There were some excellent performances from Bicester AC athletes competing in the recent 4th round of the summer long motavation road race series. This took place in Coombe. To describe the two lap course (4.2miles) as undulating would be an understatement with the runners starting on a fast downhill descent. But what goes down must come up and the uphill ascent provides a real test of strength and stamina. Going into this event the Bicester team was 3rd small team out of the 21 competing teams behind Oxford City and Woodstock Harriers.
Bicester AC’s Edward Jolliffe, back from university, ran superbly in what was a quality field at the front of the pack. Jolliffe began confidently and held his form throughout and he achieved one of Bicester’s highest placings in this series in recent years with a superb 11th place in the 373 strong field and a 23mins 11secs clocking. This was almost three minutes faster than the time he posted in this event two years ago. George Hart is running superbly in his first season in the motavation series. Haret seemed to revel in the hilly conditions running a very well judged race to finish in 35th with a 25mins 18secs clocking. Hart finished 5th in the under 19 men’s category but he is one of the youngest competing athletes as he competes normally as an under 17 athlete. This was Hart’s best finishing position to date in a motivation race.
Joshua Moran continues to run well and ran a controlled race for 61st (26mins 57secs). Anna Jolliffe made a welcome return to Bicester colours and she ran well for 75th place and 27mins 43secs which was very similar to the times that she had posted in 2023 and 2024. Jolliffe has now moved up an age group and she was 9th finisher out of the 154 competing ladies. Joshua Moran’s twin brother Issac was having to contend with a limp in the closing stages but still did well to make it to the finishing line in 82nd with a 27mins 57secs clocking.
Finn Kerr started cautiously and was towards the back in the early stages. However he made stealthy progress during the race and finished well for 103rd in 28mins 40secs. Ella Myers Finnegan normally competes as an under 17 athlete and she did well to conquer this tough hilly 2 lap course to finish in 288th with 38mins 08secs. And Emily Benfield also did well as she completed the Bicester finishers in 347th with 43mins 40secs which was only marginally slower than her 2023 time.