Wilmslow Half Marathon 2010-2021
2010 saw Cadbury being taken over by Craft Foods. In Wilmslow Michelle was back to run in the half marathon on the 28th March. Amazingly she not only won but broke the Women’s course record time by 30 seconds finishing in 1:12:02. Over a minute ahead of the next lady finisher. She is the most successful Women’s athlete we have had competing at the Half Marathon with 4 wins and her record stood for 5 more years.
Andi Jones, a local athlete, won the Men’s race in a time of 1:04:45. He was 40 seconds ahead of the 2008 winner Gareth Raven. Later that year he finished tenth in the London Marathon, the second best performing European man.
Michael Halman was again first Wilmslow runner to finish with Jim Pendrill second. For Wilmslow Ladies: Louise Rudd was their first lady to finish wand Nicky Mowat second.
3,699 runners finished.
The following year, 2011, VAT was increased to 20% and England cricket team won the Ashes in Australia 3-1. In Wilmslow on 27th March 2011 Jean-Berchmans Ndayisenga born in Burundi running for Birchfiled Harriers won the race in a season best for him of 1:04:24 just over minute faster than his Birchfield club team mate - a Kenyan.
Julie Briscoe running for Wakefield was the Ladies winner. Her time of 1:13:29 was 3 minutes quicker than the next lady to finish.
The first three Wilmslow Men home were: Rob Downs, Jim Pendrill and Trevor Morris.
The first three Wilmslow Ladies to finish were: Louise Rudd, Christine Geraghty and Nicky Mowat.
3,763 runners finished the race..
In 2012 England football manager Fabio Capello announced his resignation from the role after four years in charge.
At the Asics half marathon on 25th March Antony Ford of Sale harriers won by over 2 minutes in a time of 1:04:54. Catherine Hansell, from Herne Hill Harriers, was the ladies Champion in 1:16:53 winning by a margin of 17 seconds from her club mate.
Di McVey, Katy Green and Sharon Johnstone were the first three Wilmslow ladies to finish.
Rob Downs, Trevor Morris and Tom McGaff were the first three men to finish for Wilmslow.
The number of runners broke the 4 thousand barrier – 4,071.
In 2013, parliament voted to legalise gay marriage in England and Wales In Wilmslow, Joe MacDonald’s, from Cardiff, winning time of 1:04:54 equalled the 2012 men’s winning time. He won by 30 seconds. Julie Briscoe, from Wakefield, was the Women’s winner. Her time was 1:15:15.
Rob Downs, Peter Speake and Jim Pendrill were Wilmslow’s first 3 men to finish.
Di McVey, Janine Ellis and Nicky Mowat
There were 3,660 finishers to the race.
In 2014, our 30th Anniversary. Waters were the sponsors.
Figures released by the Met Office indicated Southern England and parts of the Midlands had experienced their highest January rainfall since records began in 1910. It was drier in Wilmslow where Mohammad Abu-Rezeq, born in Jordon, won on the 23rd March running for Altrincham in 1:06:01 Julie was back to win again in the Women’s race making it 3 wins in 4 years; and in a quicker time than last year.
Rob Downs, Peter Speake and Jim Pendrill were Wilmslow’s first 3 men to finish.
Di McVey, Janine Ellis and Dianne Bygrave
The number of runners finishing was 3,910.
In 2015, the population of London had reached 8.6 million. A Singaporean cargo ship transporting luxury cars, had run aground near the Isle of Wight . Here in Wilmslow International competition was back again at the Waters Half Marathon. . Benjamin Siwa from Uganda finished first in a time of 1:04:57; and the Kenyan runner Perendis Lekapan was first woman finisher in a record time of 1:11:24. This beat Michele Ross-Cope’s 2005 record time by 21 seconds. Michelle also ran and finished second over a minute behind. Perendis’s record still stands.
Both winners were running for Team Run Fast, an international sports management company representing elite athletes striving to succeed in their professional careers. In Britain Run-Fast athletes have become known for their successes on the British road racing circuit. In recent years Run-Fast athletes have amassed an impressive list of victories at more than thirty of the UK’s premier road races, and in so doing set new course records and achieved fast winning times.
Damian Nicholls was first Wilmslow runner to finish; ahead of Rob Downs and Peter Speake.
The first three Wilmslow runners were: Di McVey, Katy Green and Janine Ellis.
A young Jonny Mellor had his debut. He finished 5th in a time of 1:06:03. He is back again this year. looking to do better as he prepares himself for the Manchester Marathon. You can see Jonny on Saturday at Race Headquarters. Where he is around to answer any question or advice you need about the Festival races.
That year 4,080 runners finished the race.
In 2016 the £14m Hatton Garden jewellery heist had taken place. The Wilmslow half marathon course was remeasured as the same measuring equipment had been used that incorrectly measured the Greater Manchester Marathon. The race was held on the 3rd of April.
Dark clouds had gathered in the days preceding the race but as so often happens for this ever popular event, the clouds lifted and the sun shone for the thousands of runners that race day.
Run Fast were back with 4 internationals this time. Their athletes were first and second in both the Mens and Womens races.
