Harper Scarper

Harper Scarper

The final race in this years Up and Running sponsored the 32nd Sexarathon Race Series organised by Telford Athletic Club took place on Wednesday at Harper Adams University, Edgmond, near Newport. The Harper Scarper a 5 kilometre, multi terrain race saw Claire Martin and Paul Ward both win their races and with that the overall sexarathon titles. Paul Ward, from Wrekin Road Runners won the Harper Scarper in 16.04, with Robin Sedman Smith, the sexarathon champion in 2006, second in 16.24, whilst James Jefferson from West Bromwich Harriers was third in 16.26. The reigning Sexarathon Champion, Joe Brocklehurst from Shrewsbury was 5th in 16.34. Claire Martin from Telford Athletic Club won the womens race in 17.41, with Helen Palmer from the Serpentine Running Club, London second in 18.28 whilst Michelle Clarke, the 2009 and 2010 overall champion third just 3 seconds behind in 18.31. This is the third year of the Harper Scarper race and it saw a record number of finishers as 269 runners crossed the finish line.

The Harper Scarper is the final race in this years Sexarathon Race Series which involves six mid week races held from April to September, sponsored by Mo Hill from the Up and Running Shop in Shrewsbury.

Winning the overall title this year gave Claire Martin her a record 9th title, in what is one of the oldest race series in the country, that started in 1983, she won her first Sexarathon title in 1994. Paul Ward won the mens title for the 7th time after winning his first title in 2003. Other prize winners in the overall men and womens categories were 2nd Michelle Clarke, Telford AC, 3rd Kathy Jones Shrewsbury Tri, 4th Georgia Potts, Bridgnorth AC, 5th Lisa Blagden Telford AC and 6th Linzi Nuttall. In the mens category Joe Brocklehurst was second, 3rd Robin Sedman Smith, 4th Ben Foster Dudley Kingswingford, 5th James Jefferson West Bromwich Harriers and 6th Robert Meredith Dudley and Stourbridge.

The overall age group winners were over 35 Rachel Simms, Telford AC, over 40 Alison Preece, over 45 Sara Rex, Telford Harriers, over 50 Jo Grandfield, Market Drayton Running Club, over 55 Karen Foreman, Telford Harriers, over 60 Anne Strowger, Newport, over 65 Dot Fellows, Cannock and Stafford, over 70 Kathy Ling, Wrekin Road Runners. men over 35 Robert Norman, over 40 Dale Wilkinson, Telford AC, over 45 Paul Coupe, Telford AC, over 50 John Garmson, Telford AC, over 55 Jonathan Morgan, Whitchurch Whippets, over 60 Peter Savill, Shrewsbury AC, over 65 Rick Tyrer, over 70 John Buckby, West Bromwich Harriers.

Paul Sanderson