Shakespeare Half Marathon podium places for Simkiss and Shepherd

Simkiss’ time of 1hr 12min 51dec was 13 seconds quicker than his race-winning time of 2011, but this year he had to settle for the runners-up spot as Michael Aldridge of Rugby & Northampton AC won convincingly in 1:11:03.

Aldridge’s time was even more impressive as he found himself among runners still waiting to cross the start line after completing the mini loop of the town centre and was also briefly diverted the wrong way.

Shepherd was some distance behind Simkiss in third, finishing in 1:14:03.

New Kenilworth member Matt Dyer was 72nd in 1:27:53, with Spa Striders’ Daniel Stannard (1:29:02) also dipping below 1:30.

Other Kenilworth Runners finishers (positions based on gun times): 122, Jimmy Atkins (1:31:59); 263, Sara Habib (1:39:12); 707, Emma Duck (1:52:09); 690, Simon Mottershead (1:52:11); 985, Aidan Keher (1:57:08); 1,422, Nicky Atherton (2:10:08).

Other Spa Striders finishers: Ivor Westmore (1:36:31); Rich Sykes (1:39:50); Fiona Ferguson (1:45:58); Verity Hill (2:00:05); Gary Perkins (2:05:17); Beth Gawthorpe (2:08:15); Nicola Wright (2:15:19).

In the marathon, Kenilworth Runners’ Liam Chapple achieved his first sub-three hour marathon, despite suffering in the closing stages.

Racing against the clock, Chapple was able to summon up a quick last mile to cross the line with a chip time of 2:59:41, earning himself a highly creditable 15th position as a result.

Marathon debutant Neil Cressy hit the wall but still finished 30th in his marathon debut in 3:08:39.

The marathon was won by Simon Wurr of Thames Hare & Hounds in 2:40:51.

Six Kenilworth Runners headed north-west to take part in the 37th Greater Manchester Marathon.

The race is based at and finishes outside Old Trafford stadium and attracted around 7,000 runners this year.

First home for the club was Matthew Kingston-Lee, who had entered the race with his brother.

Struggling with injury for much of 2013, including a last-minute scare which had left him barely able to walk two days before the race, Matthew went into the race with low expectations.

Thankfully for him his legs felt good from the off and, after a gentle start, he waved goodbye to his 3:13-finishing brother and settled into a comfortable pace which saw him pass halfway in 1:29:46.

He slowly reeled in the sub-three hour pacing group and pushed on to finish 113th in a pleasing 2:55:32.

The race was won by 2012 winner Dave Norman in 2:20:24.

Behind Matthew, Neil Sheward ran strongly to clock 3:11:30, improving significantly on his 3:19:00 run at the Edinburgh Marathon in 2011.

Spa Striders’ Graham McKenzie knocked more than 30 minutes off his personal best to come home in 3:21:21.

Other Kenilworth Runners finishers (positions are provisional): 2,361: Stephen Chalkley (3:52:32); 2,362, Mairead Murphy (3:52:33); 4,211, Samantha Calder (4:28:27); 5,122, Nicki Dove (4:58:50).

At the Stratford-on-Avon Half Marathon, Rich Shephard finished in 3rd place in 1:14:03 followed by Daniel Stannard 1:29:02,