Josphat Kipemoi was first man to finish in 1:04:59 ahead of his team mate Barnaba Kipoech. The 2014 winner Mohammad was third.
The first two women to finish were: Teresiah Omasa [in 1:014:49] and Damaris Areba.
Wilmslow’s first three men to finish were Rob Downs, Andrew Whittingham and Barry Archibold.
Janine Ellis was the first Wilmslow lady runner to finish; ahead of Katy Green and Dianne Bygrave.
The main charity that year was The Christie Charitable Fund.
3,771 runners completed the course.
The following year, in 2017 Hull was the City of Culture. The half marathon took place two weeks earlier on the 19th March and this year there were no Run Fast athletes running.
Mohammad Abu-Rezeq was back to win again a tight finish with Matt Bond of Sale Harriers winning in 1:06:25 by 6 seconds. Fanni Gyurko - who was born in Hungary - was the ladies winner. Like Mohammad she’d been third the previous year. Both ran very similar times to their 2016 efforts.
Peter Speake, Rob Downs and John Cheshire were the first 3 Wilmslow runners home. For Wilmslow’s lady runners Janine Ellis, Becky Ellis and Diane Bygrave were their first 3.
3,077 runners ran.
In 2018, SpaceX successfully conducts its maiden flight of its most powerful rocket to date, the Falcon Heavy, from the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The 2018 Winter Paralympics are held in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
It may have been weather associated with the winter olympics - but in Wilmslow?
I remember packing the shirts, medals and supplies on the Saturday in March the day before the race was to be held. It was not to be. I – and the rest of the marathon Team – awoke to find that overnight a large snowfall hit Cheshire and the UK. Dubbed the Beast From the East II. It caused the race to be cancelled early that morning. See a report in the Express here.
The race was rearranged for the summer and on a sunny 24th June the race took place on a hot sunny morning.
Mohammad Reqez from Altrincham was back to repeat his win again. It was his 3rd victory in 4 years. He was over 2 minutes faster than the next runner – James Douglas from Border Harriers.
The ladies winner Sarah Lowery finished in a time of 1:20:12 - almost winning by 2 minutes - ahead of second place Gemma Connoly.
Wilmslow’s first runner home was teenager Dan Bundred; Richard Harrison and Graham Duce were second and third.
Di McVey was the second Wilmslow runner first Wilmslow lady runner to finish. Janine Ellis and Kate McCulloch were our second and third lady home.
2,192 runners finished.
Read the local paper’s report about it.
In 2019, the Wilmslow Half Marathon became part of 'Wilmslow Running Festival' and it also included a 10k and Fun Run race. The Fun Run for much younger runners was sponsored by Running Bear. This short 2.5 k run produced a winning time of 09:30.
The 10k race: The Stowe Family Law 10k was won by Gavin Tomlinson of Trafford in a time of 34:23. Nicola Whitefield Bird, from Ellesmere Port running club, was first lady to finish. Her time was 39:37.
There were 450 finishers.
The first Wilmslow runner to cross the line was Dan Bundred; first Wilmslow lady was Kate McCulloch. Both had chosen to drop down from the Half Marathon this year.
With three races there were less runners in the Half Marathon than normal - 2,837 runners finished. Local runner Nigel Martin from Sale was first home in a time of 1:05:27. Over 40 seconds ahead of second place Alistair Watson.
In a much closer race Julie Briscoe was back to claim her 4th victory in 8 years – her time of 1:17:04 was 13 seconds faster than Sarah Webster from the Isle Of Man.
Wilmslow’s Jonathan Cheshire was the club’s first runner home, 6 seconds ahead of fellow team mate Richard Coen. Peter Speake was third man home for Wilmslow
For the Wilmslow ladies, youngster Claire Clancy in 1:26:49 was first. Janine Ellis second and Katy Green third.
Covid arrived in the UK in 2020 and races were cancelled. No half marathon took place. A virtual race was organised for runners who still wanted a challenge.
A year later in 2021, Covid was still with us and the race was put back until September when the Covid restrictions at that time allowed the event to go ahead.
On September 12th 2021 it was a Leeds City double in Wilmslow!
Philip Sesemann, who three weeks earlier had set his PB [1:02:47] at Greenwich, won in 1:05:18. Second place Joe Saga was 80 seconds behind. Philip’s fellow Leeds City club runner Heather Townsend was first Lady to finish in a time of 1:16:09. Second place more than 6 minutes behind was Claire Martin from Telford.
A few weeks later Phil, a Junior doctor, turned 29 on Sunday October 3rd and marked the occasion with a remarkable seventh-place finish in the London Marathon in a time of 2:12:58. H trains with a dog called Kipchoge and describes himself as an "occasional GB distance athlete" on social media, was the first British male to finish, crossing the line just one place behind defending champion Shura Kitata of Ethiopia. Best known as a track specialist, the Yorkshireman only completed his first half-marathon six weeks ago and inevitably tired in the closing stages of Sunday's race, but dug deep to finish in two hours, 12 minutes and 58 seconds.
The first three Wilmslow men – some running as Pacers! – were Richard Coen, Peter Speake and Rob Downs.
Di McVey, Rebecca Jackson and Lydia Merret were the first three Wilmslow Lady runners to finish.
