11:44

GREAT NEWSOME 5 MILE BLAST, Withernsea, May 4

Overall:
1 A Gibson (E Hull) 28:01; 2 A Holbrook (Unatt) 30:07; 3 J Englestown (Selb, M40) 30:35

Women:
1 M Hatfield (CoH) 32:10; 2 I Davison (CoH) 33:16; 3 J Petrie (CoH, W35) 34:12

PB 5km, Ardingly, May 4

The race lived up to its name generally (19 of the top 30 ran their fastest times) though women’s winner Verity Hopkins (16:35) missed her PB by a second whereas runner-up Maddie Jordan-Lee (16:37) actually had a quicker chip time (16:34) and did improve her best time.

Under-20 Hamish Reilly (14:35) was fastest man.

Overall:
1 H Reilly (B’works, U20) 14:35; 2 R Serif (Vale R, U20) 14:42; 3 S Wade (Phoe) 15:02

M45: 1 A Webb (M&M) 15:59; 2 W Levett (Tun W) 16:09; 3 C Blackburn (Holl S) 16:16; 4 L Taub (B&H) 16:29

M50: 1 S Winder (E&E) 16:23; 2 S Major (S Lon) 16:52

M55: 1 C Bennett (Lewes) 17:14; 2 S Mills (Uck) 17:22; 3 J Burrell (Lewes) 17:49

U20: 3 M Gar (AFD) 15:09; 4 J Price (Norw) 15:11; 5 M Geddes (B’works) 15:17; 6 J Hobbs (Craw) 15:25; 7 M Duckworth (AFD) 15:25; 8 S Bateman (SMR) 15:29; 9 D Ervine (HY Runners) 15:30

U17: 1 L Newton (Craw) 15:20; 2 J Dobson (Worth) 16:24

U15: 1 F Goodman (B&H) 16:00; 2 A Pearson (IoW) 16:08; 3 E Manning (E&E) 16:56; 4 A Khursheed (Hay H) 17:28

Women:
1 V Hopkins (Ton) 16:35; 2 M Jordan-Lee (S’mkt, U20) 16:37; 3 K Bingle (AFD) 16:53; 4 E Navesey (Lewes) 17:18

W40: 1 H Gaunt (Ton) 17:35; 2 A Brown (Craw) 18:27

W50: 1 S McDonald (S Lon) 18:23

W55: 1 R Hutton (S Lon) 20:29; 2 P Major (S Lon) 21:45

U20: 2 M Jordan (S’mkt) 17:32

U17: 1 O Martin (Abing) 17:28; 2 E Mclean (E’bne) 18:11; 3 I Guirdham (Lewes) 18:12

U15: 1 A James (Lewes) 17:26; 2 E Stephenson (Lewes) 18:14; 3 K Foss (Craw) 18:46