IT WAS a Kenilworth Runners’ first and second at the hugely popular Coombe 8 cross-country race around the Abbey grounds just outside Coventry on Sunday.
The eight-mile event takes runners on a tought multi-terrain course which initially heads out to the woodland tracks of Coombe Park and then doubles back on itself to take in some tough fields full of deep craters.
Runners have to negotiate their tricky short steep ascents and descents and the course has a reputation for unseasonably bad weather, with this year’s strong winds making conditions harder than usual.
Kenilworth Runners’ Andrew Siggers won the event in a time of 49 minutes and 40 seconds, while team mate Kev Hope finished second in 50.31.
In the lady’s race, Kenilworth Runners’ Rachael Siggers had an excellent run by finishing as the second fastest lady in 59 minutes and 35 seconds, and she was just 16 second behind lady winner Helen Talbot, while Claire Murphy came sixth in a time of 101.42.
Paul Edwards, Kevin White and Chris McKeown all set off strongly for Spa Striders at the same event, with Edwards lying third at the half-way point.
But he was overtaken by a pair of Coventry Godiva Harriers runners in the second half but still finished in an excellent fifth place in a time of 52.06.
He was followed home by White who finished ninth in 54.36 and McKeown who took tenth in 54.49.
The Spa Striders ladies also made a bright start and by the second mile Carolyn Wilkinson was fifth while team mate Susie Stanard was one place behind in sixth.
Unfortunately Wilkinson’s recent cold took its toll and she was forced to settle for fourth in a time of 1:01.02.
Behind her Kate Gadsby and Fiona Edwards ran extremely strongly in the second half to finish in 1:01.27 and claim fifth spot and seventh (1:01.47).
