Simkiss paces his race to perfection to grab runner-up spot in Stratford

Runners start in the town centre and run through the scenic outskirts of the town before arriving back at the finish line at the recreation ground next to the River Avon.

The damp and cool conditions on the day were good for running the 13.1 miles and over 2,300 finished the event.

Without his GPS watch to aid him, Simkiss had to run on feel and produced a superbly controlled race to finish second behind Cirencester AC’s David Bell in 1:12:37.

Bell opened up an early lead to cross the line in 1:10:46.

Kenilworth were out in force and Simkiss was followed by Connor Carson in fifth position in 1:15:12, with Chris Simkiss (22nd in 1:23:22) clipping a few more seconds off his personal best.

Kenilworth’s ladies were in fine form, winning the ladies’ team prize with Sabra Boldrini taking three minutes off her recent Warwick Half time, finishing 184th in a new PB of 1:35:46.

Claire Goult was 259th in 1:37:45, Danielle Mohacsi 337th in 1:41:40 and Sara Habib 362nd in 1:42:24.

Pauline Dable was the first LV65.

Richard Shephard was ninth for Spa Striders in 1:16:38, with clubmate Andrew Graham 33rd in 1:25:25.

Clare Hinton was the fifth lady and 1st F35 in a personal best time of 1:30:57.

Selected finishers (Kenilworth Runners unless stated): 2, Richard Simkiss (1:12:37); 5, Connor Carson (1:15:12); 9, Richard Shephard (Spa Striders, 1:16:38); 22, Chris Simkiss (1:23:22 PB); 26, Richard Broadbent (1:24:43); 27, Marc Curtis (1:24:46); 33, Andrew Graham (Spa Striders, 1:25:25); 41, Clive Pearce (1:26:43); 68, Neil Sheward (1:29:31); 86, Clare Hinton (1:30:57, PB); 138, James Atkins (1:33:29); 184, Sabra Boldrini (1:35:46 PB); 145, Keith Wilson (Spa Striders, 1:33:58); 166, Rich Sykes (Spa Striders, 1:34:56); 174, Charlotte Everard (Spa Striders, 1:35:14); 236, Gary Morgan (1:37:45); 259, Claire Goult (1:38:47); 337, Danielle Mohacsi (1:41:40); 342, Nathan Green (1:41:49); 362, Sarah Habib (1:42:24); 517, Claire Dyer (1:46:41); 792, Thomas Dable (1:53:35); 831, Anne Hurrell (Spa Striders, 1:54:28); 931, James Stacey (Spa Striders, 1:56:37); 1,226, Julie Heaton (Spa Striders, 2:04:01); 1,337, Pauline Dable (2:08:02); 1,339 Michael Scandrett (2:08:09); 1,489, Mike Shally (2:12:46); 1,549, Beth Gawthorpe (Spa Striders, 2:14:56).

Two Striders took part in the marathon, with Sarah Cox, making her marathon debut, coming 154th overall in a impressive time of 3:30:50.

Robert Nash was 568th in 4:31:16.

Meanwhile, Kenilworth Runners’ Richard Whiting headed to Staffordshire to run the Abbots Bromley 10k.

A small, local race, Whiting finished 12th of 69 in 42:27.

Luke Boulton of Staffordshire Moorlands AC won in 35:46.