There was a right old burn-up at Burnham Beeches as only 566 of the original 800 entries completed the 41st Burnham Beeches Half Marathon and 10K in torrid conditions on Sunday (14 August). 

Most of the missing numbers didn't start and the vast majority who did run enjoyed the cool shade provided by the Burnham Beeches ancient woodland from the Race HQ at Caldicott School, Farnham Common in south Bucks. 

Both races saw a female finish sixth overall: W40 Victoria Gill (Winchester, 37:40) in the 10K and W35 Tracy Barlow (Thames Valley Harriers, 1:24:23) in the half marathon. Gill has won 10K races at Winchester, Eastleigh, and Alresford this year and former GB international Barlow enjoyed a victory in the Richmond Half Marathon back in February in a quiet season thus far.

Burnham Beeches Half Marathon is hosted by Burnham Joggers with krono:sportsuk and the two-lap course, with 612 feet of elevation gained, circumnavigates the 375-hectare nature reserve and woodlands of Burnham Beeches and Dorney Woods in a clockwise direction – the reverse of the original course but preferred in runner feedback.

Aran Davidson (Chiltern Harriers, 1:13:45) led the way from Steven Green (unattached, 1:21:02) and Lee Clark (MNRC, 1:21:13). Hot on their heels was Tracy Barlow (1:24:23) with Ali Hone (unattached, 1:28:49) and W50 Katherine Streams (Reading Road Runners, 1:31:47) completing the women's podium, although W40 Joanna Wood (unattached, 1:31:42) had a slightly faster chip time.    

Burnham Beeches 10K has 268 feet of elevation gain on a single loop of the woodlands and there was a spirited battle for supremacy as 23 seconds covered the men's podium positions. M45 Rob Foster (Datchet Dashers, 36:04), M45 Craig West (Maidenhead AC, 36:16) and M40 Ian Gutteridge (Datchet Dashers, 36:27) were the top three.

Victoria Gill (37:40) was a cool seven minutes clear of W35 Sarah Gerrie (Ealing, Southall and Middlesex, 44:43) and W60 Helen Bolt (Datchet Dashers, 45:02) in the women's race, as 274 finished in 1:41:40. 

Results are available via runABC South race listing here

Image courtesy Burnham Joggers gallery