Search for
Search for
Search forStone overcomes fall to lift final Trail title
Saturday, October 04, 2008, 07:00
A field of 715 athletes, including eight previous category winners, turned out to give the charity event and beneficiary St Luke's Hospice a magnificent send off.
Pre-race favourite Stone ensured his would be the 10th and last winner's name on the record books, finishing the eight-mile run in bright and sunny conditions almost two minutes ahead of his nearest rival.
City schoolteacher and the area's leading distance runner Stone, despite his unplanned dip, stormed to the line in a time of 44minutes 58seconds to win the event for the fourth successive year.
In second place was Torbay Athletic Club's Ashley Humphreys (46:53), ahead of another of the Plympton-based trail's previous winners, Erme Valley Harrier Neil Holmes (47:18).
One of the biggest cheers of the day was for former Commonwealth Games marathon star Stuart Hall (48:26), who was fifth behind impressive Plymouth Harrier Jack Moxley (47:32).
A former winner of the event, Hall was making his first appearance after surgery to repair a torn Achilles heel.
First female to finish and 26th overall was previous winner Maddie Horton (52:00), ahead of another former leading lady, Jo Kelsey (53:20).
The bumper field was swelled by three former champions and fittingly, the race's first winners in 1999 – Alistair Bristow and Angela Allen – and East Cornwall Harriers' indefatigible Revis Crowle.
Elford admitted the finalé and reaction had been poignant and said he had been thrilled with the record entry of more than 700.
It should, he thinks, rack up the biggest sum yet for St Luke's.
Elford said: "It was a fantastic day – great weather and another brilliant set of runners fitting for the occasion.
"It was our biggest field which is just what we wanted – we've gone out on a high.
"By my reckoning we've raised between £15,000 and £20,000 for St Luke's since we started back in 1999.
"And that's without this year's totals which will lift that figure even higher.
"It's been great fun and obviously worthwhile, but also very hard work in terms of what we achieved."
Elford added: "I'd like to thank race sponsor Mizuno, and all the other sponsors, particularly local businesses Michael Spiers jewellers – and Andrew Toms Scaffolding and Dusty Bins for donating the skips.
"All their help saves having to pay for items, so more money goes to charity.
"And finally – and it really is – a big thank you to Plymouth Lions Club and Tommy Trotters and all the other running clubs for their help over the years."
Personal Injury Specialists. No Win No Fee, As Seen On TV.
High-quality, low-cost self-install uPVC vertical sliding sash windows. Manufactured to your specifications and delivered to you in super quick time. Check out our prices.
www.newspaceconservatories.co.uk
Pet Insurance- 5% Online Discount
UK Pet Insurance. Buy instantly online. From just £4.85 per month.
Comment on this story