Striders trio take on the Ultra challenge - The Coventry Observer

Striders trio take on the Ultra challenge

Coventry Editorial 28th Oct, 2020   0

Kelsey Wiberley was on form at the Silkin Way Ultra.

LONG-DISTANCE running was the order of the weekend for a trio of Spa Striders members.

Ultra runners Kelsey Wiberley and Bethan Gwynn impressed at the 30-mile Silkin Way Ultra and Hardmoors 55 events respectively on Saturday, representing Spa’s ladies in style with two impressive results.

Wiberley was the shining light in the most recent round of events, recording another excellent result to continue her fine form in recent weeks by taking third place on the podium as the fastest female runner.

Her time of four hours, 16 minutes and four seconds in nearby Telford put her way clear of the rest of the female competitors, over two hours faster than the next-fastest lady.




Gwynn, meanwhile, ranked 37th overall after pacing herself well throughout, eventually finishing in 11 hours, 12 minutes and 59 seconds as the third-fastest lady.

Bethan Gwynn in action at the Hardmoors 55.

Elsewhere at the Thames Trot Ultra, Andrew Stone took on a 48-mile route, ranking just outside the top 100 runners but recording a sub ten-hour time with a 9:48:47 finish that placed him 106th overall.


The race, which began in Oxford and finished in Henley-on-Thames, saw a respectable effort from Stone – who placed as the 86th-fastest male taking part in the event.

Closer to home at the Ilmington 10k race on Sunday, Strider Chris McKeown was the fifth runner home in 40 minutes and 31 seconds, ranking third in the MV35 category, while Simon Parsons impressed by finishing 14th in 43 minutes and 51 seconds – appearing in his first race in over a year following injury.

Also making appearances were Paul Kirby (47:40, 29th), Jason Hemming (51:01, 47th), Lorraine Parsons (55:56, 77th) and Natalie Jackson (1:52:20, 167th) – the latter acting as a guide for blind runner Maggie Bowes.

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