Victoria Shield 2015

Sunday brought a little local diversion, the running of the Victoria Shield handicap race at headquarters, Victoria Park itself; where else!

Basically this is a handicap 5k race on the parkrun circuit in reverse. So, the inner island lap comes first, in reverse, followed by the usual two outer laps to the finish, in reverse. There are no separate male and female races. We are all in it together and runners head off according to their fastest submitted times at 5k and 10k. So, the slower runners get a head start and it is then up to the speedier brethren to overhaul them if they can, which is not always possible. This format tends to lull one into making a too quick start and by the middle sector your race tends to be run with little or no ground gained. The early start in conjunction with the effects of the previous evenings imbibing by some of us, conspired to make the situation even more delicate.

Anyway, it is a bit of fun and there is an impressive trophy at the end for someone. We are grateful to Chris Woods for organising the event and for working out the handicaps; but we will not say anything about the handicaps!

It would appear that the following members have registered for the Shield, in no particular order: Garry Morrow, Diana Porter, Robin Montgomery, Andy McIntyre, Catherine Fearon, Gary Keenan, Kerris Hamilton, Leann Gibson, Ray Leitch, Michael O’Donoghue, Brian Todd, Stephen Hamilton, Martin Doherty, Paul Gruhn, Alan Montgomery, Paul Buchanan and defending champion, Rodney Corrigan. Who knows what the morrow will bring!

Well, the morrow came and the Victoria Shield has been decided for another year. It was a pleasant morning at Victoria Park as the contenders gathered. One or two looked a little worse for wear from the night before. Our spirits were lifted a little by the duathlon runners passing as we prepared for the off. They did not appear to be running very fast at all! We were quickly put into order by Darren Moan and Carole Bell and then set on our way. Diane Porter had the privilege, if it was a privilege, of leading off and it seemed an awful long time before some of us got away thereafter.

Nevertheless, the field was unleashed and the chase began that would decide the outcome. The analysts amongst you will spend some time sifting the following figures…

Finish time 5K time
1 Paul Buchanan 28.27 20.42 PB
2 Kerris Hamilton 28.44 24.14 PB
3 Martin Doherty 29.02 22.32 PB
4 Garry Morrow 29.06 17.36  
5 Stephen Hamilton 29.10 20.25 PB
6 Catherine Fearon 29.14 26.44 PB
7 Robin Montgomery 29.29 18.29 PB
8 Brian Todd 29.32 20.17  
9 Leann Gibson 29.36 19.21  
10 Diana Porter 29.44 29.44 PB
11 Rodney Corrigan 29.50 21.35  
12 Gary Keenan 29.56 19.26  
13 Andy McIntyre 29.58 18.58  
14 Michael O’Donoghue 30.02 20.47  
15 Raymond Leitch 30.11 19.56  
16 Alan Montgomery 30.57 23.42  
17 Paul Gruhn 31.10 23.55  

So, essentially the new Victoria Shield champion is Paul Buchanan and we offer him our sincere congratulations. Paul ran extremely well and a massive personal best brought home the bacon! Well done too to Kerris Hamilton who had to be persuaded to run. Had she managed to hold on a bit longer she could easily have won the Shield. Martin Doherty secured a much deserved third place as a result of the run of his life on the home straight to hold off Garry Morrow.

Congratulations to Diana Porter, Catherine Fearon, Kerris Hamilton, Paul Buchanan, and Stephen Hamilton on running 5k personal best times during the Victoria Shield.

Grateful thanks to Chris Woods, Carole Bell and Darren Moan for organising the event and to all those who helped with marshalling duties or who came along to shout encouragement, and the odd insult too, at the runners as they passed.