Bicester AC had 9 runners out at the first round of the Kidlington Running Club’s hosted summer long Motavation road race series held last Thursday at Charlton on Otmoor. This is the first of a five race series and at 5.2miles is the longest race of the series. With 464 finishers this was one of the biggest fields in a Motavation race in recent years.
Bicester were without two of their stars from last season, Owen Stocker who is recovering from injury and Anna Jolliffe who is away at college. There was a good scrap between Joshau Moran and George Hart (who was making his road race debut) to lead the Bicester team home. In the end the more experienced Moran won out finishing 47th in 31mins 15secs and was 5th under 19 male finisher. Hart, who was the youngest members of the team, produced a very promising effort for 49th in 31mins 21secs which is a good clocking for an under 17 athlete. Hart was 6th under 19 male finisher. Joshua’s twin brother Isaac was next in finishing 70th in 32mins 38secs ahead of Finn Kerr ,who was another Bicester runner making his road running debut. Kerr was the 4th Bicester runner to make the top 100 placing 97th in 33mins 56secs.
Ben Groves made a welcome return to action and produced a decent effort for 138th in 36mins 03secs. Paul Jones finished comfortably in the pack of runners in 247th place (40 mins 27secs). Josh Bradley improved on his time of last year in 394th (49mins 19secs). Emily Benfield was also making a return to competition and she finished in 411th in 50mins 50secs. Club Chair, Paul Groves, completed the team finishers in 414th (51mins 02secs).