Gosunder Handicap Results

The Gosunder, Sat. 18 July 2015.
There was another sharp turn in the glorious 60-year history of the Gosunder Handicap race this year, writes Doug Milsom. In fact, there were several sharp turns, thanks to Martin’s ingenious and, in some people’s view (not mine, of course!) rather sadistic, hilly course in Mad Bess Wood. For the past 3 years, it had been incorporated in the June 5k Training Race, owing to the increasing dangers of Breakspear Road on our 5-mile road lap. This year, the main danger was sudden altitude sickness on the long climb in the woods!
21 runners took part, and the consensus was that this was a very successful change, partly due to the near perfect conditions in the woods. Thanks to a slightly generous handicap from Martin, your reporter won the coveted trophy by a margin of 26 seconds from a very fast finishing James Laing, who started some 23 minutes behind him. The fastest times for the 5.1 mile 2-lap course were James in 30:02, Rob Thompson in 30:52 and Ed Campbell in 31:51. The first lady home was Zoe Dobbs (5th) and the fastest lady Eva Mack in 37:13. I understand that John Bignell missed his start time, which accounts for his apparently slow time.
Thanks go to Martin and his team for organising and marking the course, the judges and timekeepers, and the marshals who kept most of us on the course and gave much needed encouragement.