• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Our Club
    • Roll of Honour
    • Mission Statement & Constitution
    • Code of Conduct/Disciplinary Process Guidelines
    • Safety of Runners whilst taking part in Club Sessions
    • Club Kit
    • Committee
    • Club Captains
    • AGM
    • Contact Us
    • Social Events
  • Membership
  • Running
    • Safety of Runners whilst taking part in Club Sessions
    • The League
    • Tuesday Sessions
    • Thursday Sessions
      • Thursday Short Run Rota
    • Oxfordshire GP Series
    • Cross Country
    • Mota-vation Series 2024
    • Welsh Shield
    • Results
    • Trophies
  • WRR Races
    • Ducklington Dash
    • Cotswold Classic
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Juniors
    • Junior News
    • Training
    • Competitions
    • Junior Summer Fixture List
    • Junior Winter Fixtures and Results 2019/20
    • Junior Membership
    • Junior Club Records & PBs
    • Results Archive
  • Online Banking

WITNEY ROAD RUNNERS

Bronsens 2022 Cotswold Classic

Published on 6th September 2022 by web editor

Race Results

Cotswold Classic 2022 Race Director Report
Time flies when you’re having fun so maybe that’s why this year’s Cotswold Classic went by in such a blur?  This year was my third year at the helm of this fantastic race with such a long history; I only realised this year that it actually predates Witney Roadrunners!
After having to cancel the 2020 edition and last year’s edition returning amidst the tail end of the pandemic, this year felt more normal.  Our numbers were still a little down on pre-pandemic levels (like so many other races and events) but I still had 272 excited faces watching me teeter on a step ladder to deliver the race briefing.  I was complimented for adding a little humour to it whilst at the same time being told by someone else that they’d be scared of me if they didn’t know me better!
There are a number of moments of relief on the day as the day progresses as planned and one of the biggest is watching the tail of the race disappear up the New Yatt Road.  The first thing it offers is a chance to catch my breath and have a bite to eat before the progress updates start coming in across the Raynet walkie talkie from their 5 checkpoints around the course.
The next big relief is when the runners, like tall featherless homing pigeons, start to return to their coup at The King’s School.  It’s my first chance to ask how the race, the course, the marshals have been received.  The glowing reports started with the lead runners and continued for the next two and a half hours.
Our army of more than 60 volunteers covering from Race HQ to the car parks, water stations and every corner of the course have yet again done me and my club proud.  “Fantastic”, “awesome”, “friendly”, “organised”, “supportive” and “well spread” are just some of the words used to describe them.
Yet again our long sleeve race tshirt continues to be a big part of our race and seeing the sea of red around the finish area was amazing.  The runners always compliment us on having long sleeves and different fits for men and women and we know from experience they are long lasting with so many popping up at parkruns and races through the year.  I look forward to seeing the red ones this winter, reminding me of what a great day we put on.
As well as the hoard of volunteers and happy runners, the race day could not run as smoothly as it does without the help I get from the Cotswold Classic committee.  Just 6 people help me with the year of planning that goes in to putting on the race and this year, with my work life being as busy as it ever has been, they have shared the work round which I am incredibly grateful for.
The other thing we’re very fortunate to have is a superb selection of suppliers and sponsors.  The services and sponsorship they supply make it a lot easier to put on the race in the way we do for the price we do.  Having a regular racer tell me the Cotswold Classic is the most professional event they attend is in no short part testimony to the support we get from suppliers and sponsors.  It was lovely to see 3 runners form our lead sponsor Bronsens Accountants take part along with representation from many of our other sponsors taking part, either with race numbers or hivis on.  Please look at the back of the shirts and remember our sponsors when you’re looking for great local suppliers.
It was great to see a big crowd stay on for the presentations and to congratulate our final finisher across the line; some sipping their finisher’s beer, some clutching a full can to enjoy later.  It really shows the positive atmosphere that surrounds the race and, at the finish, that is largely down to our resident race commentator Crabby who tirelessly called in each and every runner, living every step of every sprint finish, making the finishers feel like superstars!
And then, as if by magic, the school was back to how we’d found it 6 hours prior and anyone passing would have no idea of the awesomeness that had been on show from all involved runners, volunteers and spectators.
Big thanks again to everyone involved in making the race a continued success and my role as Race Director so enjoyable.  Now to start planning next year!

 

Primary Sidebar

Latest WRR Running Routes

Tuesday Session Routes >>
Thursday Session Routes >>

Instagram Gallery

witneyroadrunners

witneyroadrunners
Bumper crop of hardy WRR beating storm Bert at @ey Bumper crop of hardy WRR beating storm Bert at @eynsham_road_runners 10k 

Well done to all that complete the course it was tough out there! 

