ANNABEL Granger ran her second fastest half marathon of the year with an impressive performance in the Chippenham event yesterday.
The Bristol & West AC runner (pictured below) finished runner-up in the women’s race clocking a time of 1hr 20mins 56secs behind Taunton AC winner Alice Murray-Gourlay (1:19.17).
It was yet another quality run by Granger, who don’t forget is in the veterans’ 45 age group, as she was the only masters runner in the top five and well ahead of her nearest rival Emma Stepto of Cornwall AC (sixth overall, 1:23.20).
Additionally, it gave Granger second place in the England Athletics South West Championships, which was incorporated into the event.
It was Granger’s fifth half marathon of the year and came just a few weeks after her victory in the Severn Bridge half in Chepstow (82:30). Her best time of the year remains the 79:12 she recorded at the Fleet half in March, which was her fastest time for five years.
Another local woman to impress was Judy Orme of Portishead Running Club as she ran 1:44.59 to win the over 65s prize.
The men’s race was won by Bideford AC’s over 40 veteran Ronnie Richmond (67:20) from ex-B&W runner Tom Merson (68:49) with Jacob Landers of Tamar Trotters third (69:19).
The first local runner was B&W’s Richard Boyes in 22nd (76:19) but generally the Bristol-based clubs stayed away from the event,