FOR a man who had not been well, Williard Chinhanhu had few problems in once again making the Easter Monday Half-Marathon his own yesterday.
Full credit to Nottingham University’s Neil Renault for making a good fist of challenging the Zimbabwean for the first half of the race and Renault actually led as the pair turned at the Route de L’Islet triangle, just before the halfway mark, in 31min. 47sec.
However, Chinhanhu was right on his shoulder and as they were just about to disappear out of sight around the headland, the Poole Runners star took to the front and was not to be caught.
By the time he honed into view from the Albert Pier finishline, Chinhanhu was on his own and cruised to the tape, taking it in 1-06-38.
Although more than three minutes outside his course record of 1-03-25 set two years ago, the victor was pleased with the result.
‘The conditions were good going out, but not coming back because the wind was into you for the last few miles,’ said Chinhanhu (pictured), who completed a hat-trick of Easter wins having placed first in the 10km road race and Keith Falla Memorial Cross-Country.
‘I am not feeling well. I had a fever yesterday and I have still got it so I was not looking to do any particular time, I only wanted to come first,’ added the Zimbabwean, who was visibly shaking despite being well wrapped up after the race.
Renault completed his fine run with a comfortable second place finish, 36sec. down on Chinhanhu.
‘We were together up to about six-and-a-half miles, he was doing OK and I was stuck just behind him,’ said Chinhanhu.
‘But I just tried to run as fast as I could on the way back.’
Aldershot and Farnham’s Steve Conner ran a strong second half of the race having been in a group of three covering fourth to sixth places at L’Islet to finish on his own in third, clocking 1-10-59.
His clubmate Andy Conway claimed fourth place just over a minute further back with Steve Dawes the first local runner across the line in fifth in 1-12-38.
Two positions behind Dawes, fellow Sarnian Alan Rowe was the first veteran home, just breaking the 74min. barrier.
Then all eyes turned to Emma Pallant, the Great Britain junior international and main female interest in this field due to the absence of her Aldershot and Farnham teammate Steph Twell.
Pallant had Jonathan Thewlis for company throughout the race and had reached the L’Islet turn in 37-43, a position of 13th overall. The next woman to go around the triangle was Guernsey’s Louise Perrio in 41-36 in 33rd.
On the homeward stretch down the east coast, Pallant continued to run strongly and was delighted to cross the line in 1-16-31 to take the women’s honours in 12th place overall.
‘It was good out there and really nice in the sun – I enjoyed taking in the scenery,’ she said with a chuckle.
‘It was a little bit windy coming back, but I had Jon with me and he went in front to shelter me a bit and that was really nice of him.
‘I was really pleased with the time. Mick [Woods, her coach] said to go out doing six-minute miles, I did the first in 6-01 and just kept it going from there.’
Pallant and her Aldershot and Farnham teammates are regular visitors to the Easter Runs Festival and that tradition shows no signs of abating any time soon.
‘I have loved it,’ said Pallant of her weekend.
‘It has been such fun – like a holiday and having fun running.’
So is she planning to come back in 2010?
‘You’d better believe it.’
Perrio maintained her position as second woman over the second half of the race, finishing in 1-27-02, but had Sark’s Bronwyn McNeill-Rogers finishing quickly only eight seconds back.
Results Page 41KPMG Easter Half-Marathon: Pallant delighted at women’s race victory over 13.1 miles
Article posted on 14th April, 2009 - 2.29pm
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