After the impressive Bicester AC turnout for round 3 of the Mota Vation Road Race Series hosted by Kidlington Running Club, there was a reduced turnout of Bicester runners for race 3. Held last Thursday at Coombe the race distance of 3.8 miles is one of the shortest in the series but this course has a seriously big hill at the 3 mile point for runners to navigate.
The 7 Bicester AC athletes who took part enjoyed mixed fortunes. George Hart is in his first season of road running and after a good start in the first race at Charlton his form dipped a little at Marston. Round 3 represented a return to form for Hart who achieved his first top 3 finish in the under 19 category. Hart was first Bicester runner home in 52nd place with a 24mins 08secs clocking in the 402 strong field. Joshua Moran, who narrowly best Hart in round 1, had to settle for 60th place on this occasion clocking 24mins 35secs. Joshua’s twin brother, Isaac, was less than a minute behind making the top 100 in 81st with 25mins 27 secs.
Next in for Bicester was Ben Groves in 131st with 27mins 20secs. Ella Myers-Finnegan was having only her 2nd road race and she improved on the previous race at Marston with 252nd place and 31mins 40secs. Myers-Finnegan made the top half of lady finishers placing 68th out of the165 competing ladies.
Joshua Bradley continues to show steady improvement this season and he placed 319th (35mins 11secs). The Bicester complement was completed by Emily Benfield in 346th with 37mins 04secs.