Wilsmore shows he is hitting form again with 5k PB

Posted on by Kevin Fahey
Holding back the years! Mike Wilsmore is looking in great shape. Photos courtesy of ‘Dig Deep Race Photography’

MIKE Wilsmore might be edging ever closer to the M40 age group but he is showing no signs of slowing down – at least over the longer distances.

Wilsmore, who is a member of Bristol & West AC and runs his own physiotherapy business in Plymouth, carved 10 seconds off his lifetime best with 14mins 40secs to finish seventh and frst local runner in the On Running Bristol Track Club 5k road race over the Easter weekend.

Wilsmore’s previous road best was set four years ago at the popular Yeovilton Summer Series 5k event and it is fair to say that since then his racing has been restricted by both the Covid pandemic and a series of frustrating injuries.

PB form: Bristol & West AC’s Adam Wilson

He was unable to do the 12-Stage relays for B&W but in his only start of the year so far at the end of last month he showed signs that he is returning to form with a 15:58 win in the Exmouth parkrun.

But his 14:41 represents a big step forward and it is great to say Wilsmore back in shape again.

Three places behind him B&W newcomer Alex Stewart, the unfortunate runner who missed his start in the Midland relays the previous week, again underlined what an asset he will be to the club with a swift 14:45 in 10th.

PB form: North Somerset AC’s Will Cheek

Clubmate David Corkey also dipped inside 15 minutes with a single seconds PB of 14:57 in 17th while the Team Bath duo of Aaron Pritchard (15:08) and Elliott Avis (15:19) both smashed their lifetime bests.

North Somerset AC’s Will Cheek shaved seven seconds off his PB with 15:23 while one second behind him B&W’s Adam Wilson clipped 10 seconds off his PB.

From Bitton Road Runners Rob Farley continued his good winter on the country with a time of 15:48, clipping four seconds off his PB.

Further down the field B&W coach Dave Bedwell showed he still has a fair turn of speed to clock 19:30 and finish first M60 from clubmate Jon Goodland (19:49).

Warren Sweet was second M45 (17:09), smashing his previous PB of 17:27 with clubmate Tariq Kurd third (17:13) while in the M50 class Bitton RR’s Jacob Hayes was second (16:49), which amazingly was only two seconds shy of his lifetime best – set 10 years ag!