Don’t forgot to email you results in to appear in next week newsletter 

#stormbert#runners#10krace
Congratulations to this year’s recipients of the Congratulations to this year’s recipients of the Snowdon Marathon trophies - Rachel Stanley-Evans (4:07:07) and Matthew Lock (2:47:36)

Well done to the 19 Witney Roadrunners who ran this year. Congratulations on your incredible achievement.
A bumper #MedalMonday this week. We had an incred A bumper #MedalMonday this week.

We had an incredibly busy weekend of half marathon races this weekend. With Witney Roadrunners out in force at the Oxford Half Marathon, Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon and the Manchester Half Marathon.

Congratulations to you all on your individual achievements. For quite a few yesterday it was also their first ever half marathon👏🏻
Witney Roadrunners made the pilgrimage this weeken Witney Roadrunners made the pilgrimage this weekend to the home of parkrun and where it all began - Bushy Park.

Ahead of the 20th anniversary next weekend a group of Witney Roadrunners, @eynsham_road_runners and a few other special guests made the trip to run the famous course.

A great morning was had by all those who joined. Attendance this weekend at Bushy Park was 1525.

Answers on a postcard for the next venue for us to visit!
That is a wrap on another Mota-vation series for a That is a wrap on another Mota-vation series for another year. 

We had 74 runners taking part in the fifth and final race of the series at Stratfield Brake.

Well done to everyone who has taken part across the series and congratulations to those who won prizes. 🏆
Last night was the final of the 2️⃣0️⃣2️ Last night was the final of the 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣4️⃣’s Club Time Trial and the incredible @leevanstone cross the line as the winner in 29.53 🏆 Last year winner @fredaford215 handing over the silver ware to the new TT winner 🤩

4 months of monthly heats with the aim to improve on the time you predicted or previously ran.  To qualify for the final you had to of run at least two of this years heats and we had over 60 runners who qualified for the final which is amazing to see! But a total of 50 runners took part in the run with some running there first time trail and we had a total of 25 pb’s which is magnificent showing the hard work all our runners have been putting in over the last few months with their training for various events that are coming up 💪🏻

Well done to all the runners but especially the top 5:

1st Henry Vincent (1st Time trail) 
2nd @leevanstone 🥇
3rd  @ge_andrews96 🥈
4th John Green 🥉
5th  @sfyoungmit 🏅

We are excited for 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣ TT starting in April 25 see you there so better start practicing as you now all got to beat this years times 😃
Witney Roadrunners @oxtrail2024 Challenge - 90mins Witney Roadrunners @oxtrail2024 Challenge - 90mins, collect as many Ox-selfies as you can. Start and finish at The OxTrail Hub Shop. 

We all had amazing fun - see who won with 33 Oxen Selfies collected. Everyone received an Oxley Fridge Magnet for joining in and an Oxley Key-Ring for the winner

#WitneyRoadRunners #running #OxTrail2024 #SobellHouse #OxPloring #Oxford
Tonight saw the return of the annual Club Handicap Tonight saw the return of the annual Club Handicap where we had 45 runners run a course that was only revealed just before tonight’s run. 

Each runner has to predict their finishing time to get around the 4.4 mile course and there is no watches allowed.

Rules: If you are a second over your predicted time you are out and the person who is the most under their predicted time is awarded the infamous Wooden Spoon award.

🏆Congratulations to this years winner Tracey A who was the closest 

🥄 Lindsay S is the new recipient of the Wooden Spoon award

Thank you again to all those who were involved with organising tonight’s handicap.
A brilliant turnout from the club for the @alchest A brilliant turnout from the club for the @alchester5k this evening. We had 48 runners race this year. 

The cooler temperatures made for perfect conditions.

Well done to the following runners who placed in their  categories:

🏆 PaulA 2nd V60M, HollyPR 3rd V35F, PaulT 3rd V40M, JohnMc 3rd V70M.

 🏁 Congratulations also to the 6 runners who also completed the league following tonight’s race
A brilliant turnout once again for the fourth Mota A brilliant turnout once again for the fourth Mota-vation race of the series - Combe II

Well done to the 74 runners who took part and represented the club. 

Congratulations also to those members who won awards in their age categories. 👏🏻
Last Sunday saw the return of the annual Marathon Last Sunday saw the return of the annual Marathon Relay at Radley College.

The relay is a great opportunity for the juniors and the seniors to get together as a club and compete against each other on the track.

