Wade and Hill step up to win Stubbington 10k

The Aldershot, Farnham & District athlete was in red hot form to take the title with a time of 31min 55sec.

He stepped up a place on the podium from 2015, when he finished runner-up to Winchester’s Toby Lambert.

Second place this year went to Chichester’s Pete Concannon who also ran strongly to cross the line in 32.22.

The podium was completed by talented City of Portsmouth athlete Tom MacSwayne, who progressed as a youngster with host club Stubbington Green Runners, so it was a very popular result.

His powerful recent performances have highlighted his potential and he clocked a time of 32.47 to take third.

Sarah Hill, from Farnham Runners, has been in dominant form in the Hampshire Road Race League.

She again showed her quality with another brilliant victory in a time of 36.31.

Winchester & District athlete Kate Towerton was second in 37.15 and Eastleigh’s Hannah Howard secured third place in 37.48.

Race director Chris Brobin signed off his three years in charge of the popular 10k.

He was pleased to see the event once again prove a smash hit early in the year with a total of 1,605 finishers, great support, and plenty of new personal-best times recorded.

He said: ‘It was a good race despite the cold weather.

‘We reduced the numbers a little bit this time and made a couple of tweaks to things.

‘We’ve certainly had worse conditions in the past. The first year I was involved, I was a marshal on crutches in the snow.

‘It’s hard to believe preparation started in January for this.

‘There is a lot of work goes on behind the scenes and it is a real community event.

‘We had an amazing effort from Tom MacSwayne, who is a Stubbington lad, to finish third.

‘He is doing so well. He’s so fast. His dad, David, helped out on the day as well.

‘Joe Wade ran a superb winning time, while Sarah Hill flew through it.’

Brobin also praised the club effort from Stubbington Green Runners.

He added: ‘We had a massive personal best for Michael Gregory – a great club run.

‘He finished fifth in 33.09. Our Ironman Rob Arkell did well again as well to finish in 34.32 and Rob Greenwood ran well to get a time of 36.08.

‘It was an excellent day for the club, with so many helping out and also enough people running to make sure we had some good performances for the men’s and ladies’ teams in the Hampshire Road Race League.’

With such a nice, scenic course it is an attractive event for all runners.

The event was backed in force by clubs including City of Portsmouth, Denmead Striders, Fareham Crusaders, Gosport Road Runners, Isle of Wight Road Runners, Portsmouth Joggers and Victory.

Brobin added: ‘Thanks to all our sponsors and everyone who helped make the event a success again.

‘The course was packed with people supporting the runners and I’ve loved my time as race director.’

Stubbington Green Runners chairman Kevin Ashman is now stepping up to take charge of the race.