2011 Race Results

Coventry Godiva Harriers’ Ben Jones broke seventy minutes to win the eleventh edition of the Kenilworth Half Marathon on Sunday 4 September with hosts Kenilworth Runners filling five of the ten top positions to take the team prize. It was double success for Coventry Godiva as Myshola Kirkham was first lady home. Early feedback suggests that the race was a resounding success, with 546 finishers completing the challenging 13.1 mile half marathon course.

The Kenilworth Half Marathon may have moved several weeks earlier in the calendar from its traditional Autumnal slot but competitors would hardly have noticed on arrival at race HQ at Castle Farm Sports Centre as persistent rain and leaden skies threatened to dampen spirits of spectators and runners alike. Thankfully come the 10am start the rain cleared and conditions were near ideal for runners, with welcome cloud cover and pleasant temperatures.

With runners enjoying chip timing for the first time at the Kenilworth Half Marathon, there was a spirited, but orderly charge from the off with an early group of six runners leading the way. By the first mile marker Ben Jones had broken clear and was never troubled, despite the best efforts of Kenilworth Runners’ Rich Simkiss who set off in chase. Ben, with a 66:46 half marathon PB to his name, sped over the constant undulations of the rural Kenilworth course to come home in an excellent 69:25.

Simkiss ran valiantly to match his second position in the 2010 Kenilworth Half Marathon and was delighted to not only run two minutes faster than last year but knock eleven seconds from his half marathon personal best as he clocked a chip time of 72:19. Moreover Rich took first place in the Warwickshire Half Marathon Championships incorporated in the Kenilworth Half Marathon.

Third position went to Ed Banks of BRAT (Birmingham Running and Athletics Club) with fourth place going to Kenilworth Runners’ Connor Carson, who beat his previous half marathon best by four minutes and was first Veteran to finish. Kenilworth Runners’ Men’s Team Captain Phil Gould returned from illness to finish a fighting fifth enabling Kenilworth Runners to win the men’s team prize and the club showed strength in depth with Andrew Siggers finishing sixth and Matthew Kingston-Lee also finishing inside the top ten in ninth.

In the ladies race it was Myshola Kirkham from Coventry Godiva Harriers who came home first in 85:27 to beat Bournvillle Harriers’ Linda Howell with Steph Russell of Northampton Road Runners third home and first Veteran finisher. The ladies team prize went to a strong contingent from Stratford AC

Dispensation was only given to a few members of Kenilworth Runners to race rather than marshal the event. For that reason there were fewer members of the club running than there would otherwise be. However of the ten finishers for the club there was delight for Andrew Holbrook who took over a minute from his PB to finish 19th setting new figures of 1:22:09. Mick Williams finished 44th (1:27:54), the only female Kenilworth Runner Sarah Stein ran superbly to finish seventh lady home in 1:41:48; Tom Dable was 259th (1:50:30); and the evergreen Arthur Smith was 334th in 1:56:33 - claiming second position in the V65 age category.

As always at the Kenilworth Half Marathon, runners were aided over the hills and undulations by warm support from spectators and an army of marshals, who ensured a safe and smooth passage from start to finish. Finishers were greeted with a goody bag generously supported by Waitrose and presented with a free commemorative technical t-shirt courtesy of fellow partners Brooks. Weary finishers were soothed by volunteers from Tudor Physiotherapy offering post-race massage and hungry runners and spectators alike were spoilt by the now legendary tea and cake stall, which would shame many a bakery with the quantity and variety of morsels on offer.

Once more local charities are set to benefit from proceeds raised by the Kenilworth Half Marathon and Kenilworth Runners, who are celebrating their twenty fifth anniversary in 2011, are already making plans for the 2012 Kenilworth Half Marathon.

Results are now available by clicking here

Race photos can now also be found online here