The juniors were the winners this year in an impressive 2:02:18. 

Well done to all of the runners and everyone involved in the organisation before and during the event. 

The times this year were as follows:
🏆 Juniors - 2:02:18
🥈 Seniors - 2:03:06
July saw the return of the annual Eynsham Challeng July saw the return of the annual Eynsham Challenge. 

Each host club holds a leg on their own course.

Courses are roughly 4miles/6.5K. The winning club being the club with the fastest average time. Each club runner therefore counts towards the final time.

Witney were victorious 🏆

Will Witney win the Eynsham Leg next month and reclaim their trophy?

Thank you to @witneyproperty for kindly sponsoring the top raffle prize of a Fit2Run voucher.
Good luck to Witney Roadrunner’s Thelma & Louise Good luck to Witney Roadrunner’s Thelma & Louise - Freda and Lynn who are doing Trek26 Cotswolds 2024 today.

Best of luck from all of us at the club 👏🏻

Today they are trekking for the Alzheimer’s Society a charity that means a lot to them both.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Freda-Ford2
We had 35 runners race at the Thame 10K on Sunday. We had 35 runners race at the Thame 10K on Sunday. 

Congratulations to all those who ran and notably to the following 3 runners who placed/won overall:

🏆 Matt L - 1st overall. 
🏆 Sally H - 2nd V45
🏆 Lisa H - 3rd V55

We had several PBs smashed and 4 more runners completed the WRR league.

🏁 Next Race: Didcot 5
It’s voting time! There’s an important one on It’s voting time! There’s an important one on Thursday, but here at WRR HQ we need your help to solve a ‘debate’

Which of our two fabulous races does the running community love more?!

🦆 Are you a fan of the fast, flat 5km at the edge of Ducklington? Our new duck on the block - The Duck Dash.

🏃🏻‍♀️ Or are you more of a Classic runner? The established, ‘fundulating’ 10miler with the fab swag (shirt & beer!) waiting for you at the end after you’ve conquered Hillzakilla in the middle - The Cotswold Classic.

We can’t choose between them so it’s time to put your X in the box and choose.

Comment below with a 🦆 or a 🏃🏻‍♀️ for your favourite and tell us why! 

Share to increase the sample size and improve the validity of our very official study! 🤓
What a lovely evening Friday was. Great to see lot What a lovely evening Friday was. Great to see lots of faces come join us at the Plough in Witney for our pub garden social.

It was a good opportunity to catch up with one another, to  discuss the upcoming few races and for some, their upcoming training blocks.

Already looking forward to our next one. 

Thank you for those who came. The weather was kind(ish) to us 🙏🏻
Well done to all of the WRR ladies who individuall Well done to all of the WRR ladies who individually placed in their age categories at the final Sri Chinmoy race of the 2024 series this week.

Monday saw 49 runners race the final 2 loops around the Peace Mile at Cutteslowe Park.

This race also doubled up as another club league race, which helped 9 more runners complete their 8th race to complete the league.

Congratulations & well done to all of the runners who ran during the series 👏🏻
An amazing turnout for the final Sri Chinmoy race An amazing turnout for the final Sri Chinmoy race of the 2024 series yesterday evening. 

Last night we had 49 runners race the final 2 loops around the Peace Mile at Cutteslowe Park.

This race also doubled up as another club league race, which helped 9 more runners complete their 8th race to complete the league.

Well done to the Juniors and the Senior Men who individually placed in their age categories. Ladies pictures to follow.

Congratulations & well done to all of the runners who ran during the series 👏🏻
A brilliant turnout this evening for the 2nd Sri C A brilliant turnout this evening for the 2nd Sri Chinmoy race of the series. The first out of the two 3 mile race (3 laps of the Peace Mile)

Well done to the 43 runners who ran tonight’s league race. So big we had to split the team picture into two😂

A busy week with another league race tomorrow and the 2nd time trial later in the week.

#running #runners #witneyroadrunners #runningclub #oxfordshirerunningclubs
Nettlebed Stinger 📸 John McCormac Nettlebed Stinger 📸 John McCormac
Load More Follow on Instagram

View all photos in the Instagram Gallery >>

Footer

Contact Us

Join Witney Road Runners
Send in your results
General enquiries

EA Health And Safety Policy
EA Inclusion Policy
Cookies and Privacy Policy

Related Websites

www.parkrun.org.uk
www.englandathletics.org

Social

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Website designed by millerwebdesign.co.uk

Cookies and Privacy Policy Website design by curbridgecreative.co.uk