Samba Celebration At Corsham
Smith and Wallace set the pace at 40th anniversary race
The White Horse Samba band was drumming up support for more than 1,000 competitors in the Corsham 10K promoted by Corsham Running Club. This was the 40th anniversary of the race traditionally held on the Sunday nearest to St George's Day, which by happy coincidence was on Sunday 23 April 2023.
With the dates aligned and the weather benign, the stage was set for a classic race that helped to raise funds for principal charities Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Dorothy House Hospice Care. Last year's event boosted local community groups and school funds by over £7,000.
First home from 1,173 finishers (in 1:48:57) was the Brighton Marathon winner from earlier this month, Marshall Smith (Ashford AC, 31:36) who has struck a rich vein of form this spring.
Ironman Triathlete Will Grace (Endurance Hub) showed great form in the final discipline of his usual three events as he raced home in 32:14 with Jon Cracknell (Lonely Goat AC, 32:53) completing the men's podium.
The top three women were among 53 athletes to close out this run in less than 40 minutes. Under-20 junior Annabelle Wallace (Team Bath AC, 38:59) set the pace with a huge 4:30 improvement on her previous 10K best.
The rather more experienced Amy Fuller (Tyne Bridge Harriers, 39:17) and W45 Emma Hines (Swindon Harriers, 39:52) completed the top three as the band provided the rhythm to run to the finish line in the historic Wiltshire market town famous for its fine Cotswold stone buildings, inspiring Charles Dickens to write The Pickwick Papers and to create the character Moses Pickwick.
There was a 2K dash for young athletes on the programme at Corsham and the fastest times were 6:16 by Archie Enstone (Team Bath AC) and 7:00 by Lucy Hilary.
The provisional date for next year is Sunday 21 April and information is available here.
Results can be viewed via the runABC South race listing here.
Image courtesy Corsham 10K and 2K on Facebook