Summer Handicap - Sparsholt Firs, Thursday 22nd May
The 2008 race took place on Thursday 22nd May at 7pm. Congratulations to Simon Leech who claimed victory on the day.
Winter Handicap - From the Nelson Public House on the edge of Wantage on New Year's Day
The Facts
First Runner Sent Off: 11am (plenty of time to recover from the antics of the previous night or, come to think of it, early morning).
Course Description: Distance about 4 miles. Follow the track and then road through West Lockinge to the T-junction in Lockinge. Turn right. Follow the road up the hill and left in front of the monument. After the church the road sweeps down to the left then bears right, Immediately after this right turn as the road starts to climb take the left fork up a private road. When this meets the lane at the top carry straight ahead and follw the road past Ardington Sports club into the village of Ardington. In ardington turn left. Follow that road to a T-junction. However, at this point follow the track straight ahead. After a few hundred yards this rejoins the outbound route. Turn right and retrace your steps to the finish. See the link here for course map.
Details for the old course that was run until 2005 from "The Fox" at Denchworth.
Course Description: Distance 4 miles. A quadrilateral with two left turns and one right turn near the end. The whole of the run is done on flat tarmac so some very fast times are possible. One finishes at the beginning, having gone full circle so to speak, and can then obtain a refreshing, but perhaps not rehydrating, drink from the Fox (how convenient).
Top Ten Times:
1 20.19 Tim Hughes
2 20.20 Tom Penfold 2003
3 20.36 Dave Wright 1996
4 20 53 Steve Mc Guigan 1998
5 21.05 Richard Frame 1991
6 21.18 Chris James 1995
7 21.26 Pete Mulvany 1991
8 21.35 John Schutterlin 1991
9 21.39 Dave Murfin 1993
10 21.47 Frank Briscoe 1992
Previous Victors (actual times):
1991 Richard Mulvany 33.44
1992 Steve McGuigan 28.28
1993 Alan Jones 28.18
1995 Arthur Strain 25.24
1996 Marion Jones 32.50
1997 Clifford Mills 25.26
1998 Sheila Bailey 29.06
1999 Steve McGuigan 20.53 (uncertain)
2000 Melanie Roberts 31.30
2001 Tom Penfold 20.35
2002 Dave Murfin 23.18
2003 Arthur Strain 32.40
2004 Sheila Bailey 29.03
2007 Frank Briscoe
2008 Alex Mills
The Facts
First Runner Sent Off: 7pm depending on occurrence at weekend or on weekday.
Distance: 5.5 miles
Course Description: A multi-terrain affair. The run commences on a hard surface that extends up a hill (usually run into wind and rain). One must then perform an abrupt lefthand turn and run up more hills that become muddier and muddier, carrying out two further left turns . The glory stretch of the run is done on part of the illustrious Ridgeway ( no prizes for guessing what the relief is) and the finish is 200m down the road from the start, that's progress! If the competitor is canny enough to get back first, i.e they've "talked" to the timekeeper, then the shiny Pieces trophy awaits them along with glory and honour for a year.
Top Ten Times:
1 32.33 Pete Wilson 1989
2 32.47 Derek Green 1996
3 34.18 Jason Cooke 1998
4 34.26 Dave Wright 2003
5 34.28 Phil Smith 1992
6 34.30 Owain Bristow 2003
7 34.36 Paul Jegou 2003
8 34.41 Chris James 1998
9 34.48 John Schutterlin 1998
10 34.58 Nick Ponting 1996
Annals of the Champions (actual times):
1991 Stuart Scott 35.13
1992 Gareth Smith 39.00
1995 Nick Ponting 37.13
1996 Simon Williamson 36.09
1997 Clifford Jones 42.54
1998 Jason Cooke 34.18
1999 Terry Gashe 41.21
2000 Josephine Rhodes 44.03
2001 Dave Murfin (held at Ardington because of foot & mouth)
2002 Sheila Morrison 51.35
2003 Dave Wright 34.26
2004 Dan New 39.14
2005 Kevin Harris
2006 Dave Martin 47.15
2007 Frank Briscoe 39.05
2008 Simon Leech 41.08
White Horse Harriers has two regular handicap runs each year. The main Cross Country Handicap held at Sparsholt Firs in the summer. The winner of this event being prented with the Pieces Trophy. On New Years Day we have an informal run from The Nelson public house in Wantage. Both these events are detailed below.
