ETL Autumn Tempest 10 & Spitfire 20 2011

The ETL Autumn Tempest 10 and Spitfire 20 2011

The gallery for the Events to Live Autumn Tempest 10 and Spitfire 20 2011 is now live and online here ready for you to browse and buy:
http://gallery.sussexsportphotography.com/a.tlx?k=1iezh34


Full event information and provisional results can be found on the Events to Live website here: http://www.eventstolive.co.uk/

There are over 7,000 images from the Tempest 10 and Spitfire 20 on the gallery which capture the action through the day and the change in weather from overcast and slightly muggy near perfect race conditions at the start to heavy downpour later in the day.

The Race Director performs his rain dance just before the start...

 After a small delay for the last of the toilet queue the race got underway at Dunsfold Aerodrome.

mass start in the hurry to beat the rain

Three and a half miles in and the field were getting into their running and enjoying the undulations away from the aerodrome.

Formation flying from Portsmouth Joggers

All ok so far...

twin engine prop airplane

Teamwork..

The runners in the Tempest 10 made it home with just a spot of drizzle to contend with.  First home was Irwin Fairclough from Newbury AC in a time of 1:03:42 (age grading 81.00%) with Melissa Galea of Clapham Chasers first lady home, 3rd overall in a time of 1:07:48 (age grading 72.04%).

Irwin Fairclough flying into the finish

Melissa Galea focusing on the line

In the Spitfire 20 Paul Hasler of Paddock Wood AC was the early leader, a lead he maintained to come home first ahead of the worst of the weather in 1:57:21 (age grading 81.45%) with Hazel Vuvi of Dartford Road Runners the first lady home in 2:19:21 (age grading 74.31%).

Paul Hasler with a comfortable lead at the 10 mile point

Hazel Vuvi first lady home in the 20

Once the leaders were in the wind and rain arrived in earnest to add a little more to the challenge of the Spitfire's 20 miles.  There were plenty of smiles and determination on display as the finishers came in.

A Canadian collegue of mine once told me "there's no such thing as bad weather" - whilst we were stood in the loading yard of the factory at -25°C with over a metre of snow on the ground, "just inappropriate clothing".  As most of you know, the weather on Sunday took a turn for the worse and like the other photographers out at events I was caught on the finish line taking the photos, with all my appropriate wet weather gear stowed neatly in the boot of the car a mere 100m away but not accessible.

No surrender!

Done it

Wings trimmed for final approach

The Bolt! although thankfully no thunder on the day

'have it - job done !

 

Well done to Alan, Nicky and all the team at from Events to Live for another set of well run races.    Great distances for full and half marathon preparation, look out for the Spring Spitfire and Tempest and add them to your Spring Marathon training plan....

The next from the Events to Live team is the Bacchus Full and Half Marathons this coming weekend, another great event.  Entries are now closed but you can enter on the day, details are here:
http://www.eventstolive.co.uk/

The race gallery for the Tempest and Spitfire are here for your orders and memories of your achievement - well done everyone!
http://gallery.sussexsportphotography.com/a.tlx?k=1iezh34

Until next time
Sally


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