There were wins for Matthew Pollard and Catherine Glover on a course that anyone would have enjoyed getting their teeth into at Sunday’s (18 September) Bournville Leafy 10K. They and the rest of the field lapped up the terrain and support on a beautiful autumn day at the home of chocolate. 

The village of Bournville in south west Birmingham was the setting for the Leafy 10K where over 230 participants were in the mood to race and hopefully bag a PB. There were trophies for the first three men and women and age group winners that acted as a spur to the highly competitive field not to mention an attractive ‘leafy’ medal for everyone. The medal was accompanied by a well stocked goody bag that was a dream come true for the chocolate lovers. 

Matthew Pollard of Birmingham Running Athletics & Triathlon Club (BRAT) improved on his fifth place finish in last year’s race to become the 2022 winner in 35:47. Kristian Edwards followed in 35:53 with Oliver Flippance of Kenilworth Runners third in 36:58. 

An emphatic victory for Catherine Glover who, as the first female, finished in 42:18 - nearly four minutes ahead of Issy Ravenhill of Almost Athletes who was second in 46:02. Jade Bressington was third in 48:30. 

The last runner crossed the line in 1:33:16. There were 239 finishers.

View all the results at via runABC Midlands Race Listings page. 

Kings Heath Running Club had the biggest turnout and received a glass trophy as their reward.  

Then for the yummy stuff as post-race refuelling was via home-made cakes as well as the contents of the goody bags. Delicious......

Image courtesy of Pete Hickman.