MORE than 300 runners took part in last year’s Henley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society’s fun run on the May Day weekend.
The race was won for the second year running by Stephen Hands,
who completed the 5.2-mile course in 29.12 minutes, followed by Ian
Gutteridge with a time of 29.55 minutes.
As well as athletes, the race attracted friends and families, several pensioners and some runners with their dogs.
The first woman was last year’s runner-up Joy Noad, who
finished in a time of 34 minutes and 46 seconds, followed by Alison
Croughton who ran in 36 minutes and 57 seconds. The first HAODS member
to cross the line was Keith Jefferies in 45 minutes and 38 seconds.
The fastest boy was Josh Scott, 16, a pupil at Piggott School
in Wargrave, with a time of 31 minutes and 33 seconds. The fastest girl
was 11-year-old Lois Meredith, from Shiplake Primary School, with a
time of 40 minutes and 18 seconds. Both won last year too.
Josh, who lives in Charville, said: “I am
over the moon that I won, especially as I had just come back from
injury. I run in it every year, it’s great. I also won in 2006.”
Lois said: “I am very pleased to have won. I go to Reading
Athletics Club and I run twice a week for about two miles. I really
like the HAODS event because lots of people take part and it’s lots of
fun.”
In last place was a pregnant woman who took one hour and 45
minutes to complete the course. The annual event, which has been going
for more than 20 years and is sponsored by the Standard, started and
finished in Regatta Meadows.
It raised £3,000 for charities Headway, the Thames Valley
Adventure Playground, Townlands League of Friends, the Acorn Mutual
Theatre Company and Parents for the Early intervention of Autism
(Peach).
HAODS chairman Terry Rymer said: “The race went very well.
Next year, we want to make it a bigger family event and maybe introduce
fancy dress and a prize for the best costume.”
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Show/hide comments
Show/hide comment form
