October is always a good month for running events, supposedly giving runners the chance to compete in cool weather after what should have been a long hot summer.  There was certainly plenty of refreshing rain about at last Sunday’s Haltemprice 10k, with several rather damp Viking Striders exceeding expectations.  Jo Mouncey, Rob Oldridge and Sandra Brooks all achieved personal bests, Jo by nearly two minutes, as the three of them battle to be first past the 50 minute barrier.
Andy and Julie Masterman were as consistent as usual, with Andy 10^th overall and 1^st in his age category, and Julie 4^th overall in the ladies section.  Honourable mentions go to Richard Bramham, Dot Pullman and Nigel Warner for their season’s best performances, and to Julie Barker and Ann Kirkby who coped with their 10k debuts admirably despite the testing course.
The previous weekend had seen the first leg of the East Yorkshire Cross Country League at a surprisingly dry Bishop Wilton.  The superb Simon Griffin and Julie Masterman apart, both Striders teams found it difficult to compete with the larger clubs in the league, although David Byas had a great run to finish 4^th Strider home.  Steve Lund may not have scored any points for the team but continued his quite magnificent return to fitness from what could have been a devastating back operation.
Earlier in the month the Bridlington Half Marathon was remarkable not just for Simon Griffin and Andy Masterman’s top 20 finishes, and Kev Sipling’s relentless march towards his century of halves, but also for the fact that the winner of the ladies race was disqualified for allegedly not starting with everybody else but but sneaking on to the course in the finishing straight.  It certainly saves a bit of energy doing it that way.  

Haltemprice times:  Andy Masterman 37.46, Nigel Warner 40.36, Mark Thompson 43.03, Julie Masterman 43.04, Richard Bramham 44.19, Ray Smith 45.59, Dave Pullman 46.51, Keith Wilson 48.20, Richard Anness 48.26, Patsy Fenelon 49.55, Rob Oldridge 50.55, Jo Mouncey and Sandra Brooks both 51.33, Graham Walker 52.34, Debbie Andrew 54.20, Dot Pullman 54.23, Karen Mitchell 55.03, Linda Cook and Julie Barker both 64.07, Ann Kirkby 77.39.
Bishop Wilton times:  Simon Griffin 39.32, Martin Midgley 41.55, Martin Booth 42.18, David Byas 43.30, Dave Hanney 43.34, Nigel Warner 45.59, Julie Masterman 46.59, Richard Bramham 47.54, Ray Smith 50.48, Dave Pullman 53.35, Steve Lund 54.05, Kay Ryan 54.11, Richard Anness 55.59, Rob Oldridge 56.49, Dot Pullman 61.22, Karen Mitchell 61.39, Sandy Midgley 61.48, Jo Mouncey 66.36, Marina Booth 67.12.  

Brid times:  Simon Griffin 81.42, Andy Masterman 82.19, Nigel Warner 92.15, Kev Sipling 102.25, Ray Smith 104.23, Keith Wilson 104.29, Patsy Fenelon 111.05.