The Bradley Stoke Journal

Poor weather failed to dampen the spirits of runners in yesterday’s Bradley Stoke 10k Run, with hundreds turning out despite the incessant heavy rain that had started in the early hours of the morning.

In contrast to previous years, there were few friendly chats and warm ups on Jubilee Green prior to the race, with most runners choosing to remain inside the Jubilee Centre or under the shelter of its canopy until just minutes before the start.

Town Mayor Ben Walker set the field off promptly at 9:30am – ironically, the start time had been brought forward by half-an-hour from previous years in the hope of allowing the runners to compete in cooler conditions.

The men’s race saw Peter Morton, third in the 2009 Bradley Stoke 10k, claim a pillar to post victory in of time of 35:26. Second place went to Nick Taviner (Devon and Somerset Rescue Service), nearly two minutes behind in 37:09, with Michael O’Donnell a close third in 37:17.

Victory in the women’s race went to Jessie Sanzo, who completed the course in an impressive 39:53, just seven seconds ahead of Elizabeth Smith (Westbury Harriers). Third prize went to Kelly Cripps, who completed the course in 46:21.

Special prizes for the first Bradley Stoke residents over the line went to Robin Phillips (37:24) and Jane Colman (46:30).

Organising club Sole Sisters estimates that around half of the runners came from the local community. Full race results are expected to appear on the club’s website later today (Monday).

Read on for links to hundreds of photos from the race »

Entries for the Bradley Stoke 10k Run, which forms part of next weekend’s Community Festival, have passed the 400 mark, leaving less than a hundred places to be filled before the runners cross the start line on Sunday morning (12th June).

Penny Greenwood of organising club Sole Sisters says the race is gearing up to be a predominantly local affair:

“More than 50% of all of our current entries are from ‘Stokes’ residents, with another 30% from other parts of Bristol.”

“We do also have runners coming from outer Bristol regions and other parts of the South of England, including Portsmouth, Devon, Plymouth, Berkshire etc., which is great.”

“The entries are predominantly non-club runners and range in age across the whole spectrum.”

Entries for the race can still be made by post (race packs for entrants in Bradley Stoke will be hand-delivered later in the week) and it will also be possible to enter at the Community Festival on Saturday (11th June), where the Sole Sisters stand will open at 10am.

Entries on the day of the race will also be accepted, subject to the entry limit of 500 not being reached.

The start time for this year’s race has been brought forward by half-an-hour to 9:30am, in an effort to minimise disruption for local residents and provide cooler conditions for the participants. The organisers ask anyone without a prior entry to arrive by 8:30am.

Read on for details of the race route and best spectator points »

Local runners, joggers and walkers are being encouraged to get their entries in for the 2011 renewal of the Bradley Stoke 10k Run, to be held on Sunday 12th June as part of the town’s Community Festival.

Entries for the increasingly popular event have been open since March and banners advertising the race have appeared around town over the last few days.

Organised by local ladies-only running club Sole Sisters, the race starts and finishes at the Jubilee Centre in Savages Wood Road.

The race route [map] takes in much of the Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve as well as including stretches along Brook Way and Bradley Stoke Way.

Last year’s winner was Will New of Cheltenham & County Harriers, who completed the course in a time of 35:26, while local lady Rozanne de Villiers was the first woman home in 48:09.

The entry limit for this year’s race remains at 500, having last year been raised from 350. Entry fees are £13 (affiliated)/£15 (unaffiliated) and all finishers will receive a free technical t-shirt and goody bag.

Read on for more information and entry form for the BS 10k Run »

Another record field of 418 runners contested the 2010 Bradley Stoke 10k Run in fine conditions on Sunday (13th June), the final day of the town’s Community Festival.

As last year, the race started and finished at the Jubilee Centre in Savages Wood Lane, with the Jubilee Green being used for competitor car parking.

Bradley Stoke Mayor Ben Walker sounded the horn to start the race at 10am and promptly joined the field to take part in the event for the third successive year.

Running in aid of his mayoral charity, St Peter’s Hospice, Cllr Walker teamed up with his Conservative colleague Jack Lopresti, the newly-elected MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke, who ran the race in aid of the Stoke Gifford branch of the Royal British Legion.

The pair finished together (see photo) in a time of 63:46, placing them around the 350th mark.

Many other runners ran on behalf of the race’s official fundraising charity, the Nicola Corry Support Foundation.

Local residents turned out in force to support the runners as they followed the multi-terrain route along the pavements and tracks of  Bradley Stoke.

Read on for details of the race winners and photo links »

The Bradley Stoke 10k Run, which forms part of the coming weekend’s Community Festival, has registered another new entry record, with 370 forms already received by the organising club Sole Sisters.

The entry limit for this year’s renewal of the increasingly popular race has been raised from 350 to 500 after local police agreed to help out at two road crossings on the course.

Organiser Karen Walsh told The Journal that experience from previous years suggests that a further one hundred entries could be received in the final week, which would bring the total close to the 500 place limit.

Entries for the race can still be made by post (race packs for entrants in Bradley Stoke will be hand-delivered later in the week) and it will also be possible to enter at the Community Festival on Saturday (12th June).

Entries on the day of the race (Sunday 13th June) will also be accepted, subject to the entry limit not being reached.

Notable entries for this year’s race are said to include Bradley Stoke’s newly-elected MP Jack Lopresti and a squad from Bradley Stoke Town FC.

The race will once again start and finish at the Jubilee Centre in Savages Wood Road. Start time is 10am and the first finisher is expected to arrive at around 10:33am.

Read on for details of the race route and principal race sponsors »

Entries have now opened for the 2010 renewal of the Bradley Stoke 10k Run, to be held on Sunday 13th June as part of the town’s Community Festival.

The increasingly popular event, organised by local ladies-only running club Sole Sisters, will take place over the same route as last year – starting and finishing at the Jubilee Centre in Savages Wood Road.

The race route [map] takes in much of the Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve as well as including stretches along Brook Way and Bradley Stoke Way.

Popular with local joggers and fun runners, the race also attracts serious athletes from around the region. Last year’s winner was Gary Hope of Gloucester Club Severn AC, who completed the course in a time of 33:36, while Joanne Heuze of Cardiff club Village Vipers was the first woman home in 41:17.

Karen Walsh of Sole Sisters tells The Journal that the entry limit for the 2010 race has been raised to 500 (from 350 in 2009) thanks to the cooperation of the local police, who will be manning road crossings around the course.

The Nicola Corrie Support Foundation has been nominated as the official fundraising charity for this year’s race.

More information and related links:

• Bradley Stoke 10k Run 2010 Entry Form [PDF]
• Bradley Stoke 10k Run (The Journal)
• Bradley Stoke Community Festival (The Journal)