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Severn Bridge 10K piper John Campbell

Severn Bridge 10K runners piped at the post!

Solo time trial format was a winner at Severn Bridge 10K

“This was my first 10k and I will never forget the sound of those bagpipes as I could see that finish line in sight...It felt like something out of a film!!! Amazing...Thank you!!!”. That was the exclamation mark littered reaction posted on Facebook by Sarah Woodley-Williams after her 51:33 run at the rather special Severn Bridge 10K time trial on Sunday (30 August).  

Bagpiper John Campbell (pictured above) came in for special praise along with: “the two 'nervous bald blokes' organising and all the smiley, supportive marshals”, who were singled out by Bernadette Rigby (50:58), who only made the line-up thanks to a late number transfer!

Entries were limited and runners started at 10-second intervals. The M48 Motorway was closed to traffic for more than four hours to enable the event to proceed. Runners went from Wales to England and back on smooth tarmac, suspended 47 metres above the River Severn. 

A margin of 21 seconds on the electronic timing device separated junior Lloyd Sheppard (Cardiff AAC, 32:28) and M35 David Williams (Les Croupiers RC, 32:49 PB) at the front on a superb day for fast running. Eliot Taylor (Cheltenham, 33:02) was third fastest, once the numbers had been crunched.

The women's time trial was won by Becki Timmings (BRAT, 37:09) from Birmingham, who got her timings right for a hefty PB by 62 seconds. Runners-up were Elizabeth Dimond (Lliswerry Runners, 38:35 PB) and W35 Katy Roy (Chepstow Harriers, 39:21).

Also among the 62 runners inside 40-minutes were W35 Georgie Parnell (Chepstow Harriers, 39:28 PB) and W40 Francesca Rawlings (Clevedon AC, 39:44) – we said it was a day for speed! There were 217 runners under 50 minutes and 462 beat the hour, as 726 finished in 1:37:39.  

Many clubs and individuals had travelled long distances and some stayed overnight in their determination to pull on the club or running group vest in competition again. Judging by the results, it seems they have come through lockdown in good shape. Last year's winners were Jamie Parry (Parc Bryn Bach Running Club, 34:49) and Rachel Davies (Swansea Harriers, 39:40) as nearly 100 beat 50 minutes and 1,078 finished in 1:55:58.  

Race details and results at runABC's Severn Bridge 10K listing page

Image courtesy Severn Bridge 10K on Facebook

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